Are they warm enough?

[Carly K]

Hi
We have recently had 2 make guinea pigs who are 4 months old. I wondered if I could get some help and advice please? They are kept outside and I worry they won’t be warm enough. They are in a hutch that is raised slightly off the ground with a thermal cover and the hutch is in a wooden shed just for them and their supplies. Their hutch is lined with newspaper, shavings and lots of hay. They also have hideouts which they snuggle together in. I have got 2 heat pads coming tomorrow. I clean the soiled areas daily and add fresh hay. Will they be ok outside all year round? Also any tips on keeping them warm would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Engel]

@Piggies&buns is the one to ask about this. This is what I did.

Use a thermal cover and waterproof cover if you can as well a few thick blankets and/or carpet, followed by a tarp. You're going to want lots of layers.

Hutch to be packet full of hay and any wet/damp hay to be removed and replaced daily. It's one thing being cold, but being in damp and cold is worse.

I have 3 snuggle safes (heat pads) per pair so maybe order some more for your piggies if you can.

Is the hutch single story or double? If it's a double it may be worth keeping them just on the top floor like other people do.

Insulating the shed is also an idea if you haven't already. I used the foil looking stuff from Screwfix.

Have you got a thermometer in there? It'll definitely help. If it gets too cold you may have to bring them indoors. Have you got a large cage/C&C grids at hand just in case they need to come indoors?

 

[Carly K]

@Piggies&buns is the one to ask about this. This is what I did.

Use a thermal cover and waterproof cover if you can as well a few thick blankets and/or carpet, followed by a tarp. You're going to want lots of layers.

Hutch to be packet full of hay and any wet/damp hay to be removed and replaced daily. It's one thing being cold, but being in damp and cold is worse.

I have 3 snuggle safes (heat pads) per pair so maybe order some more for your piggies if you can.

Is the hutch single story or double? If it's a double it may be worth keeping them just on the top floor like other people do.

Insulating the shed is also an idea if you haven't already. I used the foil looking stuff from Screwfix.

Have you got a thermometer in there? It'll definitely help. If it gets too cold you may have to bring them indoors. Have you got a large cage/C&C grids at hand just in case they need to come indoors?

Thank you for replying and for the advice!
The hutch is double story with a thermal and waterproof cover.
We will def add some more layers and insulate the shed.
We have the grids we use as a playpen inside.
We haven’t got a thermometer in there but will get one. What temp is suggested for the added layers and heat pads day and night?
Thanks again

 

[Engel]

I'd definitely be adding the layers and heat pads at night time now as it's dropping to 2-4°C where I live. As for day time, it honestly depends how warm it's getting in the hutch. Piggies need to be kept above the minimum of 15°C or they'll be too cold.

I will say I have had to bring mine in as it got way too cold for them but I'm trying to think of more ways to insulate the shed for next year.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My boys live in a hutch in my shed.

As above, their hutch is stuffed with hay and I use four heatpads. I shut them into the top level of the hutch during the night as it is much easier to keep one level warm.
On their hutch, they have silver insulation foil on the hutch, a thermal hutch cover, two blankets, a normal waterproof hutch cover (obviously not needed for its ability to be waterproof!) and a duvet. Inside the hutch on the roof where they can’t reach has also been insulated
These measures work well for me and I’ve been able to keep them warm enough in all but one year. Inside the shed is warmer than outside, with the hutch still slightly warmer than even the shed temperature. This generally means I can keep them warm enough in the shed until it is minus 2 outside. The one year I had to bring them in for winter, it got down to minus 9 outside so there was no way I could keep them warm enough so they moved into the house for the rest of the winter.

You will definitely need a thermometer. Piggies are most comfortable between 18 and 22 degrees. 15 is chilly and definitely below 10 is too cold. So as night time temperatures are now well below that, they need these measures now. You should definitely add more hutch covers and insulation. It’s great you’re getting heatpads as insulating alone isn’t never without a source of warmth in the first place.
As I said, I lock mine in the top half of their hutch so the four heatpads are spread throughout that one level which means it is always warmer. If you’ve got a double storey hutch and they will have access to both levels year round, then I personally wouldn’t think two heatpads is enough
My boys will also get heatpads during the day in mid winter But it’s not cold enough in the shed during the day for them to need them yet - although it was a 10 degree day here yesterday, the shed was 19 so they were quite happy! I just pulled the hutch covers down late afternoon to trap that warmth from the day within the hutch and then popped heat pads in later in the evening.

I note you have grids you use as a playpen inside. Do you mean for if you need to move them indoors for winter? Or are you planning on bringing them into the house during winter for playtime and then putting them back in the hutch/shed at all other times? If so, then do be aware piggies cannot be exposed to fluctuations in temperature. Outdoor piggies should not be brought inside for playtime during winter as they change in temperature from out to in and back again can make them poorly

 

[Carly K]

Thanks for the advice. I will get more heat pads today and block the bottom of the hutch off at night. I will also add blankets m insulation to their hutch.
We are having electric put in the shed on Friday so we have a light. Do you think it a small electric radiator might help to heat the shed?
We got the grids for bringing them in when we had them in early September. I work from home most of the time so I did throw to get them used to us and the noises of the house. I did know they can’t be swapped from different temperatures but thank you. I thought we could use it in the house for winter if they have to come in.

 

[Piggies&buns]

People use thermostatic oil filled radiators to help heat a shed. It’s obviously going to depend on the size of the shed, how well the shed is insulated etc as to how effective it is at heating the space but anything to keep the chill off is a good thing! Being in a shed alone goes a long way - they aren’t exposed to draughts and damp which is a huge comfort to them

It’s always a great idea to keep a back up plan - I have loads of grids cable tied together as an easy to set up cage to bring mine in at a moments notice!

 

[KHBz]

Thanks for the advice. I will get more heat pads today and block the bottom of the hutch off at night. I will also add blankets m insulation to their hutch.
We are having electric put in the shed on Friday so we have a light. Do you think it a small electric radiator might help to heat the shed?
We got the grids for bringing them in when we had them in early September. I work from home most of the time so I did throw to get them used to us and the noises of the house. I did know they can’t be swapped from different temperatures but thank you. I thought we could use it in the house for winter if they have to come in.

I have an electric heater plugged into a thermostatic plug, with the plug’s temperature sensor set to 19 or 20 degrees in the day, to keep the (very insulated) shed‘s daytime temperature at 20 degrees. I don’t want the day temperature even at 21 degrees because in the evening the heater is turned off, the already-very-insulated hutch is completely covered, and the temperature inside the hutch goes to 18-19 degrees (lower when bitterly cold). This way there is minimal temperature fluctuation between day and night. Last night was the first night they were shut inside the hutch, without access to the run, because it is now going to 13 degrees at night in the shed/outbuilding with the heater off.

I found that the supposedly thermostatic electric heater just didn’t maintain a controlled temperature on its own, hence the addition of the thermostatic plug.

We had converted the shed to my study (alas no more thanks to the piggies moving in), so we are very lucky to have such an insulated outside space, with a sturdy tiled roof and tightly fitting door. The portable radiator is a necessity, however to keep them in the luxury to which they have become accustomed!