Free-range guinea pigs...well almost!

[Mung]

I just went to a local garden centre that has a 'pet corner'. Today they had put the guinea pigs and some chickens into what used to be the sheep pen and they were running around in all the space. There was a little child's summer house thing in the corner that they must live in.
I have been trying to convince DH to get some guinea pigs for a while now and I am even more determined after seeing those today.
Does anyone have a massive home-built run? If so, what is it like? Can you move it easily? Do they need to be totally enclosed to protect them? Obviously I know that I'd have to put them in at night, but I feel that foxes may get them in the day.

They definately need a netting roof, or some sort of protection from cats, dogs and foxes. If you have an enclosed cage though you won't need to shut them in at night.

I made a run from wood lengths and netting. It was about 3m x 2m, and 0.5m tall. It was quite easy to do. If you put hooks all the way around the top edge then you can just snag some netting over like the netting you put over fruit or vegetable plots. A removable lid makes it far easier to clean out, and you can leave it off if you're near by so the dc can get in the run to play with them.

A removable lid sounds good. I like the idea of being able to go in with DC to play with them. I suppose they don't have that at the garden centre because there is always people about, so the predators keep away.

I just need to work on DH now!

They really are indoor pets and could be quite vulnerable if left outside (foxes, dogs, cats, even rats etc could get them)

You also need to get two at least since they are very sociable little animals.

They really are no problem to keep indoors, if you wanted you could let them have the run of your child's bedroom at night and leave their cage door open and then maybe have a hutch and a run outdoors for the warmer weather during the day for them.

They are quite low maintenance, I used to give mine fresh salad + water every morning and fresh salad + guinea pig feed + water every evening and clean out the droppings and wet shavings when necessary.

Also, if you do decide to let them have the run of a bedroom make sure wires and shoes etc are out of reach as they do like to chew.

we have
this run

we have found they will clear this amount of grass in a day. It is very easy to move around the lawn.

That looks great Christy...thanks.