I built an aviary!

I've just finished building my guinea pigs an aviary! I got sick of getting soaking wet when I clean them out so decided to extend upwards ont he existing set up and now they have an approx 10ft by 3ft by 4.5 ft high aviary with 3 huts inside for sleeping. It has proper conservatory roof panels which stop rain coming in and deflect sunlight to keep it cool, all I need is some clear plastic sheeting to make some curtains so when it's belting down, I can pull them to to keep the rain out. The girls seemed to approve and were running around chuckling just now. I was going to take some photos but its raining, luckily I managed to pretty much fix it all together in time. I'll add photos tmrw.

wow!

Well done hun - lucky piggies! They are going to be so happy! (and I bet they were pretty blimmin blissful to start with!)

they are a bit spoilt

Vince the bunny wrote:they are a bit spoilt

Nothing wrong with that!

Perhaps we should start a club.....Spoilt Animal Owners Anonymous!

Hello my name is Katie, and my rabbit has a better quality of life than I do!

lol, I went to buy my buns one of those cushion dog bed things and I could see DH roll his eyes, so I put it back



They do better with their 5 a day than I do too!

I have bought the beds before and had them chewed to pieces - and yet I am still temped!

cant wait to see the pics,ive got one of them hooded beds,they dont really go in it much,they also have a bunny hammock

wow you really are handy with the DIY!!! If i ever need something building im calling on you!!!

can't wait to see the pictures!!!

PICS!!!!!!

Look forward to seeing it, well done

We really need pictures!!

Here are the pics! I need to finish the roof at the dodgy end, tyhe origianl tarp has a small hole in it. Luckily I found some felt in the shed so just need to tidy it around and finish tacking it down. I am soooooooooo pleased with it!

Its completely Brilliant!

I bet they are in heaven!

wow thats amazing,well done

Thats fab!! I wish i was able to build something like this from scratch, im trying to get hold of an 8x4x4 run/aivery and theyre all so expensive! I bet those are some v happy piggies! P.S I also have those little shelters with the ramps, where did you get the larger one from?? x

marleyNfriends wrote:Thats fab!! I wish i was able to build something like this from scratch, im trying to get hold of an 8x4x4 run/aivery and theyre all so expensive! I bet those are some v happy piggies! P.S I also have those little shelters with the ramps, where did you get the larger one from?? x

have you tried zooplus? i got the small one and i saved about £20

That's amazing! Well done!
I'd never have thought about putting a cardboard box inside the hutch at the end. Was that part of a larger hutch or as it is?

I need some conservatory roof panels for the run I think if they manage to keep the elements out and keep it nice and cool, where did you get them from and what are they like?

Hi



The large hut is part of my chopped up Rose Cottage, it was a hay loft but it was a bit unstable so I decided to let the piggies have it.



I was given the roof panels by my sister, I didn't realise what they were at first and thought they were a bit tatty. Luckily I kept them and since using them as a roof for the avairy have realised that they keep the rain out and prevent it getting like a greenhouse in the sun.



Only one problem now. The rain drives in through the wire panels

Luckily, I have heaps of tarp left over in the shed, so have covered all the external sides with tarp so now it's like a wooden framed tent! Just hope the wind doesn't blow it away like a giant piggie filled balloon

Oh and Dotdot, I LOVE Tigger! What a beautiful bunny

hew that is brilliant. they are well spoilt piggys. I keep going on at mick for me to get a couple but he says the rats next door will scare them to death litteraly. although Ive always thought piggies were quite boistrerous xx

I have 4 and as much as I adore them, they will be my last in this house. They are voracious grass eaters and I find it hard to provide enough grass for both rabbits and pigs. And compared to the rabbits they are dirty *******! they more or less reliably pee in their litter tray or on the grass but the poo without seeming to realise it. I have always had girls and all expect 2 have died from tumors including Poppy who had been neutered. Of the other 2 one died of old age and the other of kidney faliure + old age. They have cost me far more in vets bills than the rabbits- even if you include the rabbits' vaccination costs. They are great fun when living harmoniously together, but if the disagree they can be vicious in the extreme. I had 3 from a large rspca rescue where 50 pigs had been living together in bad conditions. Nutmegs ears are like ribbons, Cinnamon died of a massive growth on her lungs probably caused by the heavy ammonia smell of their urine, and Treacle who now is almost completely blind according to the vet. They are very much animals to watch as they interact with each other and talk to you. If I am gardening I much prefer to have the pigs out with me rather than the rabbits as they are just great company and don't continually overturn your weed bucket. And they always venture out into the run if I am around or if the rabbits are out. Other than that they pop into the run pretty much just to use their water bottle or eat their veg. Ideally pigs should live in groups of 3 or more as they crave socialisation and quite often if you have 2 and one dies the other will pine to death. Like buns there is quite a lot more to pigs than meets the eye. If you are seriously considering it I would suggest you read some of the books written by Peter Gurney to make sure you understand gp language.

nope, think you have put me off . nah just messing. As much as I would love some I love my rabbits sooooo much and they get on great and wouldnt wanna rock the boat bringing in a different type of animal, and Ive still got the bottom of the garden to sort out for the buns so I can put the shed there for the buns in the winter. And I dont think I could stand seeing them locked away for hours of the day. As you know the buns do what they want and only come to me when I first go out as they think ive got food lol. I wouldnt dare mix as I remeber seeing something saying that rabbits and buns shouldnt be together. think ill just stick to the buns ........................... for now hehe

It got a bit soggy in there so I now have tarp around the avairy so it's all nice and snug. I'm saving to buy some clear tarp so I can see in better, I'll add some window flaps for ventilation.



As for the piggies,thry are mucky little muckers! I have 8 of them in there and they produce a lot of wee and poo! Luckily they are kind of toilet trained and only toilet in their bed:shock: or in anything that resemblesa littler box (like a scrap of newspaper or a bowl of hay!) They have litter trays now with megasorb in as they do use them. They ain't half noisy though, they'll be getting an asbo each before too long

Aww a piggie filled balloon haha.

I'm going to have to see if I can find some conservatory panels, very good idea, especially getting to this time of the year.

Vince the bunny wrote:Oh and Dotdot, I LOVE Tigger! What a beautiful bunny

And thankyou! I'm quite fond of the little monkey too

Thats fantastic Theres some very happy piggers there!