Housing outdoors

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cakey face

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Hi everyone, I'm newx>>. I am thinking about getting piggies. In fact I want piggies. The only thing stopping me is that i would have to house them outdoors, :( . Not becos i want too. I just wanted to know if by providing a snugglesafe cover and a hutch hugger. Would this be warm enough for them in the winter. I could also get the heat pads.
I would love a shed but i have been measuring all day today to try and make it fit. There is no way that a shed is poss8.... A playhouse maybe poss but they are only 4ft by 4ft and then the hutch would not fit.
Which brings me to my next question. Size of hutch for 2 piggies ?

Answers would be really appreciated. Thanks
Emma:)p
 
Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I don't agree with keeping guinea pigs outside. Can you see yourself handling them, cleaning them and caring for them through wind, rain, snow and freezing cold? If you have them outside you CANNOT bring them in for cuddles. Add to that there are so many reports recently of pigs being stolen/hurt/at risk from predators I wouldn't even consider it an option. Sorry!

Is there a particular reason you can't have them inside?
 
daftscotslass said:
Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I don't agree with keeping guinea pigs outside. Can you see yourself handling them, cleaning them and caring for them through wind, rain, snow and freezing cold? If you have them outside you CANNOT bring them in for cuddles. Add to that there are so many reports recently of pigs being stolen/hurt/at risk from predators I wouldn't even consider it an option. Sorry!

Is there a particular reason you can't have them inside?
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Sorry, and i dont want to sound thick here but why cant you bring them in for cuddles? Is it because of the change in heat?

I house mine outside :(
 
Hi there , sorry just realised i started thread in wrong section. I have 2 rabbits that are outside and i spend a lot of time with them outdoors. Spent my time cleaning the cage out today in the rain. Soaked through lol. I would love to have the rabbits inside too. Unfortunately my husband doesnt like animals in the house. He doesnt dislike animals. In fact he helps me with them. We havent got an outhouse either !. So thats the situation really. I love my rabbits loads and they are right by my kitchen. So we can see them all the time. Weve got loads of locks on the hutch and runs.

I could bring them in temporarily in the daytime when its summer of course but not permanently to live:(.
 
cakey face said:
Hi there , sorry just realised i started thread in wrong section. I have 2 rabbits that are outside and i spend a lot of time with them outdoors. Spent my time cleaning the cage out today in the rain. Soaked through lol. I would love to have the rabbits inside too. Unfortunately my husband doesnt like animals in the house. He doesnt dislike animals. In fact he helps me with them. We havent got an outhouse either !. So thats the situation really. I love my rabbits loads and they are right by my kitchen. So we can see them all the time. Weve got loads of locks on the hutch and runs.

I could bring them in temporarily in the daytime when its summer of course but not permanently to live:(.
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haha that was me today also.. soaked! the things we do for our furry children :)
I have 2 rabbits outdoors also, and am out there rain and shine. I suppose it depends on the individual person regarding care and the amount of time spent with them.
As regards to getting them pinched, that worries me as well, i have locks on, they are safe from animals, but humans are another thing.. but know someone could just as easily break the locks or lift them over the wall if they were that intent, plus a neighbour was burgled and they killed hers indoors :( the world is full of sick people
Have you seen any piggies you want? its so exciting! x
 
Hi welcome to the forum. Mine are kept outdoors and they are fine. In the winter they are all covered with waterproof covers and something warm like an old quilt/old piece of carpet etc.

The minimum hutch size for 2 id 4x2, then 1 foot for each pig you add.

Yes i clean them out/cuddle them every single day, come rain/snow/sun etc.
 
Hi and Welcome
I also house all of my piggies outside (Unless they are ill and need constant monitoring). All my piggies are perfectly happy outside, each hutch has a tarpaulin cover to shield from rain and wind.

I cuddle my piggies everyday and clean them out rain, wind or snow!

I disagree they should definately live inside, afterall any piggie owner that houses them outside should be willing to clean their piggies out in any weather, this commitment should be considered before taking any guineas on.
 
Thanks for all your replies. My neighbour has some piggies that she is trying to rehome for someone she knows. I have seen pics. They are very gorge but really timid.Just wanted to ask a few questions bout housing and stuff. Just so many people i have spoken to have put me off as theyve made me feel bad about wanting to keep them outside:(. Do they get colds and infections if they get too cold ? Do the hutch huggers work well? Do you think it is best to have one big long hutch or one with different tiers with ramps ?
 
My pigs are currently inside, but I have previously had pigs outside and pigs in a shed. My inside pigs get far, far more attention than the outside/shed pigs did, and it is so much easier to look after and love them as they are just upstairs. Battling through the snow in the dark is no fun! Having said that, you already have rabbits outside so you know what you're letting yourself in for.

Given the choice, it's better to have them inside during the winter, but the most important thing is that they are loved and cared for, as long as they are given the means to keep themselves warm. I would avoid them being outside in the deepest of winter if you can, although mine seemed to cope OK with plenty of over cover on the cages - but it's not much fun for them when it's really cold. My shed or outside pigs never seemed to be the worst for being outside, and didn't get colds or infections.

One long big cage is probably best as you get more floor area.

