Chilly weather

Lauraarse03

Lauraarse03

Junior Guinea Pig
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Location
Westspringfield mass
So I’ve had my guinea pigs 2 1/2 years and every time it’s too hot or too cold always anxious cause I don’t want them to be cold and I don’t want them to overheat so I’m constantly worried about them They have a CNC cage on the floor but I have a few layers of fleece for the floor. I constantly spot clean and make sure their bedding is dry and give them extra blankets to lay in but I still feel like it’s chilly it’s about 55° right now in my house because it’s not snowing yet. I live in western Massachusetts. They are in a smaller room with the door closed all the time but I feel like the heat doesn’t get into that room as much as I’d like. Is there any other tips you can give me I already read the indoor care for guinea pigs in the winter, but I wasn’t sure if anybody else had any tips for me. Thank you so much.
 
55 degrees Fahrenheit converts to just 12 degrees Celsius which is a bit too cold for them (and for you) - they ideally should be kept between 64 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit which is 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.
The general rule is what is comfortable for you should be comfortable for them. If you feel chilly, then they certainly are likely to already be feeling cold.

Is there any heating on in the house?
Is there a heater in their room? Keeping the door shut may be making things colder if there is not heating in their room but is heating elsewhere.
Do you use microwaveable snugglesafe heatpads to provide a warm spot for them to sit on?

You could cover their cage with blankets to help trap warmth in but the thing is the room could do with being a bit warmer to begin with.
 
Yes, I have heat in my house it’s just not winter yet so we haven’t turned it on yet. They have heating in their room also I actually just turned it on a second ago just to keep it warm in there lol. No I don’t have any heating pads for them. I looked them up before I wasn’t sure which ones were good and which ones weren’t that effective if you could maybe give me a link or a name of ones that you know that work really good. I’d appreciate it so I can order some right now.
 
As I say, 55 F/12C is chilly for them so even if you don’t want the heating on elsewhere in the house yet, then it could be a good idea to try to keep their room a bit warmer.

If you look on Amazon for ‘Snugglesafe heat pad’ it will hopefully bring up a pink disc with a fleece cover. That is what you are looking for.
 
Betsy said:
Do you have lots of hay for them to snuggle up in? Thea, especially loves to hide in her huge pile of hay in the hay tray. She also has a fleece hidey with a Snugglesafe heat pad underneath it but prefers the hay pile.
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No hay piles just a hay rack in their cage
 
Lauraarse03 said:
No hay piles just a hay rack in their cage
Click to expand...

I would put loose piles of hay in the cage and not use racks. It will mean they can snuggle into it but also because racks can restrict their ability to play, have fun and forage amongst hay. Hay is enrichment and entertainment as well as food
 
Piggies&buns said:
I would put loose piles of hay in the cage and not use racks. It will mean they can snuggle into it but also because racks can restrict their ability to play, have fun and forage amongst hay. Hay is enrichment and entertainment as well as food
Click to expand...
Ok I’ll definitely do that thank you so much
 
I wonder if raising the cage would help as well? Just a thought as heat rises - although if the room is cold there's only so much you can do...

Can definitely recommend a small heater with a thermostat / timer as well; we live in an old house and my son's room is the coldest room by far so we have a little heater that ticks on periodically overnight. It does wonders for keeping his room a respectable temperature without have to use the central heating!
 
Never see hay as wasted, even if you have to chuck a load out. Your piggies will have had a lot of fun with it. They love to:
  • Run through it.
  • Fall asleep in it
  • Make hay tunnels in it.
  • Hide in it and eat their way out.
  • Forage for food in it (I always scatter feed pellets in hay).
  • Poop in it.
  • Wee in it.
  • Eat it after they have pooped and wee'd in it as it clearly tastes better with a bit of "seasoning".
I must chuck out at least a third of the hay that I put in for the piggies but as they have had a load of fun with it, how can it have been wasted?
 
You're so right!, today spent time, (after going out and buying 3 bales of hay) using one bale fluffed up around "the Hutch " then spent (wasted) the next hour watching the fun. As the temperatures are now dropping, this will be a weekly chore, over winter. As it gets colder "the Hutch " becomes a hotbed, and will be toasty warm till clean out in spring.
 
@Lauraarse03 Hi! I bought these Snuggle Safes from amazon and they work really well. Amazon.com

I didn't get to use mine much last year. I primarily used them during a severe winter storm when I thought we might loose power.
 
poggle said:
I wonder if raising the cage would help as well? Just a thought as heat rises - although if the room is cold there's only so much you can do...

Can definitely recommend a small heater with a thermostat / timer as well; we live in an old house and my son's room is the coldest room by far so we have a little heater that ticks on periodically overnight. It does wonders for keeping his room a respectable temperature without have to use the central heating!
Click to expand...
Thank you I will try all these ideas
 
Betsy said:
@teddymouse, Angie, you really must stop calling your Piggie Palace "The Hutch"! I think we need to see a picture of it again as one hasn't been posted on here for a few years and we a ll need to see what luxury your piggies live in.
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Sorry Jacky, it was named "The Hutch " right from the 1st panel going up, lol. to me it was a fitting name 😉 😀 xx
 
Thanks for the link @Betsy it was lovely to look at that amazing 'hutch' again. There were so many forum members we sadly don't see now.
@teddymouse you are an angel to take in so many piggies and devote your life to them. My 6 take up most of my time I don't know how you look after so many.
 
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