Guinea Pigs Outside In Winter

[chloegabrielle_]

I have two piggys outside in a hutch, they are well protected from the elements and have a waterproof cover. However although I pack the hutch with hay I'm worried they will get too cold I don't have room in the house for them- but they do have a fluffy bed that I bought from Pets at home! I've been advised to keep them outside and told they will be fine however I still worry!

 

[sport_billy]

Moving this to guinea pig chat for you, it will get more views there..

Do you have a garage?

 

[Tewdric]

@chloegabrielle_ I too have my pigs outside over winter. I don't have a garage, there's no room for a shed in the garden and they can't live in the house as if they did my husband would spend a lot of time in hospital due to his severe asthma.
If you have a waterproof insulated shed could you move your hutch in there for the winter, it would help?
If like me you have no other option then your pigs can be snuggly and warm outside in a well prepared hutch.
Locate it in the most sheltered spot you can find. Have a well-built solid wood hutch – not one may from ply type boards which are much thinner. Insulate the hutch well. Give your pigs lots of bedding and plenty of hay to snuggle into.
If you can, on the coldest nights line the interior of their night area with thick cardboard and then give them corrugated cardboard boxes stuffed with hay to sleep in. Obviously cover over the front of the hutch with something warm (towels, blankets etc) under your waterproof layer on the coldest nights. Make sure you leave some gaps for ventilation though!
The most important thing is to keep your pigs dry. Change all damp/wet bedding regularly.
Keep close eye on them. Check they’re warm whenever you go out to them. On the coldest nights I will give my boys extra pellet rations, especially if they seem hungry – but only on the coldest nights otherwise they’ll fill up on them and won’t eat their hay!
Some people use snugglesafes that heat up in the microwave. I’d never heard of them before I joined the forum and I’ve not used them – but I’m sure someone will be along who has and can advise on how useful or otherwise they are.
My previous pair of boys had to make it through the worst winter we’ve had in our area for years a few years ago. The car thermometer was showing -10 some mornings and we had snow, which is practically unheard of for us in a low lying area close to a large river. We were worried about my boys that year. However, in spite of the extreme temps every time I checked up on my boys they were toasty warm. Their sleeping area resembled a tortoise hibernation box, but it did the job!

Next time we move house I'm going to ensure we have a shed/garage/outbuilding for my pigs - but until then with care and planning they can be kept outside over winter and be fine.

 

[Sue and Smartie]

I've got a snugglesafe and it's very good - stays hot for ages and you can wash the cover when they wee on it.
But I am not a fan of keeping piggies outside in winter. It's not just the effect that cold weather can have on pigs (they will survive if healthy but the old and the infirm will struggle) but the cleaning out of the hutch. That job is SO much easier if you can do it undercover

 

[Tewdric]

But I am not a fan of keeping piggies outside in winter. It's not just the effect that cold weather can have on pigs (they will survive if healthy but the old and the infirm will struggle) but the cleaning out of the hutch. That job is SO much easier if you can do it undercover

Some of us don't want to keep our pigs outside, but have no choice (at present) in the matter. I feel my boys have all had good lives with me even though they have lived outside. I believe I am backed up in this by the fact that a reputable rescue from the list on the rescue locator above was willing to rehome one of their pigs to me even when I'd been very honest with them and said that my boys have to live outside due to my husband's health issues.

Cleaning out! Oh the number of mornings and evenings I've been drenched whilst attending to various pets and livestock over the years. Perhaps it helps in that I come from a very rural background and have been responsible for feeding and cleaning out since I was 7 whatever the weather. Not pleasent, but if you have animals it has to be done. It's certainly a shorter job than walking a hyper active spaniel 4 miles before breakfast!

Having said all that, I am looking forward to the prospect of a propper shed/garage when we get sorted with doing up our house and moving in a few years time. Hubby has promised it's one of the requirements when we do sort ourselves out a bit and start house hunting again.

 

[Sue and Smartie]

I certainly didn't mean to make it sound like a bad thing - I have kept pigs outside too.
It's just easier if there is an electric light
You will be wallowing in luxury when you get your shed!

 

[Goth Mummy]

One thing you could do is either purchase or build a kind of "bus shelter" around the hutch - that would give it a second layer of protection from the elements. I have seen the log store sold at argos being used in this way. I was going to find the link for you but the Argos site is down!