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Outdoor run advice please

7 replies

Foxesjumpers · 03/05/2020 21:47

Hello! We have had our two piggies for 6 months, they live indoors in a large C&C cage. But I wanted to get them an outdoor run for when we have our bifold doors open in the summer. We would be able to keep an eye on them, but we do have a few cats that come through our garden so I would want it to be as predator proof as possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Many thanks in advance.

OP posts:
IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 03/05/2020 21:51

We have never taken our piggies outdoors. They have big runs in the house (they have their own room!) and I would be too stressed to put them outside.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/05/2020 11:45

My pigs had big metal runs from Bunny Business .

Metal (so no wood to rot)
Good height , about mid thigh on me . Designed to give a rabbit Binky Room so high enough for guinea pig houses inside ,
I got them a HopInn tunnel (its three tunnels that connect in the middle and they are water resistant for half an hour or so if they ever get caught in a shower)

Fold up flat for storage
I had a 84"x48" and a 48x48" (two groups of pigs) . I bought a triangular one as a quarentine run, but they're more limited space . Rectangular are better .
We didn't use a wire 'skirt' ' because guineas cannot dig , but be aware something ( fox , badger? can dig in so check round regularly . (You'll need to move it every few days anyway they are greedy Grin )

We used heavy tent pegs hammered in to the earth , one each corner in the smaller run, and a couple down the sides as well in the big run.
They come with a long post that goes through metal loops but that isn't enough (IMO) to secure . (I added a few cable ties as well to the corners )

You can put a cover over . I had tarpaulin if it was windy or chance of rain. and a black fitted bedsheet for shade .

Don't leave them out long to begin with (start 30minutes then increase)

Avoid buttercups and daisies , though piggies are fairly good at this .

Make sure it s level , no gaps they can wriggle under .
Grass needs to be dry , those bellies are low slung.

Think how you're going to catch them Grin My NDNs were treated to "Tilly stop being an arse" when we were trying to catch them.
A Gymnast DD helps .

In the height of true summer we left ours in the shady pighouse (it had secure ventilation) till after the hottest part then they grazed sometimes till 10pm if it was light . Just be aware thats when the foxes come prowling.

Then tucked up with fresh hay water light veg supper pellets and sleep.

The sight of a popcorning piggie is one to behold .
One of my favourite memories of my tiny himalayan sow was her running round in a circuit . Hiding under the tunnel then running again. And again. Bless . .

Foxesjumpers · 13/05/2020 19:41

Wow 70isaLimitNotaTarget - thank you SO SO much for all of your advice! Really helpful. The bunny business metal ones look perfect, just what I had in mind.

Very good point about how we are going to catch them...they are very scampery especially as they were rescue piggies who didn't have the best start in life.

I will follow all of your advice to the letter but I might come back to you for more when we get going with the outdoor run!

Thanks so much again :-)

OP posts:
ChoccyJules · 13/05/2020 19:47

Ours started going outside just after Easter. They love it!

We use tent pegs and also added extra latches to make it less easy for a fox to get in.

We don’t put them outside unless it’s fairly warm and will often put something nearby to shade the house bit of the run so they don’t overheat in there.

We put one of their bottles onto the mesh and some hay in the house bit, as they still enjoy resting inside before coming out to mow again.

RollingDownTheRiver · 14/05/2020 15:58

I would suggest you get a wire or net cover over the top of the run so that birds of prey or cats can't get at them.

Catching the Guinea pigs in the run is easy. Get a short cardboard tube that the Guinea pig could fit in. Place it near the piggy so that she hides in it. Pick up the tube with the piggy in it, place it in her hutch and let her run out. Much less stressful for piggy and human.

Babbabump · 14/05/2020 16:04

I only opened this thread for pictures of piggy’s - and there is none!!! I absolutely adore piggy’s, I was lucky that our garden was totally secure so they used to have the run of the lawn then coaxed back in with some spinach in the evenings. Your piggy’s will love being outside and being able to graze.

reefedsail · 14/05/2020 16:12

Depends how much cash you have to throw at it, but I think the walk in ones like this are best.

I trained my pigs to get in their fleece bag when I said 'in your bag'. Made catching them out of the garden much easier.

Outdoor run advice please
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