Leaving your hutch outside with no pets in it

An empty Hutch outside still needs a bit of attention

For several reasons, you may decide to bring your pets inside for your home for a while. A change in circumstance or cold weather could be the reason; just because your pets are no longer staying overnight in your hutch doesn't mean you can forget about it.

If my pets have left the hutch, why should I bother checking it?

All our wooden hutches are natural products; the wood contains moisture that expands and contracts with the outdoor temperature changes.

The warm damp air inside the hutch will build up on surfaces and cause condensation.

Over time, mould can start to form along with the damage to the wooden panels.

I'm using a Hutch Cover & it's been on all the time?

It's great that you're thinking about your pets and using a cover! However, Leaving the front of the cover down even a short time outside will speed up the problem.

Think of your empty hutch as a garden shed; it soon starts to smell stale if not aired out. 

A hutch cover keeps wet weather and strong winds from blowing into the hutch, usually a good thing. Without at least daily airing to allow fresh air to circulate, the cover acts as a sealant, encouraging dampness to grow and keeping the humidity in the hutch high.

After a while, this can have a damaging effect on the inside of the hutch, especially in the dark sleeping areas of a hutch.

If you're going to leave your hutch empty for a while, do these three things.

1. If you have a cover, leave the front rolled up or roll it up every week to allow fresh air inside.
2. Check the inside of the hutch every week for any signs of dampness; if you see any, move the hutch to a dry area or think about collapsing down. If you haven't got the instructions anymore, contact us, and we can email you a copy.
3. If you find any mould, clean it off immediately; the quicker you spot it, the easier it is to wipe off. Black spots indicate that the mould has been there for a while and will require more work to remove. Allow after to dry thoroughly.

Here's more info on cleaning your hutch, how to spot the signs of mould and what to do