Lots of space, lots of ideas needed.

[alex]

I have recently moved house to a property with a much much bigger garden, its huge.

Anyway we have split the garden in to sections, patio for us and the BBQ, large grass area for the dog to play in, veggie patch for growing veg and a nice big empty plot about 15 feet square. This is going to be animal space. I already have a brick built shed for the outside animals to go in for the winter (it even already had heating and lighting in and is fully insulated, did not realise till after we moved in so that saved me a huge job! Anway this space, I am thinking of doing a massive playground for the animals on it, splitting it in to 4 sections (one for bunny, one for one group of bores and one for the other group of bores and a spare space just on the off chance I get any other animals). I am also going to put another shed up (wooden probably) for food and hey storage and so on.

Now I need some ideas. I was thinking of getting wide (very wide) pipes and making small underground tunnels and so on. My question is would my guinea pigs try and dig out of the pens? I am more than likely going to use metal mesh fencing (like you get on rabbit runs) to enclose it all. My rabbit is a little digger so I know I am going to have to dig the fence down and in to the ground for him, maybe even put some bricks or something under the ground but would I need to do the same for the guinea pigs?

This is going to be an ongoing project over the coming months and I aim to finish arround Easter next year, they all have standard runs now for sunny days. So I can take my time and do it well its just a case of getting it right.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

[pigmadsarah]

WOW sounds fab ! you must take pictures.

Well can guinea pigs dig ?? I have researched this before as it was a worry of mine.

I found on whole that the information comming back was guinea pigs do NOT dig. But i did find conflicting information form owners saying they had pregnant piggies that dug holes and also some boars also. I have NEVER had a piggie dig a hole and mine are out every day - weather permitting, my runs are wooden framed and mesh and another wooden framed and metal grids and I have never had a problem. Only advice i would have for you would make sure your mess/ metal holes are small as i did have a friend who had a baby piggie squish through and found her sat under a flower pot luckily the garden was secure.

Im sorry i can not be more help, but im sure more peeps will be along soon to give you there experience knowledge. thats whats fab about this place !

sarah xx

[eppingstrider]

Sounds amazing! I got some drain pipe junction boxes so that my two have even more things to run through when they're out on the grass, but everything is moveable in my place - they help to keep the grass down!

I think you can get bigger tubes at Wickes, sewer size (foul waste) rather than drain pipe (surface waste). George fits through the drain pipe no problem, but Fred has to stretch himself a bit becuase he's a bit of a porker! (Are you in UK?)

We can exchange notes on veggie growing, too!

[PigPog]

Your new place sounds lovely. ;D As far as digging goes, I think you need to worry more about things digging in than the pigs digging out. We had a concrete square put down below ground, and then grew grass over the top. The actual run structure sits exactly on the concrete base so access cannot be gained by digging under the run. I would also use galvanised wire on the runs instead of chicken wire as wild rats are capable of chewing through chicken wire. I would also put an old hutch into each run so they can go indoors if they want to.

[guineapoo]

I'm afraid I cant offer you any advice but wow! you have some lucky piggies - cant wait to hear how it all progresses!

[lisa]

Can all our pigs come for their holidays it sounds great!!!!

The only thing that would concern me is the pipe if it is under ground what happens if a pig goes missing or gets poorly etc and doesnt come out Other than that fantastic and lots of pics when piggy heaven is created for some reason it reminds me of a centre parks for pigs lol

[alex]

Thanks for all the replies