On a practical level - get a shed .
My guineas inherited a wooden playhouse (one of those little Swiss chalet cottage style ones) from my DC . It was solid , good solid wooden floor . Roof height that I could just about stand up in and the floor space was about 6'6" x 6'6" .
My DH did some work on the windows so we could lift two out and the inside was lined with metal bars , chicken wire and mesh , giving them safe ventilation. Windows had a simple bolt to hold in place .
He put a power socket in and a light . ( Essential for those dark nights/early mornings)
Bolt on the door and I put a heavy weight too (like Fort Knox )
It cost only a few £ because we had the materials ( DH isn't into DIY but he did a good job)
They had (according to our piggie family at the time) either a big haybox (made from a cupboard) or rabbit hutch , open 24/7 and access to the floor space .
Guinea pigs tend to huddle away , so those hutches with open space/sleeping area , they'll spend most of the time in the sleeping area.
They don;t cope well with ramps . Some of the double height ones are steep and narrow . Young pigs are athletic, older ones not so much.
The ramps take up a load of space and they need to be aware of the hole in the floor .
I bought a rabbit hutch for my guineas (as an addition to their run) . It spend one summer outside then I put in their shed .
It was really flimsy and II wouldn't have trusted it to withstand an attack from foxes if it was the outside residence .
You need to put it somewhere sheltered . Protect from rain and wind . The wired area is open to rain .
Guinea-pigs need to be kept draught and damp free .
A run is best seperate from your main hutch . They need moved a lot , guinea pigs ravage grass
.
Bunny Business do some really good metal folding ones ( I used heavy tent pegs to secure , make sure nothing can get in and it can't be tipped )
You need to check the ground is ok so I never gave my pigs free reign to go out ( rabbits can cope with all sorts of weather . Pigs cannot)
It is really tricky keeping them outside all year . Have you got space to bring them in for winter?
Even with our PigShed we brought ours in for overnight then made sure the PigShed was the right temperature to put them out .
Bedding needs to be dry and clean.
With rabbits there's the 3 Hop minimum and they should never have a hutch as their sole accomodation. Piggies it's a 4x2' minimum which is inadequate (add bowls , bottles , the space reduces)
Rabbit hutches are bigger and IMO better for piggies .
If you go onto sites like A Hutch is Not Enough ( again aimed at rabbits) there are links .
I look in some of the hutches , lift the lid , look at the sleeping area and think "Is that IT ? That's where my pigs would sit ? Four walls and hay "
Its not a life .
They like to wander round ( evidenced by the pooh
) but they are prey animals and need to feel safe . So they bolt back to their safe area .
Guineas are amazing pets . Enjoy them 