was just wondering if anyone whose piggies live outside in the summer but in a shed in winter has thought of putting them back in the shed as the weather is so yuk?At the moment mine seem to be in the shed all the time as the grass is so wet! just to explain my set up I have an 8' by 4' shed which the girls have free run of and only spend bedtime in their hutch {or obviously on the grass if it's dry} but in winter the hutch goes back in the shed and I just leave the hutch doors open in the day so they have lots of freedom. the shed has power so when it's really cold I heat it up for them, the door has been converted so I can leave it open. {bottom half is clear perspex , which you have to climb over to get in then the top half is a wire mesh door to let in lots of fresh air, don't worry the proper door is still on if anyone was worried about them being safe at night! sorry to waffle but this is my first proper question and I wanted to give everybody the facts :-\
a bit of advise please
- Thread starter sammy
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maisydaisystar
yes have given up on the summer weather and the piggies have been back in the utility room for just over a week now. If we get any dry days, I can still put them in their run.
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karenrgpr
Yep, mine are shed pigs all year round, cool in the summer (and dry!) and warm in the winter 
I don't believe it matters. All my previous guinea-pigs lived outside, from when they were babies til they died, they'd never stayed indoors. Moving them can cause problems with their bodies getting to the right temperature. I was advised by my vet and the breeder I got my first guinea-pig from, if you're going to keep them either in or out, don't move them from that area. Just going by what professionals have told me, so just be careful.
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maisydaisystar
at the moment my shed is not much different to day time temperatures we have been having this summer, so it will not make any difference at all, if they were indoor piggies and you wanted to move them outside during autumn or winter then that would be dangerous to their health, or if you had outdoor piggies and brought them into a hot house for cuddles during winter and then back out again, then again this wouldn't be good. moving piggies from outside to a shed now is absolutly fine. and more comfortable for them at night too.
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giz
thankyou, I knew it was bad to move them if there was extreme difference in temperatures ,I just thought that summer seems to be coming to an end and its much cozier for them in the shed (and for me too, I do enjoy a cup of tea in there with them!)also I think I read that piggies don't like draughts and it is very windy here , was I right about the draughts?
OOOhh sorry it is sammy I didn't realise jack hadn't signed out sorry again :'(
OOOhh sorry it is sammy I didn't realise jack hadn't signed out sorry again :'(
kezza30
Adult Guinea Pig
lilmisscavy said:
Did you keep them in a shed or just in hutches outside even in winter. I can't bring my guineas back inside or in the shed so how did you keep yours warm without feezing to death.
Mine have a water proof cover around the whole huch, an old quilt sheet over the top to cover any gaps and tarpoline over the top of that to keep it water proof, i'm going to get some of those heat things you put in the microwave, one for each guinea pig.
Does anyone have any more ideas to keep them warm and toasty during the colder months or is this enough. Where building them a mini insulated shed with no mesh on, so basicaly a guinea sized shed with insulation inside but i don't think it will be done y winter yet so i need ideas to keep the really warm :-\
Mine are in the shed and if its dry they are out in the run, but this weather has left the grass so squishy they havent been out much over the last couple of weeks 
Also I am finding it quite cold too especially early in the morning and late in the evening Its nice for them to be in the shed as I dont have to cover them up when its pooring down and I can leave the doors open and they can still see out, poor little loves I see their faces looking at the grass through the pooring rain :'( :'(
Also I am finding it quite cold too especially early in the morning and late in the evening Its nice for them to be in the shed as I dont have to cover them up when its pooring down and I can leave the doors open and they can still see out, poor little loves I see their faces looking at the grass through the pooring rain :'( :'(
kezza30
Adult Guinea Pig
Aww i pick grass for mine if it's to cold for them to go in the run but not when it's raining, and coverd in slugs. Yuck xx0
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minky
I currently have some living in the hutches outside for now and the others living in the shed, we currently are building the new design in the shed which will give me 10 hutches inside the shed this will house them permanently from now on my ain of the outside hutches was that on nice days some could come out and enjoy the sunshine but will the real naff summer we have had its been pointless. The weather has chilled a little but i personally dont think it that cold yet
kezza30 said:
No, just their hutches, against the fence facing into the garden, being sheltered by the fence and our neighbours bushes coming over, they weren't effected much, along with having lots of hay and bedding and food and they obviously have their fur coats to keep them warm. Most of mine lived to just over 3 yrs old, though the oldest died at the age of 6 and a half. I think people are a bit too soft on them being outside because they are hardy to a certain extent, I mean, if they've been outside living for a while, they won't mind it because they're used to it. Most of mine came from breeders who kept them outside all weathers, never bothered mine. Their ears were a little cold sometimes during winter but mine were all healthy and lived perfect lives.
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