More piggy questions! Also for those with bunnies

[TurtleToo]

Has anyone built their own hutch and run set up?

Want something more interesting than is available in pet shops so am going to attempt some DIY (why not!)

Could I have some pictures for inspiration?

Is there a certain type of wood we need to use and what is safe to paint is with for protection from weather and animals?

 

[TurtleToo]

Ps not going to have wood on the base of the 'hutch area', going to have wire, so don't need to worry so much about urine being absorbed.

 

[suestowford]

Sorry to say that wire is not recommended for piggy feet. Wood is better, really, or even plastic. Some people put in a paving slab too so that piggy claws can wear down a bit.
I have used marine ply, 3/4 inch thick, for the base of my set up. It's wearing quite well and seems to be wee-proof. I wash it down when they are cleaned out and it doesn't smell.

 

[Antw23uk]

This belongs to my friend who has two giant rabbits so shop brought hutches were out of the question. It's a wendy house and her dad built the run to match. Its awesome although personally I would cook the rabbits and have chickens in it

Run partly built ...


Finished product .....

 

[Zero00000]

I have self built shed set ups, and buns mostly free range in the garden,

Have too many foxes to have a hutch/run 24/7 access, fox would have a field day!

I will PM you a link to some fab set ups

 

[Bar and Bob]

We put roofing felt on the wooden floor of our hutch,waterproof and keeps their claws trim - they hardly ever need clipping. I use Megazorb in a cat litter tray in the bedding area and as it is much more absorbent than sawdust or shavings.
(They also have Graze On in winter and share the horses hay, they must have been my horse substitutes before I actually got a horse!)

Can't help with the DIY inspiration. We built our own triangular run (to dissuade cats from sitting on it, which didn't work). I think my husband used some sort of pressure treated timber - it's still going strong 8 years later although we did used to put it away for the first few winters.

Antw23uk - wow your friends set up looks fab!

 

[Shettie]

My two bunnies have there own shed with a catflap to an attached avairy.
Have put lino down on the inside of the hutch, also there avairy is on paving slabs with wire underneath so they don't burrow out and nothing burrows in.
Catflap is locked at night so they just have the shed as live in fox central

Wire isn't recommended for either bunnies or guineapigs as a base, also as you say wire at the base and not worrying about absorbtion, the urine will have to go somewere eventually when it goes through the wires

 

[webble]

This should help

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?311878-Outdoor-Housing

Agree that wire base is a really bad idea as it can cause sore feet and claws can also get caught. It will work however if used as a base with turf over the top