Outdoor Enclosure: safe garden exercise for your small pets

Outdoor Enclosure: exercise on the grass, safely fenced in

An outdoor enclosure lets guinea pigs and rabbits graze, hop about and enjoy the sunshine. Three things matter here: escape protection, cover from birds of prey and a shaded area. You will find six and eight sided runs in galvanised metal, models with a shelter house, extension elements as well as cover nets and sun protection.

Safety in the run

A cover net or a solid lid keeps birds of prey and cats away and stops your animals jumping over the edge at the same time. Against digging underneath, a floor grid, a nylon base or an escape barrier along the bottom edge helps. Check the connectors and the door before you put the animals in. Galvanised mesh stands up to the weather and to busy teeth. Never leave your animals in the run entirely unsupervised, especially in the first few days, when everything is still new and they test every corner of the fence.

Location, shade and extensions

Set the run on level, dry ground and make sure part of it always lies in the shade. A shelter house or a sun canopy adds a retreat from heat and rain. Fresh water belongs outdoors too. Many runs can be made bigger with extension elements or used indoors as a room divider. Move the run regularly, then the lawn stays intact and your animals always find fresh greenery. As a room divider with acrylic panels you can also fence off an exercise area indoors when the weather outside does not play along, so your animals still get their daily run.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a cover net?
Yes, it protects against birds of prey and cats and keeps your animals inside the run. Outdoors it counts as basic equipment.

How do I stop them digging underneath?
A floor grid, a nylon base or a barrier along the bottom edge helps. Check the edge daily, especially on soft ground.

How long can the animals stay outside?
As long as shade, water and a shelter are there. In heat, steady rain or cold it is better to bring them back in.