Advice on transitioning from indoor to outdoor living please!

[Nicjones99]

Hi there, my 2 gorgeous guineas (1-year-old Blossom and 8-month-old Clover), have been living indoors over the winter, as Clover was only a baby when we got her in September. We always planned for them to live outside and with all the lovely Easter weather last weekend, it seemed like a good time to make the move. However, now the temperature has dropped to 7C at night/10C daytime, it's wet and wild and I'm paranoid I should have kept them in for longer. We have a hutch hugger, snuggle safes which I heat up each night, and make sure they have plenty of hay. But the RSPCA website says guinea pigs don't like temperatures lower than 15C and should be kept away from draughts.... so how does that work with living outside in the UK when nighttime temperatures rarely get above 10C and it's often windy? I am keeping a close eye on them and they seem fine, but spend most of their time in the sleeping compartment. As the grass is wet, I've been bringing them indoors for floor time. So, my questions: is it okay for them to be outside in these temperatures, given they're not used to it or should I bring them back in until summer? Is it okay to bring them indoors for floor time or will this give them thermal shock when they go back out (central heating is off)? Is there anything else I should be doing to help them transition? Any advice appreciated. Thanks x

 

[Dill&Pepper]

No help but interested in the replies - after 10+ years of indoor piggie keeping I’m moving my girls outside, set up hutch during the week and they had 2 hours in it yesterday.

I also wondered about the 15 degree thing since we so rarely get those temperatures overnight in UK. For now I’m going with indoors at night (no heating) outdoors during the day for increasing amounts of time but do want them to be out 24/7 when they are able.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there, my 2 gorgeous guineas (1-year-old Blossom and 8-month-old Clover), have been living indoors over the winter, as Clover was only a baby when we got her in September. We always planned for them to live outside and with all the lovely Easter weather last weekend, it seemed like a good time to make the move. However, now the temperature has dropped to 7C at night/10C daytime, it's wet and wild and I'm paranoid I should have kept them in for longer. We have a hutch hugger, snuggle safes which I heat up each night, and make sure they have plenty of hay. But the RSPCA website says guinea pigs don't like temperatures lower than 15C and should be kept away from draughts.... so how does that work with living outside in the UK when nighttime temperatures rarely get above 10C and it's often windy? I am keeping a close eye on them and they seem fine, but spend most of their time in the sleeping compartment. As the grass is wet, I've been bringing them indoors for floor time. So, my questions: is it okay for them to be outside in these temperatures, given they're not used to it or should I bring them back in until summer? Is it okay to bring them indoors for floor time or will this give them thermal shock when they go back out (central heating is off)? Is there anything else I should be doing to help them transition? Any advice appreciated. Thanks x

Treat them like you would tender summer planting and be prepared to bring them back inside during cold spells and storms (like the one we are just experiencing). Wait until the danger of frosty nights has passed but get them used to the outdoors on warm days to harden them off gradually. Don't be tempted to move them outside on the first warm day and rather think of an acclimatisation period instead of a day. The same goes for autumn - when the nights get cool, it is time to come back in, but they can still spend warm days outside.

Some of the tips in this guide here may help you: Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

 

[Nicjones99]

Thank you Weibke, I'm not much of a gardener but I see what you mean! I'll bring them back in - I wasn't sure if it would be confusing for their thermostats to keep changing between indoors and outdoors x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you Weibke, I'm not much of a gardener but I see what you mean! I'll bring them back in tonight x

Best bring them back now if you are affected by high winds; it is not warm outside!

Guinea pigs are happiest between 15-25 C. Also be wary of heat waves. We have been confronted with lots of piggies dying from heat strokes last summer; even in the shade, but exposed to hot breezes and the heat being thrown off from brickwork in confined spaces.
Hot Weather Management and Heat Strokes

 

[Nicjones99]

Best bring them back now if you are affected by high winds; it is not warm outside!

Guinea pigs are happiest between 15-25 C. Also be wary of heat waves. We have been confronted with lots of piggies dying from heat strokes last summer; even in the shade, but exposed to hot breezes and the heat being thrown off from brickwork in confined spaces.
Hot Weather Management and Heat Strokes

Yes, I remember this time last year we had a heatwave and I had to bring them in as it was too hot! I've brought them back in now and they seem pretty happy. Just as we thought we had reclaimed the house....! It's supposed to be milder after today so I'll try again then. Thanks for the advice. X

 

[Wiebke]

Yes, I remember this time last year we had a heatwave and I had to bring them in as it was too hot! I've brought them back in now and they seem pretty happy. Just as we thought we had reclaimed the house....! It's supposed to be milder after today so I'll try again then. Thanks for the advice. X

Keep an eye on the weather and the longer forecast over the next few weeks. This is the difficult phase where the weather veers from wintery to summery rather quickly, and with the changing climate, these quick changes are going to become pronounced.