If you are rather rich...

[weaseldropping]

I found this website today - looks like a Rolls-Royce run, but is a little too pricey for me:

Omlet UK | Product and Services | Guinea Pigs | introduction

[FoolOnTheHill]

It looks quite cute, but still, I'd rather have my pigs inside with me! I'd use it for a grass-time run though...if I could afford the £320!
The inside of the covered area is only a little more that 7 sq.ft - not even enough for one pig. Also, although it says it's made to be cool in summer and warm in winter, I'm not really convinced. Looks pretty easy to clean and cool colours though.

[weaseldropping]

Originally Posted by FoolOnTheHill

The inside of the covered area is only a little more that 7 sq.ft - not even enough for one pig.

From the measurements they give, the wire run works out at 36.3 square feet. Assuming that the animals would only be in it in fine weather I think it would work. My girls naturally huddle into a tiny space together to sleep, so I wouldn't have any worries about the "bedroom" part either, but personally I would like to see better shower-proofing and a bigger sun screen.

The other downside about the website is that I now really really want to keep ducks again, and I just know how well that is going to go down with the family!

However, I am going to buy some timber and wire and do-it-myself - much as I would love that easy-clean plastic with lift-out poop tray... the girls are going to have to cope with lino instead!

[katiecavyNC]

I thought the run was very cute and practical to give them outdoor time. Does seem to be very 'predator proof'. I read over the info on the website about keeping GPs. While not 100% perfect, it did mention the importance of fresh veggies and hay, that males should be neutered and that the piggers should not be left outdoors all winter.

Negatives were that although they stress fresh veggies for Vit C, they also mention adding the drops to the water. Also have a small section on breeding info - mainly just saying females over 10 months should not be bred for the first time due to the bones fusing, etc.

What really caught my eye was the chicken run.... I've wanted chickens for a while now but didn't want to build the coop. Too bad I am not independently wealthy... the $800 US price sort of puts it out of reach for me!

[jabberwock]

Originally Posted by weaseldropping

From the measurements they give, the wire run works out at 36.3 square feet. Assuming that the animals would only be in it in fine weather I think it would work.

They say that the run is 1m long and is 1.3m wide at the widest point. So assuming it was rectangular it would be 1.3 square metres and that is a maximum of 14 square feet. And as it's not rectangular but tapers in towards the indoor bit it will be less than that (hard to assess how much).

[daftscotslass]

To be honest I think it's an overpriced, commercialised load of rubbish. Who would pay that amount of money to have their cavies baked alive in a plastic oven in the middle of summer? It is thick, solid, insulated plastic and with the open front heat is likely to get trapped inside.

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole and will just stick to using grids for supervised outdoor time this coming summer!

[applelady]

NOt for a full time home, but it would be a really cool outside play yard!

[saturn_power]

The run might look good but in the indside compartment there is no room and is very likely to over heat, it's definatley not worth the money.

[weaseldropping]

As regards size, I was looking at the rabbit run - on the grounds that they suggested that for people with two or more pigs, and none of us has a single pig!

I drew it out and did the trigonometry to work out the area.

I would still be interested to measure the internal temperature during a hot day and a cold night - if the insulation is any good it should keep it stable. Certainly, my pigs are outside in the summer and I have checked the run-house temp with dataloggers and it never strays outside the "happy" range in any of the 24-hour periods I have measured. Mind you, my house is wooden with cavity wall insulation and double glazing, not plastic.

They seem to sell a lot for chickens - are they more tolerant of temp changes than pigs? No idea, have never kept birds.