Playhouses (Guinea pigs) idea's needed!

Thought I would ask for some suggestions and idea's on how to improve my guinea pig playhouses. 2 out of my 3 pairs have playhouses, the 2 girls have one playhouse and one of my 2 male pairs has the other, I would love to get a third for my other pair. However I think I will go for a 6x2x2ft hutch for my other pair.They currently live in a ferplast 120 in the rabbit shed which is not ideal as they really need more space.I hate cages and tiny hutches.

Anyway.. Ruby & Daisy, Jasper & Edmondo have been living in their playhouses since September last year. I was in a rush to get them due to the terrible winds hence why the painting was never completed and the lino was not put in. We do have two lino offcuts for the playhouses which I am planning to put in when I renovate the playhouses in June when I finish college for the year. I have so many plans for the playhouses but desperately need idea's and advice.

My questions are:

1) What can we get to sit the playhouses on and raise them off the ground?

2) By insulating them , will it take away any of the space?

3) Will insulating help to keep the playhouses cooler in the summer?

4) Do we need to put in a vent when we insulate them?

5) Shall we add in any levels?

I am going to me moving the playhouses into more of a shady spot as at the moment where they are , they get very hot and it really is not ideal. I will be getting some 6ft screening rolls which I will be attaching to the back of the playhouses and then on the sides to ensure they are fully shaded. I also plan to build or get somebody else to build us two 4x3ft runs which we can attach to both playhouses which will give them the benefit of being able to go out when they please. The runs will need wood in between to obviously stop the boys from seeing the girls. Would it be better to put the runs either side of the playhouses perhaps? I will also be making sure to make a lid for the runs so they are fully waterproof.

The runs won't mean that the piggies won't get time on the grass, It will just give them the option of going out without having to wait for me to put them in their grass runs. Also it will hopefully help to file their nails down naturally. There is so much to think about, I just want the piggies happy.

Anyway here are pictures.

Ruby & Daisy's playhouse



Jasper & Edmondo's Playhouse



A hutch most definitely is not enough!!   

Wow, your playhouses are already fabulous

You are such a lovely owner, always thinking of ways to make your animals lives even better

I think all of your ideas are fab and spot on, but if you can find one comparable price-wise I would honestly get a third playhouse instead of a hutch. I think piggies navigate one floor space far better than ramps and whatnot. They'll also be more easy for you to clean, and have more potential to adapt/create a great space for them x

FluffSlave wrote:Wow, your playhouses are already fabulous

You are such a lovely owner, always thinking of ways to make your animals lives even better

I think all of your ideas are fab and spot on, but if you can find one comparable price-wise I would honestly get a third playhouse instead of a hutch. I think piggies navigate one floor space far better than ramps and whatnot. They'll also be more easy for you to clean, and have more potential to adapt/create a great space for them x

Thanks fluffslave.

This is going to sound really bad but the reason why I am a little apprehensive and unsure about getting a 3rd playhouse is because the pair consists of Gino my rescued 5/6 + boy and his friend Little pig who's 6 months old. When Gino is to pass then Little pig will be bonded with my 2 girls Ruby & Daisy so would end up with an empty playhouse at the end of it as I won't be filling it. I'm planning on not getting any more boars and just sticking to females and a neutered boar when I do lose my existing boars. Hopefully won't be any time soon but I like to think ahead.

Also I'm not too sure I could really afford another playhouse and to make all the modifications but then again a playhouse doesn't cost much more than a large hutch would so I really don't know.

I can understand why you've decided to get a hutch under your circumstances. It's a sensible move. Either way, I'm sure your piggies will have a fantastic life

What stately homes they have got. Lucky gps.

BellaPickleFlopsyLily wrote:Thought I would ask for some suggestions and idea's on how to improve my guinea pig playhouses. 2 out of my 3 pairs have playhouses, the 2 girls have one playhouse and one of my 2 male pairs has the other, I would love to get a third for my other pair. However I think I will go for a 6x2x2ft hutch for my other pair.They currently live in a ferplast 120 in the rabbit shed which is not ideal as they really need more space.I hate cages and tiny hutches.

