The big disappointment that is my Omlet Eglu

[Orlando]

Finally steeled myself against the pain of spending so much on a pet home and bought one of these last week (to make life easier for poor dd3 who has been landed with the care of guinea pigs her older sisters are now busy straighening their hair and applying four different shades of glittery eyeliner to clean out) Was a bit fed up when we put it together and discovered there was a gap of about a centimetre where the top bit and the base didn't fit together properly. Assumed it was just a faulty one and emailed omlet (with pics), but have just heard back from them that this is 'a normal fitting eglu' and there are 'always gaps of a few mm between the base and the lid due to the nature of the manufacturing process.'

One of the main selling points for the eglu for guinea pigs on the omlet website is that it is well insulated enough to be left out all winter, but I really can't see how this can possibly be the case with such a sizeable gap in the wall. Also I'm thinking it's going to make a lovely hotel for slugs.

Has anyone else got one of these and have you had any problems? Or will Truffle and Biscuit be so thrilled with their sleek designer home with its inbuilt giant water bottle that they won't be bothered about the howling draft?

Ive got one for my chickens-never had any problems with it and of course the chooks are out in it all winter, no slugs-tho the girls could be eating them?

I am sorry not to be of much use, apart from saying that guinea pigs don't really enjoy draughts and you might want to try and get an exchange somehow.

But I am afraid my mind if filled with images of guinea pigs having their hair straightened and eyeshadow applied

(sorry!)

The difference is chooks need to have a vent/outlet open all year round or a build up of methane can occur in a sealed house.

The poor GPs may shiver!

Does it fit together properly imum? Any gaps? You can see a whole load of daylight through ours and the gap is big enough to get your fingers through. Can't believe that that's 'normal'...

Sorry - crossed posts, flightattendant and catalog. That's kind of what I was thinking - they like to nest in things and a big howling gale isn't going to be ideal for that.

And at 320 of your finest English pounds I expected something weatherproof at least!

(The guinea pigs haven't been subjected to the hair straightening and eyeliner - yet. Maybe the older daughters would regain an interest if I suggested it though?)

There is a gap, and when first assmebled you can see daylight through it-but I stand my eglu on wood chip/bark so it "sinks" down abit and thus the gap is blocked, tho there are still the breathing holes in the front door bit.

Reckon you're right irishbird - I don't see how it can be described as 'insulated' with a gap like that in it. I'm really surprised (and disappointed) because it was a BIG lot of cash to splash on guinea pigs (sorry Truffle and Biscuit), but we thought it would be the answer to a whole lot of problems. Not sure it is though, or that it was worth the money, and it looks like Omlet are going to be a bit sniffy about a return.

Thanks for that imum. On this one the top and the base join about halfway up, so I don't think our gap will be so easily blocked. If I sit on the top of the eglu it does push it together though Shall have to station myself outside on the cold winter nights.