My shed pigs were kept free range within the shed - a playhouse sounds a great idea, and you don't particularly need cages within the playhouse if you don't need to separate the pigs. Just try and pen off the door area so you can open the door easily, draft proof the shed and give them lots of bedding material.
 
Thanx for the info. You have given me some good ideas. Basically then i could use the playhouse as there house without a hutch. If i speak nicely to my OH perhaps he will build me something in the playhouse as a playing area and a living area. Obviously need to line floor and make it warm as poss. Will also raise playhouse off the floor. Seen shed stands you can get to do this.
 
mine are kept out side and when weather gets bad i am getting another cage for inside get mine out every night for about 2 hours for cuddle run round
 
I'm short on space too - the rabbit hutch and run takes over everything! But I found a 5x3 shed that could go along the outer wall of my living room. Got it in loglap, will attach a run to the side with a trapdoor and am going to get heating tubes put in. They'll have little houses and things inside so should be pretty cosy. :)
 
My 2 piggies live in our outbuilding and are perfectly fine. Their hutch gets covered up at night and during the winter, they are provided with a snuggle safe and plenty of hay. My OH even had a little nesting box sort of thing made at work which should keep them extra cosy during the colder months. As for coming indoors for cuddles, they have an indoor run which we set up in the kitchen. During the winter, we leave the central heating off on the stairs, landing and kitchen so they can still come inside and play as the temperature is the same as it is in the out building (which isn't cold). I would love to have them indoors but OH is allergic to them and we just do not have the room. Unless we housed them in a hamster cage which I wouldn't be prepared to do. I love my piggies very much and go out to see them constantly throughout the day and evening and they are still very much part of the family xx
 
The playhouse without a hutch inside is a great idea!

Ours are in a shed, they have the full area of the floor to play and live on. Got a cheap lino - an offcut from B and Q two years ago and its still in great condition. Its hard wearing, easy to put down and easy to clean.

be great to hear what you decide to do :)p
 
Thanks for replies. Been thinking sooooo hard today about how i can make them cosy. Do you have heaters in your shed ?. If i was def going to get a playhouse would i def need heaters for it to be warm enough for them. Sorry if this sounds a bit thick. Guinea pigs are very new to me. Just trying to do the right things before i get them. :)
 
Hi Cakey face I run a rescue just over the bridge in bristol. You could come over here and have a look at the set up that we have for the winter if that helps.

my number is 0845 6435359 (published number on my website www.cavyrescueandretreat.org.uk
 
cakey face said:
Thanks for replies. Been thinking sooooo hard today about how i can make them cosy. Do you have heaters in your shed ?. If i was def going to get a playhouse would i def need heaters for it to be warm enough for them. Sorry if this sounds a bit thick. Guinea pigs are very new to me. Just trying to do the right things before i get them. :)
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my pigs are housed in a shed they are absolutely fine, for it is really cold they have a heat pad thing with lots of hay etc, but they refuse to lie on it.:)
 
ha ha thats so typical. Just like kids tell them to do something and they wont !. Thanks for the ideas. I have seen a little playden in a shed place close to where i live. Theres also a few online. The kids will **** think it will be for them and be disappointed when the piggies move in.{:|
?/Do your pigs live in the shed in the summer too? Is there anything i need to do to stop it from getting too hot. Obviously i would put it in the shadey part of the garden, where there is no sun.
 
Hi cakey face just an idea for you, not sure about measurements and if it would work you could get a playhouse and maybe put a hutches inside it (the link for the hutch is below) and maybe mod it to put a ramp so the piggies can get out and on the floor of the playhouse put vet bed with their toys and maybe get the mesh grids to block them in so when you go in the play house the cant escape i was thinking of doing this for mine not sure what I'm going to do yet xx

http://www.4furryfeet.com/xcart/Guinea-Pig-Int-Hutch-32.html
 
Yeah thanx , thats a great idea. I was looking for a hutch / sleeping area that would fit into a small playhouse and this would be perfect. They would have loads of floor space for playing , if i could put this hutch onto a shelf with a ramp. Thanx. Let me know how you get on with yours. x
Emma x
 
no probs it will probably be next year that i will do it as we have just finished doing our house out so it will be the garden next year lol xx
 
cakey face said:
ha ha thats so typical. Just like kids tell them to do something and they wont !. Thanks for the ideas. I have seen a little playden in a shed place close to where i live. Theres also a few online. The kids will **** think it will be for them and be disappointed when the piggies move in.{:|
?/Do your pigs live in the shed in the summer too? Is there anything i need to do to stop it from getting too hot. Obviously i would put it in the shadey part of the garden, where there is no sun.
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they live in the shed in the summer too, but i always put them out on the lawn in a large run with shade, they also have a frozen bottle of water to keep them cool, but they tend to think these are scarey!mallethead
 
I have a winter hutch that i have built of solid pine on two levels, its kept under our car port and in the winter we will cover it with an old blanket that my wife has made to measure. Its dry and well away from wind and rain.

During the warm summer days we shall move it to the back garden as it portable so they can enjoy warm green grass. I am also looking at a large run for the back garden so they have a good run around in safety.

But for the very cold winter nights we have an indoor hutch for them just for when it very cold!

I'm not too worried about them not being handled as they are cuddled lots and not forgotten.
 
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