Free Roaming

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sailaice

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I am guessing lots of people don't do this for various reasons.

But running the risk of getting my head bitten off for mentioning it.

Can people give me some opinions on it?

xx
 
Not sure why you would get your head bitten off :)

I don't do it for the simple fact I have two children and its not hygenic to have animals running about where my daughters play.

I do section off an area of the garden they can roam in and chomp on the grass but don't really like doing it in the house for hygeine reasons. :)
 
I meant free roaming in the garden.

I didn't mean head really bitten off :)) I know a lot of people are really against outdoor free roaming.

We have a small secure garden, no foxes or predators and I was wondering what risks I would run with free roaming and would they go back to their hutch at nighttime etc

x
 
Ohhh lol oh I'm all for it because I have an enclosed garden but I also have bunnies who free roam. So that is why I section off areas of my garden for the pigs I have 7 girls so I give them about 20 foot. It's not total free roaming as I pen it off with grids and put a mesh over the top so they can't escape and no birds can come down (we have hawks in this area. ) :)
 
It is too cold to have them free roaming right now I would say and there is always the danger of predators, as Louise says, from above too!
 
When your bunnies free roam do they go back to the hutch? I have a friend who has a free roaming bunny and he hops in and out of his hutch.

Would * need to keep them in the hutch for a few days while they got used to it?
 
By 'free roaming' do you mean the guineas living out all year round and putting themselves to bed? In the UK it's too cold in the winter for this, they would get wet tummies which would lead to illness I think.

In the summer my single boars take it in turns to roam - they are loose in the garden and spend their time visiting the runs with the other pigs in and generally showing off because they're 'free' - but only when I'm there to supervise.

I think there would be issues with keeping health checks on free roaming piggies, you'd have to be very vigilant and also it could be hard to catch them when needed!

Unfortunately they don't seem to have any clue about what's good for them, some of mine sit out in the rain even though they can easily get into a sheltered dry hutch... so I don't think you could rely on them looking after themselves in that way....

Sophie
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I meant the piggies free roaming throughout the summer months and putting themselves to bed but not in the winter.

I had heard of other people doing this but wanted to know the risks before it became an option or maybe hear from someone else who allows theirs to free roam.
 
Ah ok - well yes, my boars do but not when I'm not there because there are cats next door and I wouldn't be happy about leaving them out.

I'm looking to build a large penned area for next summer though, where the piggies can live during the warmer months, but I'd put netting over the top to stop the cats getting in!

Also I wouldn't trust anyone not to leave the back gate open.. had a piggy escape out the back gate last year and it was the most awful feeling - luckily we caught him but it was a narrow escape!

Sophie
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I have yet to see a cat in my back garden. We had our garden cat proofed to keep a cat in we used to have that went outdoor and consequently its has worked to stop them coming in also. SO as * can imagine my garden is very secure although admittedly it won't stop airborne predators but I have never seen one of those either...

I have always liked the idea of have piggies but would like to rescue them ideally but I would be allowing them to free roam in the summer should I decide too but don't know how to go about it.

Will they know to go back to the hutch? Should I keep them in the hutch for a few days before letting them out? I don't know whether to just not let them free roam...
 
If you've got other options i.e a big run or perhaps a shed where they can have the whole floor space plus an outdoor run... I think it would be better that they are enclosed. It's brilliant that you're considering rescue pigs, but as a rescue myself I would hesitate to rehome pigs to a free-roaming home, as I don't think the pigs would put themselves back in their hutches. They are prey animals and so will run and hide.... my garden is secure but I know some of my pigs I wouldn't see again if I let them loose! Some are just too nervous.

Sophie
x
 
Mine will run free in the garden supervised during the day but at night time I have to usher them into the hutches, otherwise they will stay outside in wind and weather - not healthy!
They run for cover straight away when there is a bird flying in or something else startling them. So if you have them outside you might have to provide lots of little houses for them to hide in in frequent intervalls. Open spaces like the grass area they tend to avoid because of the fear of predators.
Mine tend to "hug" the edging around the grass and don't venture out into the middle of the grass.

If you could cover your backyard with a mesh like they use for the trees to stave off birds, then you'll get better protection. Also make sure all the fences are secure and there are no gaps whatsoever for them to escape. They just need to get the head through and they are gone!
Also make sure all your wiring is dug under or secured off if you have garden lighting.
 
Well I think I will definately look into this in the summer. I am so excited! I am going to buy some indoor hutches too for winter time. I noticed an advert locally offering 2 piggies + hutch to a new home so OH is ringing up tonight! xx
 
When you say enclosed... How high are your fences... Foxes and cats can climb over 6ft easily...
 
Hi there,

My piggies and rabbits have a free roam of my yard. It is enclosed so nothing else can get in, and we don't have birds of prey etc. I have been doing it now for over 10 years and have never had a problem. They live in a large shed with run attached, which they can access at all times (I see it as the equivalent of a very large hutch with the shed as the bed and pen as the bit that would be wired on a hutch. I open the pen in the mornings so that if they want to explore the yard they can. I don't open it on very cold days or when it is very wet, but on those days they don't come out of their shed anyway, they are sensible and stay in the warm.

I guess it depends on your piggies, but mine always put themselves away, they only tend to roam for 20 minute slots anyway throughout the day, they don't stay out for very long periods of time.

I've found they really enjoy it, when my back door is open they wander in and start rummaging in the boxes of guinea pig food!

I'd only recommend it if you garden is extremely secure though, as piggies are good at finding ways out.
 
when andy and i upgrade to a house with a garden,we're hoping to get as big a shed as possible and let ours free roam in it. there will be c&c by the door to stop them escaping and to fix their bottles too. we'll also bed them on loads of towels and fleece, then put them on the washing line before and after washing them(hopefully the air/elements will help get rid of hay etc) i personally wouldnt free roam in a garden,why not get a big run though?
 
If you're planning on doing it with just a garden fence and no aerial cover then it's really a recipe for disaster. Bear in mind that just because you haven't seen a predator doesn't mean they aren't there. There are also several reports of guinea pigs being stolen from hutches and sheds across the country

Foxes will dig and any enclosure will need to be dug INTO the ground if you are planning on leaving them unattended. It's not just birds of prey you have to worry about either - larger species of crows like rooks and magpies WILL attack pigs because they are an easy target.

Apologies to Kate and Beks but I'm going to post this (very lovely) picture of them at Thistle Cavies a couple of years ago.

atwork001.jpg


This massive enclosure took an enormous amount of effort. It completely covered a large area and was sunk into the ground. The pigs were shut away in the hutch at night by a human. You can't rely on the guinea pigs to put themselves away at night nor when the weather is bad.

Realistically this is the ONLY way to have guinea pigs "roaming free" in the summer though personally I choose to have mine in all year with some outdoor time, supervised, when the weather is nicer.
 
That's a lovely enclosure.... I'm planning on an outdoor enclosure for mine in the summer (as I've now got a big group of 11 that live together, and no runs big enough!), I completely agree that they couldn't live out in it all year round.

It only takes someone to leave the gate open :{

Sophie
x
 
I never intended for them to free roam all year, just in the summer and in the winter bring them indoors.
x
 
My piggies have a 12by18 foot 6foot high fruit cage attached to two sheds so they can go in and out as they please thisisonly in the summer.Fruit cage was bought from Two Wests and Elliot mail order they .have aweb site In winter they live in my heated conservatory.Everyone thinks I am mad to give conserv. up to piggies but I in summerlove having them indoors.its easier for me too!ps they are locked inthe sheds at night
 
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