from indoor c&c to ‘summer house’ need some advice please x

piggiemummy03x

piggiemummy03x

Adult Guinea Pig
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due to unforeseen circumstances i am no longer able to keep my beautiful babies inside. i am absolutely heartbroken and so scared as i know how hard it is with extreme weathers, this is only temporary while i am trying to get back on my feet but for now I'm trying to focus on the fact i am able to keep my girls and not have to rehome.

luckily they will not be directly outside, rather in a small ‘summer house’ type shed which we are going to kit out (oil heater, curtains, window seals etc) but obviously they are in a c&c cage currently, i am assuming because they are more outside i will need to get a hutch? and what does this mean for fleece? no more? this also makes me anxious as I'm worried about dust etc (if anyone can recommend the best bedding for me to start looking in to) i would really appreciate the advice🫶🏻

so main questions right now are will i need a hutch, can you use fleece still if a constant temperature is kept with the heater and if not what bedding is best rated for ‘outside’ pigs? thanks!
 
piggiemummy03x said:
due to unforeseen circumstances i am no longer able to keep my beautiful babies inside. i am absolutely heartbroken and so scared as i know how hard it is with extreme weathers, this is only temporary while i am trying to get back on my feet but for now I'm trying to focus on the fact i am able to keep my girls and not have to rehome.

luckily they will not be directly outside, rather in a small ‘summer house’ type shed which we are going to kit out (oil heater, curtains, window seals etc) but obviously they are in a c&c cage currently, i am assuming because they are more outside i will need to get a hutch? and what does this mean for fleece? no more? this also makes me anxious as I'm worried about dust etc (if anyone can recommend the best bedding for me to start looking in to) i would really appreciate the advice🫶🏻

so main questions right now are will i need a hutch, can you use fleece still if a constant temperature is kept with the heater and if not what bedding is best rated for ‘outside’ pigs? thanks!
Click to expand...
I’m sorry to read your circumstances have changed .
I hope you can get back on your feet asap .
Please don’t put your piggies outside( in a summerhouse) til late Spring - they will not be able to adjust to the sudden change in temperature and conditions , even with heat and it will be extremely serious for their health and could be fatal.
Planning ahead means you can decide what you want etc.
I don’t think you can use fleece outside anyhow as it gets damp.
 
piggiemummy03x said:
due to unforeseen circumstances i am no longer able to keep my beautiful babies inside. i am absolutely heartbroken and so scared as i know how hard it is with extreme weathers, this is only temporary while i am trying to get back on my feet but for now I'm trying to focus on the fact i am able to keep my girls and not have to rehome.

luckily they will not be directly outside, rather in a small ‘summer house’ type shed which we are going to kit out (oil heater, curtains, window seals etc) but obviously they are in a c&c cage currently, i am assuming because they are more outside i will need to get a hutch? and what does this mean for fleece? no more? this also makes me anxious as I'm worried about dust etc (if anyone can recommend the best bedding for me to start looking in to) i would really appreciate the advice🫶🏻

so main questions right now are will i need a hutch, can you use fleece still if a constant temperature is kept with the heater and if not what bedding is best rated for ‘outside’ pigs? thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear this.

You don’t yet know how well the radiator will keep your shed up to temperature so best to assume that it won’t (it may only be capable of taking the edge off the chill rather than keeping them fully at the temperature they are accustomed to - going to depend on shed size, how good the insulation is etc) so take all warming precautions - so that means:
- A hutch is best (hard to keep them warm in a c&c plus they offer no protection should a predator get in); and still need blankets thrown over it
- snugglesafe heatpads
- No fleece. Shavings and hay for outside bedding (and for warmth). I use snowflake soft chip bedding and then top with hay. It’s small wood chips rather than shavings so they are heavier and I find it much easier to spot clean
- thermometer in the hutch (not just in the shed as it doesn’t necessarily mean the shed and hutch are being kept at the same temp)
- good shed insulation

And plan ahead for if they are still out there in summer - keeping them outside in summer can be harder than winter. A warm sunny day in April can really heat my shed up so that I have to have the doors open (I have internal mesh doors so that they are still protected when the external doors are open).
 
