As we ease into Autumn (though we're promised an Indian Summer) it's time to think ahead to our Super Furry Animals autumn and winter needs

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Doesn't seem that long ago I was making DH put a fan in the Pighouse and I was opening their window before I went to work.
But now there's a chill in the evening.
And my two guinea-boys winter accomodation has to be considered.

The first winter , we had the cage in the dining room (we've got a kitchen/lounge/dining room open plan room) but we kept tripping over the cage and they woke at 5am .

Last year we put them upstairs in our small bedroom (its a storage room really) with a cover over.
That worked better.

I did consider leaving them out all night but it was so cold, even with a heater I wasn't happy at the thought.
I tried SnugglePads and those PetSafe Hotties but they got cold in 5 hours.
And I have a fear of the heater not working/power cut and them freezing.

This year, my new boar cannot be out at night when it's cold. But I can't give them their normal 4'x2' cage. They'll be very judgey.
My brainwave was put their rabbit run in upside down and cover the wire 'floor' with cardboard.
But I don't know how it would fit. Rabbit run is 84"x28" . Room is a box room with a small bay window (and we have to move things around) and I still need to get in there.

I saw lovely big cages in Jolleys but they don't fold to store and DH will pass out at the price.

I'm going to have to get C&C aren't I?
I can make a big pen, heavy tarpaulin base and a load of hay + a fitted sheet or something to cover it.


Ideas needed.
Preferably easy to store after winter. Cheap as possible. And able to accomodate two boars when one will be in the middle of his Terrible Teens.

Eating them is not an option

[FernieB]

They would probably taste all gristly anyway.

I have a fabric folding run which I got on Amazon and used when my lads had to be separated. It is quite large but if you have to squeeze past it bends as it's fabric. It has a wipe clean floor which can be removed if you wanted to use it outside on grass. Current Bun has also called it home this year. Will try and find it to post a link. Think it was around £40.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

DD and I did some measuring up. The rabbit run would just fit (taking on board the skirting boards, the bay window and the shelves that need to stay). But I'd find it near impossible to get into the room

I looked for some of those little foldaway outdoor pens, But they all seem round or hexagonal.

Sooooooo. We hatched a cunning plan (that will cost nothing but time)

My original indoor cage has a plastic tray and a metal top that lifts off. The door is in the roof but the sides can fold,. We've used the top wire part as an outdoor run before. It's got a decent depth but GPs don't really need the height. (GP3 can popcorn out in the Pighouse. Inside is for sleep )

I'll get DH to cut a 'door' in the tray, then put a grid on top (old fireguard screen or similar)
Fold back one side a stabilise the other 3 sides.
Arrange in an L shape so they have a run and a 'tray'. So in effect double the floorspace.
I'll need to do clever arranging and wedging with things to keep them together.
If we ever need the tray again, he can ducktape the doorway shut.

Tarpaulin. Haybox x 2. Wooden pellet guinea litter in tray.

Result (hopefully) 2 boars who won't get the hump.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

And my GP3 would argue that at his age he's still in his tenderest of tender prime
GP1 OTOH would be like a manky old rooster roast.

[FernieB]

Sounds like an excellent idea - your piggies are spoilt little boys and I hope that they appreciate that. Get them working hard, lawn mowing to repay you and your DH.

[Bamaluz]

I know you've already found a solution but just to let you know, those hexagonal outdoor pens can actually be made into any shape you like.
Each panel is joined by flexible attatchments meaning it will fold but also be pulled into a square or rectangle.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I did look at the pens (one was 55" x 55" ) but the space in my cage divided into two layers would give me more space - and DH has agreed to to the cutting and fixing.

I was wondering if they could be made into a more squared off shape but it's hard to tell by the photos.

Last winter the boars took themselves off to their respective haybox bedrooms. But this year I think GP3 is going to be a bossy little boy , so we need to have maximum room and if need be, seperate the two areas. I have a heavy metal grid that I could slip between the two cages halves. Then they'd go to their Pighouse by day. But if they can't go out, they''d still have room.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They were on lawn duty most of today but now we're all back to work and school, that's going to be limited.