Bit Confused Regarding Indoors/outdoors

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Joeyegg

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 20, 2015
Messages
12
Reaction score
18
Points
155
Location
Manchester
Hi there,

Total newbie here, 2 days into owning our gorgeous piggies. We have friends that have guinea pigs that live outside all year round, the pet shop we got our little piggies from said that would be fine when I asked as long as we had enough hay in the hutch and the proper cover for the hutch. The more I'm reading on here the more that I'm thinking that they need to be inside over the winter. I've just ordered a cozie fleecey hideaway and was thinking about one of the heat pads too but today it was so wet outside (even though they were dry) I was getting worried about the little things. We have a playroom in the converted cellar, would I be better to just put the hutch down there over the colder months and create a bit of a run etc?

Any advice welcome. I can't buy another indoor cage as the room I would have wouldn't be great but I could put the original hutch in front of things already there.

I'm totally aware I sound like a novice, but I am and just want to ensure the little piggies are happy. xx
 
The best way to keep guinea outside is in an insulated shed with a heater. I personally keep mine indoors as I'd feel terrible.

Don't worry about sounding like a novice, we all were at one point :)
 
Thank you, think that everyone will come home from work/school tomorrow to find the hutch in the middle of the kitchen. I;m a bit cross that I was told they'd be fine outside as I would have bought an indoor enclosure instead and made it work. They are only babies, can hear them wheeking from where I am x
 
Joeyegg said:
Thank you, think that everyone will come home from work/school tomorrow to find the hutch in the middle of the kitchen. I;m a bit cross that I was told they'd be fine outside as I would have bought an indoor enclosure instead and made it work. They are only babies, can hear them wheeking from where I am x
Click to expand...

Aww! The only thing is, most people can't bear to put them back outside :))

I think the lowest temperature for piggies is 14 degrees
 
My compromise is in the garage it's not warm but I am gradually insulating the hutch and giving them lots to keep them warm, it's only going to get colder but inside is not an option for us.
 
None of my pigs have ever lived inside and it's not an option for the future either. They've been in un-heated sheds/ garages (no cars) with blankets around the hutches and extra hay in the winter and have been totally fine.
 
I've kept pigs indoors and outdoors and have to say that I personally prefer indoors :3 It's just nice to see them more often when you're going about the house! When I get's really cold I'd suggest bringing them indoors to a shed or unused garage, but in the milder weather they'll be fine! Just make sure they have plenty of hay, a hutch cover to keep drafts out and keep an eye out for flystrike + algae in the water in the summer :)
Keep the hutch elevated and out of direct sunlight/drafts (but you probably knew that already ;))
 
So glad to hear of someone else who has to keep their gp's out of the house, I was beginning to feel as though I was abusing mine :(
 
Tomsmum said:
So glad to hear of someone else who has to keep their gp's out of the house, I was beginning to feel as though I was abusing mine :(
Click to expand...

As long as they're not in direct sun, drafts or damp, they'll be fine. Common sense required in the colder months with regards to warmth and extra burrowing hay! My last two lived to 6 and 8 - not too shabby!

My OH has bad hay fever (he's a gardener - go figure!) so no hope of any indoor pigs for me!
 
:wel: to the forum. Personally, if I had a choice , I'd keep mine indoors -it's so much easier to interact with them. Mine are in an insulated shed . I have some heating in there and am intending to make sure the temp stays above 15 degrees C . This is as much for me as them !
 
Thank you all so much! They are down the side of our house right opposite the back door. Whenever we're in the kitchen I have the door open so they get used to hearing us. They don't run and hide quite so much and it's only 4 days into them being here! I have built a kida of run for inside using the box the hutch came in so they are having a cuddle after school then having a play in there with some snacks and lots of hideaway boxes. Rhubarb is happy to stay out in the open (near the edge) but custard goes headfirst into a box of hay and stays there. To put her back in the hutch I just put her back whilst she was still in the box so as not to frighten her.
 
Okay, update - have just ordered grids and connectors to make a inside house for them ( sold it as a 'play run' to hubby). Will be good to have for when it gets really cold and before then it can be for a bit of a play inside. Got enough to make a lid too as we do have a cat and although I'll make sure they are in different rooms you can never be too careful.
 
Mine stay outside all year round! I have the hutch in a sheltered area of the garden near the house with a cover. They have hay and snuggle up for warmth. Ive even had them in snow and to the touch guineas are warm and toastie. How ever if it was that cold for snow they wouldn't be put in the run.
As ive said before it depends where you live. I live in the Midlands it's rare it gets into minus numbers. Pets at home say that they are fine to - 5 in a well insulated hutch.
 
Mine love the comfort of a warm pig room, lve just been to look in in on them
and 3 are snuggled up under the radiator,
pig room temp is 60f :))
 
I don't think it's bad to keep them outside, provided they are protected by the elements and your climate is conducive to keeping them outside safely. I'm in Canada, so it's too cold for them to survive the winter outside, so I let them outside in the spring/summer to play, but don't have any kind of permanent setup for them out there, as it wouldn't work six months out of the year. Plus I like having them inside!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top