Indoor piggies 2 years old going outside!

[Piggy Fan]

Hi all,

We are about to move house all being well (anxiety explains why I’m posting this at 2.15am). Sigh. Approx 3 weeks til we move.

When we move our two indoor kept boars can finally live outside in the summer.
I have a ma-hoosive walk in Omlette Eglu cage (really designed to keep hens in) from our allotment which will become their summer run, with a nice snuggly area at one end. I think it’s about 5’x3’ and I can walk in it to tidy up etc which will be lovely. I know it’s fox proof from our hen keeping days I literally used to see the foxes gazing at our girls wistfully.

But I have questions:

1. At what temperature / when generally can the piggies go outside and until when (eg April - Oct?)

2. I know I have to limit access to grass at first so I plan to put C&C cage inside the bigger cage with a lining in it and ? Shavings or even their usual fleece ( I aim to create a waterproof & shady cover at one end of the run). Does this sound ok? Then what else? A couple of boxes stuffed with hay for them to snooze in?

3. how long on grass and increasing by how much time per day?

4. once out can they stay out 24/7 or should I bring them in at night given spring nights can get cold until they adjust.

5. do I reduce veggie quota a bit when they are finally full time on grass?

All help and advice welcome, I just want to do right by the boys as always.
Photo of current set up coz it’s cute!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Could you post a picture of the cage they are to live in/describe what their actual set up is to be?
I’ve seen some of those omlet chicken coops, there seems to be different types so it would be easier to advise you if we could see what yours actually is - but from what I’ve seen, they are probably fine for a daytime run but they aren’t appropriate for them to be left in overnight - any outdoor piggies need to be locked in a secure and appropriately sized hutch overnight (or you can just use the run for daytime use and have them still actually live indoors). Hutch covers would also be important for those summer downpours.

My own two boars live outside (in a shed) year round. They have a hutch in their shed, free roam of the shed floor during the day when they can’t go on the lawn (as they need to be supervised to be in their lawn run), and then a lawn run for when I’m home to watch them.
It gets too hot in their hutch/shed in the height of summer that I bring them indoors for a few weeks, and as it has been too hot at times for them to even be on the lawn, then they only have grass time in the early mornings/late evenings.

Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
Keeping Piggies Safe during outdoor time

They can’t go out until frosts have stopped and the nights are warm enough. They need to be kept above 15 degrees so you need to adjust what you do accordingly - snugglesafe heat pads etc. The guide is if you can stand on the grass with bare feet and not feel cold/wet, then they can have lawn time.
The same at the other end of the year. It depends entirely on what the night time temperatures are like as to when they need to come back indoors - Sept/Oct time.
If it is still going to be cold at night but a warm day, then they can go out during the day but need to come back indoors at night. You’re looking to keep the temperature they are exposed to as constant as possible.

I’d make sure the entire thing is shady and waterproof, not just one end, If at all possible.

This is our preparing for grass time guide
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

Once mine have readjusted to being back on grass after winter, then I give them roughly the same amount of veg as normal - few slices of pepper, a smaller amount of cucumber than in winter, some coriander - but I might ease off with the lettuce for example as mine can be on grass 12-14 hours a day (except when it is too hot and they only get an hour or two morning/evening as above). Basically you need to watch for any soft poops (caused by overdoing it) and if that happens They need to stop being given grass and veg altogether until things normalise.

 

[Swissgreys]

Please be aware that the Omlette Eglus (regardless of size) are not appropriate accommodation for guinea pigs. As they are made of plastic they are not breathable and can allow for a build up of ammonia from urine.
Guinea pigs are very different to chickens in that respect and require a more open and breathable cage - something porous like wood is far safer and better or them.
Not to mention that the inside temperatures can get dangerously high in the sun (not just in Summer either) and as guinea pigs are prey species they may be reluctant to leave the shelter and go outside like chickens would.

 

[Piggy Fan]

Hi guys it’s only an Omlet CAGE not the plastic house. I will use my own housing inside it. It’s just a big metal fox proof cage I will try to show you a photo of one. Hang on. X

 

[Piggy Fan]

So it basically looks like the attached image but mine is about one section shorter.
I could put a shed inside it, but was imagining something smaller - could be a hutch, or several boxes and hides, log rolls etc.
But I know I need to restrict grass access so was asking about idea for this.
I can cover part or all of the roof with tarp to provide shade and keep them dry.

Hope this reassures you.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You definitely need a hutch to be placed inside it for them to actually live in while they are outside. They will need to be locked into the hutch during the night. They also can’t be in the run during the day if you aren’t there to supervise them.
Positioning is everything though and artificial shade often isn’t enough to protect a hutch from becoming dangerously hot inside - a warm breeze will make a hutch too hot. This is why mine move in the house during the height of summer and only get lawn time in early mornings and late evenings.
A boar pair need a 5ft x 2ft hutch as a minimum but 6ft x 2ft is recommended. A tarp over the roof of the run may not be enough to protect the hutch completely, so a waterproof hutch cover would also be a good idea. My rabbits live out and while you cant use hutch covers if its hot, those thunderstorms overnight often mean I pull the cover down over their hutches to protect them even though they have sheeting over the roof of their runs - the amount of times I’ve had tarps rip in the night with thunderstorm associated winds!
Boxes and tunnels will still be needed as enrichment within the run itself (and Also some hides in the hutch)

The preparing for grass time guide I linked in explains how to deal with getting them used to grass.
When I'm first reintroducing mine to grass after winter, I start before it’s warm enough for them to actually be out on the ground by picking them a handful of grass a day to feed to them, then give them a little more and more. When they can then go out, Ill put them on the grass for ten/fifteen minutes at a time and then bring them back in, increasing their time out every few days.

 

[Piggy Fan]

Thank you that’s really helpful.
I think I will continue to keep them inside with limited outdoor time when the weather is suitable. I currently only pick them up once a week for health checks as I don’t like to stress them but hopefully they will learn that going into the carrier means grass time and they will decide that’s fun!

 

[Piggies&buns]

It is fine to keep them outside, but it takes quite a lot of work to keep them safe and at a suitable temperature. Having them out in the day (when appropriate) but back in at night does make things easier
Mine soon learnt that their carrier is for fun time! They voluntarily walk into it as soon as I put it in their cage. Although I do feel bad and like I’m breaking their tiny trust when the same tactic is used to get them into the carrier to take them to the vet!

 

[Bill & Ted]

So it basically looks like the attached image but mine is about one section shorter.
I could put a shed inside it, but was imagining something smaller - could be a hutch, or several boxes and hides, log rolls etc.
But I know I need to restrict grass access so was asking about idea for this.
I can cover part or all of the roof with tarp to provide shade and keep them dry.

Hope this reassures you.

Wow that is a great space, especially if you can fit a shed inside it! April to October is when I put my piggies out in their run and bunny ark. I do bring them inside on a night but they are usually out there from 9 am to 9 pm. They love being outside in the warmer months, far happier than being stuck inside and far healthier too in my opinion.
I would start in spring offering them a bit of grass before you put them out and increase it if they are fine with it. Personally I have never had troubles with grass, but I know some piggies are a bit sensitive to too much. By the time you get them out they should be fully accustomed to eating as much as they want.
We have a UVA weatherproof cover that clips onto the top of their run and keeps off rain and strong sunshine. As long as they have somewhere to hide that’s cooler and shady they should do very well.

 

[Piggy Fan]

Brilliant, thanks so much all.

I’m excited to move now, fingers crossed for it all.
x