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The shed where the guinea pigs are housed, is
not this run down building in the countryside, but runs along the full
length of the back wall of the house in a lean-to fashion, so that one
side of the shed is the house, and the other side consists of a small
brick wall, 2ft high, on top of which are insulated wooden panels, about
4ft high, then glass panels going up to the 3 ply poly-carbon roofing.
As you
enter the shed you go into a small area, 2 meters x 1.4 meters, where I
keep the fresh fruit and vegetables, have an area here where I can
prepare the food and groom the pigs. I also have a couple of emergency
overflow cages in here, see diagram below.
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Preparation |
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Shaving |
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HOUSE |
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Turning left of the preparation area is main
shed, 10 meters x 1.4 meters with a concrete floor. The first set of
units are where the boars are housed, there are fifteen units (see
figure a) they measure 75cm long x 45cm deep x 40cm in height.
Figure a
The next set of units were the first built
in the shed (see figure b) they measure 75cm long x 45cm deep x 35cm in
height and these house the sows and their young, also I have three
larger units on the floor just under these two rows of units, two of
these are where the retired sows live and the third floor unit is used
to keep pregnant sows, so I can open the door and they can get the
essential exercise they need to keep them fit for birth. All the units
in both sections have sliding welded mesh dividers and solid dividers so
one unit can easily become two or more by taking out dividers.
Figure b
With having a clear poly-carbon roof, it can
get very warm in the shed in summer time, so I have material attached to
the top of the upper units, which act as blinds in the summer and in the
winter they drop down in front of the cages to keep the pigs warm and
draught free. The two doors have large welded mesh doors that are fixed
in place so that the solid doors can be left open in the hot weather
without the fear of cats or other animals getting into the shed. The
opening windows also have welded mesh fixed to the inside of them so
they also and be left wide open.
The three large floor units all have access to the
floor of the shed. this is where I keep my pregnant sows so that they
get plenty of exercise. If they are good mums they will stay in the
floor unit with the other sows, if they are first time mums or tend to
be a bit flighty, once they have given birth I will remove them to one
of the top units, so that I can easily keep an eye on them.
Below is one of the floor units, showing access to
the floor of the shed
OUTDOOR RUNS
Click on photo to enlarge for easier
viewing
This run is one of four I have of
this design, made for me by my husband Kenny.
Click on photo to enlarge
for easier viewing
This run is handy for putting
mothers with young babies in, as it has a area under the wood at one end
with a flap of wood that drops down to make a boxed in area within the
run, for hiding! The only problem with this design is getting them back
out again!
Send mail to cavies@rexcetra.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified:19.02.08
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