Freezing Guinea Pigs

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JoHamer

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Hi just had to share this with other guinea pig nutters. As you know we have 2 females that we rescued at Easter. Skinny, sad girls who were constantly bathed but never had messy hay! These girls are now huge thanks to unlimited hay, unlimited dry food and fresh organic grass and plants. To these I added a 9 week old baby who has been living with 3 boars. They were all outside in a well covered hutch until last weekend when we visited Heronfield Animal Rescue in Knowle. The owner told me that guinea pigs can freeze overnight. HELP! I immediatley went home and made them a new home in a shed. Last night when I put them in after being outside all day they all dissappeared to hide. Their space was all nice and clean with new blankets, a sqube, fresh hay and food. I shut the door the stood and watched with my torch through the window. One by one they crept out and started exploring, then jumping around, it was just so amazing I couldn't tear myself away. Noone else understands me, they think I'm nuts. I love those little girls so much and could watch them for hours! I even dream about guinea pigs, what's happening to me?
 
Aww, it is lovely that you love your piggies so much and after the weather last night, it's a good job they're in the shed. My girls also live in a shed. It was very cold here last night but I have made an undercover 'shelter' in my shed with two of these underneath http://www.wiltonpets.co.uk/MoreDetails_44552_Lazy-Bones-LB315-Small-Animal-House.aspx these are packed to the top with hay and I put a snugglesafe in each. The shed floor is covered with vynel, newspaper and a thick layer of shavings with handfuls of hay, cosies and fleeces dotted about. They also have two smaller wooden houses that they can go in as well.

These are snugglesafe heat pads and I wouldn't be without mine in this weather http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_beds_baskets/thermal_heated_blankets/59060
 
Here are more tips for keeping piggies warm in cold weather: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?54309-Cold-Weather-Care-For-Guinea-Pigs
Keeping cool in hot weather:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?48840-**Warm-Weather-Warning**

Guinea pigs come from a very stable climate; they struggle with the extremes of heat as well as cold and also with quick changes in temperatures. They should be kept at about the same temperatures that we humans are comfy with; dampness and cold drafts can also cause illness.
 
Thanks for all the help, you guys never let me down! They have got a sturdy little wooden house inside the shed. I even put soft toys on the outside bit for baby Poppy. Never fear if it gets too cold they'll be in bed with me! Seriously though I'd love my own piggies, these live at my grandchildrens because we have 3 dogs, 2 hound types and a terrier and they have killed wild rabbits. I'm trying to think of where I could safely keep mine but until then I'm looking after and loving these funny girls.
 
Phew, when I saw the title of this thread I was grief stricken!
I'm sure the piggies will be very snug in the shed with lots of warm hay and all the other bits given in the advice.
No more 'frozen' pigs for me to panic about!:Ayociexp118:
 
herriotfan said:
Phew, when I saw the title of this thread I was grief stricken!
I'm sure the piggies will be very snug in the shed with lots of warm hay and all the other bits given in the advice.
No more 'frozen' pigs for me to panic about!:Ayociexp118:
Click to expand...

I was the same! Phew!

Amy
x
 
I worried about the title too :o
I read last year from a member on here that someone who didn't care for their piggies outdoors did actually freeze solid overnight !
My lot are in our lounge, have snugglepads in their pens reheated at least twice daily and the front of the pens are covered with huge fleeces when we go to bed. If I feel a bit chilly, they're feeling it too.
Really had to bath one of my moosive haired boys this morning which I avoid in the winter - poor little devil just wanted to go back into his pen with his brother after but made sure he was thoroughly dried, extra heatpad under his tunnel and more hay.
I'm sooo paranoid about them in the colder months and drive them bonkers by constantly checking their little feet and ears for warmth rolleyes...wish we had a nicer climate in the UK all year round brrr
 
Bertie is in an annexe to the house. Cling film at the window to stop the cold. He has a wooden house inside the cage and I am always putting my hand in to feel if he is warm. I think one of these days he could nip me, and I wouldnt blame him! I wouldnt like it if someone kept constantly feeling my ears and toes to see if I was warm! I also cover his whole cage with a thick fleece blanket over night!
 
As long as they have tons of hay (And i mean tons in the bed and run part as much as you can get in), plus thick and water proof sheets (mine have 6 layers atm and will have more added as it gets colder) they will be fine. Also add boxes full of hay for them to hide in (I put hay on the top too to keep some heat in) I also add my snuggle sacks bury them into the hay (again like the boxes to keep heat in) but check them for dampness and change/turn over as needed. Other than that if/when it gets very cold use heat pads on a night. Ive started giving mine extra fiber by giving bran and oats.
 
Well Berties cage is now inside the back room. I was sitting at the computer in the back room and I was thinking blimey it is cold in here, I had the annexe door open. So I thought poor Bert and he is currently sitting in his cage watching me type!8:)
 
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