Anyway.. Ruby & Daisy, Jasper & Edmondo have been living in their playhouses since September last year. I was in a rush to get them due to the terrible winds hence why the painting was never completed and the lino was not put in. We do have two lino offcuts for the playhouses which I am planning to put in when I renovate the playhouses in June when I finish college for the year. I have so many plans for the playhouses but desperately need idea's and advice.

My questions are:

1) What can we get to sit the playhouses on and raise them off the ground?

2) By insulating them , will it take away any of the space?

3) Will insulating help to keep the playhouses cooler in the summer?

4) Do we need to put in a vent when we insulate them?

5) Shall we add in any levels?

I am going to me moving the playhouses into more of a shady spot as at the moment where they are , they get very hot and it really is not ideal. I will be getting some 6ft screening rolls which I will be attaching to the back of the playhouses and then on the sides to ensure they are fully shaded. I also plan to build or get somebody else to build us two 4x3ft runs which we can attach to both playhouses which will give them the benefit of being able to go out when they please. The runs will need wood in between to obviously stop the boys from seeing the girls. Would it be better to put the runs either side of the playhouses perhaps? I will also be making sure to make a lid for the runs so they are fully waterproof.

The runs won't mean that the piggies won't get time on the grass, It will just give them the option of going out without having to wait for me to put them in their grass runs. Also it will hopefully help to file their nails down naturally. There is so much to think about, I just want the piggies happy.

Anyway here are pictures.

Ruby & Daisy's playhouse



Jasper & Edmondo's Playhouse



A hutch most definitely is not enough!!   

1. If you go to B&Q and by some 3x2 timber it works out about £4 a length or if you have a builders yard near you go and ask them if they have any old palletts, they might even give you them for free.

2. Insulating them shouldn't take any space away as you are really only insulating between the joists.

3. You will still need a fan on hot day's in Summer. Mike insulated both Elvis and Fudge's shed and the Boys Den and Elvis and Fudge have a fan in their's and today it was quite warm even with the fan on so we popped in two ice pods as well.

4. I wish we had put a vent in our boarding shed, we have a vent in our storage shed with the hay in but it's not important if you don't vent it.

5. If it's for the guinea pigs and they are happy as they are I wouldn't bother if it's for the bunnies the more the merrier  

Looks like a great set up!

I'm not sure it'll work with the dimensions of everything but how about making a C&C cage http://www.guineapigcages.com/howto.htm and putting that on a shelf in the larger playhouse?  As guineas don't need too much height in their living quarters, it looks like it might work. It might make it a bit more of a nuisance to clean underneath and you'll still have to take them out for exercise of course, but they'll get more space than in the standard cage and it won't be very expensive to sort.

For our shed we used the plastic eco base tiles which lock together. Not this exact product but along these lines. http://www.plasticshedbase.co.uk/7-eco-shed-base It's much easier to work with (and move) than concrete slabs and does a really good job of keeping the base dry.

No advice to give but I just had to say that your bunnies and piggies are so very lucky to have found their way to you. I am in awe of your set ups - what fabulous lives they have with you   

Sixer wrote:No advice to give but I just had to say that your bunnies and piggies are so very lucky to have found their way to you. I am in awe of your set ups - what fabulous lives they have with you   

I totally agree with you Vanessa he look's after his rabbits and piggies to perfection , they are very lucky indeed as they have wonderful homes and are loved and cared for by him   

Tuckerbunnies wrote:

Sixer wrote:No advice to give but I just had to say that your bunnies and piggies are so very lucky to have found their way to you. I am in awe of your set ups - what fabulous lives they have with you   

I totally agree with you Vanessa he look's after his rabbits and piggies to perfection , they are very lucky indeed as they have wonderful homes and are loved and cared for by him   

Aw thank you Maysie    
Thank you Vanessa too

Got some great advice and points on this thread to take on board! So thank you everyone!