Can Guinea Pigs Live On Bark?

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lou4l

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 1, 2014
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I have an igloo omlet chicken coop which I'm looking at using as an outdoor home for my 2 piggies. It's got an extendable run so about 6ft and the house attached but it's on bark, it's too big as it is to move around the garden.
Has anyone kept them on bark and is it ok or harmful?

I could get a a wire run for occasional use when I'm with them to let them have some time on grass.

What do you think?
 
Not sure about keeping piggies in a plastic hutch as such. Prob ok in cooler weather but you'd have to watch out they don't overheat under plastic in hotter weather. I've never heard of them being kept on bark before. Can it not go on the grass somewhere else?
 
Bark can be poisonous. I would not let them near it as it can also cause allergies.
 
Not really its so big and not easy to move, it's a specialist house so warm in winter cool in summer. They do a guinea pig house and run that is a lot smaller, my last 2 hens have just gone so I've got the hen version already.
 
I'll sell the chicken omlet then and buy a guinea one so I can use it on grass. What do other people use in the summer?

I got them in winter so only been indoors.
 
You know guinea pigs can live indoors all year round. Mine do. I would just leave them living indoors unless you wanted to just let them have a bit of time on the grass. I have seen the guinea pig omelette and unless you use the extended bit they are far too small. I think they are really expensive and not worth the price. You could get a lovely c and c cage and have lots of space for far less.
 
I feel guilty that they are inside when it's nice and sunny outside, they don't seem to be exercising much.
The indoor cage is a simple cage and doesn't seem to offer them much but I also need to think about ease of cleaning etc.
 
C and c cages are so easy to clean. I just sit in mine. My piggies ever go outside and are happy and healthy. I personally think guinea pigs are happier and safer living indoors. Can they not just go outside for a bit in the summer? Do you give them floor time daily?
 
Yes we have a dogs room that they live in and I keep the dogs out and they are free to run round but they seem to just hide in a corner. Can you buy the c and c cages or do you make them up yourselves. At the min they are in a standard cage I put puppy pads down then newspaper but feel they need more enrichment.
 
Lou4l said:
Yes we have a dogs room that they live in and I keep the dogs out and they are free to run round but they seem to just hide in a corner. Can you buy the c and c cages or do you make them up yourselves. At the min they are in a standard cage I put puppy pads down then newspaper but feel they need more enrichment.
Click to expand...

You buy all the parts and build it yourself. It doesn't take very long and you can even get all the parts together if you are from the UK. http://correxcages.weebly.com/
 
Do they have tunnels, beds and houses? You can also give them paper bags without handles filled with hay and kitchen rolls to play with.
 
They have a bed igloo thing but not a tunnel as such.
 
There is a thread on here for c&c cage ideas. I dont use correx in mine just a shower curtain then incontinence pads then fleece. They have litter trays as well with newspaper then finacard then hay.I use the plastic coated grids as i found them cheaper. It has been extended but this gives you the general idea. There was 2 in there, now a 5x4 with 2 adults and 4 babies so will be extended again to 5x5 soon
 
I've spent £100 with him after having to split Edgar & Poe and have now 2 2x3 cages with a 2x1 loft each.2 ramps and 2 2x3 correx bases. Not bad at all I feel. :)
 
I bring mine in at night but as soon as its warm enough they go out all day in a very secure run/hutch which was made by the other half. If you have anyone that could make one for you, that would be cheaper than buying a shop bought one and it will also last a lot longer. I've attached some pics for ideas. I feel happy to leave them in the garden all day unattended in this. If the sun is too hot, they get moved into a shaded part of the garden or brought inside image.webp image.webp image.webp
 
OMG! Love the staircase on your hutch Winifred! I have never seen anything so lovely!
 
Did someone make that for you? Stairs are fab I'm sure piggies would really be able to use them a lot better than a ramp!
 
Yes, my other half made it. The older pig isn't too keen on the curve at the bottom but she still manages it when she wants a grass fix. By the time we had bought the wood, mesh and paint it worked out to be around the £200 mark. I got him to add the handrails as I was scared they might fall off on the way up. Lol
 
My guinea pigs have always lived outdoors. However if it was 100% my choice, they would be indoors. I feel like they're safer and you can keep an eye on any illness so much better.

You can always put them outdoors on nice days in a secure run with shelter? Thats what the plan is for me over summers, once my pigs live indoors.
 
Wow that's some run, no chance of my hubby knocking one up.
Think I've solved it, I've taken my chicken eglu off the bark reduced the run size removed the roosting bars and put hay in the nesting box bit. They had a trail hour in it on Sunday and loved it the run is big enough for me to put tunnels etc in.
I'm going to put them in for a few hours on nice days until they can stay out longer.

Will look at making one up for next winter. Thank you for your help.

X
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top