Hi how sad for you having to move your girls.
Are you able to wait until the winter is over or do you need to move them straight away? 💐
 
Roselina said:
I’m sorry to read your circumstances have changed .
I hope you can get back on your feet asap .
Please don’t put your piggies outside( in a summerhouse) til late Spring - they will not be able to adjust to the sudden change in temperature and conditions , even with heat and it will be extremely serious for their health and could be fatal.
Planning ahead means you can decide what you want etc.
I don’t think you can use fleece outside anyhow as it gets damp.
Click to expand...
i dont have any other option, its this or rehoming them.. i cant do that to my girls. i dont know what to do😭
 
Piggies&buns said:
I'm sorry to hear this.

You don’t yet know how well the radiator will keep your shed up to temperature so best to assume that it won’t (it may only be capable of taking the edge off the chill rather than keeping them fully at the temperature they are accustomed to - going to depend on shed size, how good the insulation is etc) so take all warming precautions - so that means:
- A hutch is best (hard to keep them warm in a c&c plus they offer no protection should a predator get in); and still need blankets thrown over it
- snugglesafe heatpads
- No fleece. Shavings and hay for outside bedding (and for warmth). I use snowflake soft chip bedding and then top with hay. It’s small wood chips rather than shavings so they are heavier and I find it much easier to spot clean
- thermometer in the hutch (not just in the shed as it doesn’t necessarily mean the shed and hutch are being kept at the same temp)
- good shed insulation

And plan ahead for if they are still out there in summer - keeping them outside in summer can be harder than winter. A warm sunny day in April can really heat my shed up so that I have to have the doors open (I have internal mesh doors so that they are still protected when the external doors are open).
Click to expand...
this is what i thought, i knew it wouldn’t work but tried to convince myself as its the only option i have, I'm at a complete loss at what to do
 
piggiemummy03x said:
this is what i thought, i knew it wouldn’t work but tried to convince myself as its the only option i have, I'm at a complete loss at what to do
Click to expand...

They will be fine in a hutch in a shed, as long as you provide plenty of hay, heatpads and thermal covers in the hutch.
While it isn’t ideal to move them out now in mid winter and it is going to be quite a bit of work, it is definitely doable.
 
Piggies&buns said:
They will be fine in a hutch in a shed, as long as you provide plenty of hay, heatpads and thermal covers in the hutch.
While it isn’t ideal to move them out now in mid winter and it is going to be quite a bit of work, it is definitely doable.
Click to expand...
someone else has said it can be fatal so I'm just scared😮‍💨 i know its not ideal but i really hope i can make this work. my plan is to set everything up before moving to see what the heater can get the temperature too etc and go based of this!
 
piggiemummy03x said:
someone else has said it can be fatal so I'm just scared😮‍💨 i know its not ideal but i really hope i can make this work. my plan is to set everything up before moving to see what the heater can get the temperature too etc and go based of this!
Click to expand...

That is a good plan.
If you can keep them warm in their hutch then they will be ok. Mine never got below 10 degrees in their hutches even when the shed was colder than that (insulated but unheated shed)
 
piggiemummy03x said:
someone else has said it can be fatal so I'm just scared😮‍💨 i know its not ideal but i really hope i can make this work. my plan is to set everything up before moving to see what the heater can get the temperature too etc and go based of this!
Click to expand...
@Piggies&buns has given you the best advice - Piggies&buns is a staff member and has a wealth of experience.
Planning ahead is good - I’m sure it’ll work out and you are clearly a very devoted piggy owner 🥰
I apologise if I upset and worried you - it wasn’t my intention
Good luck with everything it must be difficult for you too ❤️
We’re here to support you 🥰
 
I’m so sorry you are having to make this decision. Sending you massive hugs. I can only guess how awful you feel.

Lots of people house piggies outside. I’ve had piggies in hutches in a shed and a garage. They were fine. When do they have to be moved out by? Do you have time to lower the temperature in their room slowly now for a while? If not do you have a cool porch or conservatory you could move them to before they go out properly?

They will need a hutch and suitable bedding. I used to use wood shavings on top of newspapers in the main area and then newspapers, wood shavings and lots of hay in the bedroom part. You can put a snugglesafe in there too under the hay.

I put a large duvet over the back and sides of the hutch. In the day the front had a clear plastic sheet over it to stop draughts and at night another duvet was pulled over the front.
 
Great idea to lower the temperature in the house to allow them to adjust 💕
 
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