Inside?Outside? Advice please

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kayjay

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Right, so at the moment I have Lottie, Grace and Fudge all inside and Hugo and Hurley outside in a shed.

The shed gets hot in summer as although we face north it's that bit of the garden that gets the sun.

I have had it with vet bed washing, I just can't keep up with it - so Lottie, Grace and Fudge are going to have to more outside in spring.

My question is this, what would be the best home for them. Inside in the shed at night, even in hot weather then out in runs all day? Or can you keep them in a hutch/run combi for the whole of spring/summer moving them in the shed in Autumn.

Or a new shed in a shaded part of the garden.

Budget wise I think whatever option is going to cost in the region of a couple of hundred pounds :o which I daren't tell my OH about, my birthday's in May so I'll ask for money for the project.

The shed that's there at the moment is huge and could mean them having a hutch and run built in but does get hot in summer. Adding electricity would cost about £100 as I need a new board or something.

Does anyone keep their pigs in hutch/runs in the garden for spring summer?

Any advice please?
 
Currently, as you know mine are in a shed. In the summer they are out in runs all day (with small hutch/box thingys for them to get in should they need shelter) and then in the shed at night. In the winter - shed all the time. My shed is in a relatively cool part of the garden in summer but I still wouldn't want them in there without a door or window open as it gets a bit stuffy.

I have nearly always had a shed but for about a year I didn't have one. During that time I had hutches in the garden (with covers) for night time and then runs for the day. In the winter the hutches were moved to a non car garage. This worked just as well but obviously the piggys had less space at night and then in the winter it was hassle to make sure they had exercise. Which is why last year I went and bought another shed.

So in answer to your question - personally I think that a shed/inside or other shelter is an absolute must for the colder weather but I think they will be absolutly fine in the summer in any of your options. As long as they have good ventilation (if in a shed) and plenty of shelter from rain/shade from sun if outside then I am sure they will be fine.

Only other thing is, all mine are very fussy about their run surface. Basically, they won't come out on concrete! But mine could be fussy things! If you put them on grass, you will need something you can move as they are very efficient mowers.
 
Mine are in a hutch in the garden in the warmer months - if they aren't in the grass run in the day they will be in a run attatched to their hutch which is on concrete. The hutches are positioned so that they only get the morning sun, then when it gets really hot (even with the shade) I hose the concrete down with cold water & give them a big block of ice to lick. When I'm getting them used to being out again I kind of put them in the shed at night & break them in slowly.

I think my shed - even though insulated - would still be too hot in the summer, but fine for the winter. I just like my pigs where I can see them. Although numbers are creeping up & I'm pushing my luck having them in the house now!
 
Really interesting post and look forward to hearing everyone's views. I have a similar sort of dilemma. I've brought mine inside for the winter, first time I've done that, they're usually in a shed with infra red light for night but in the summer I want them back outside. My shed, although it has a stable door gets really really hot in the summer; there is a tube leading outside into a hutch which is in an aviary so loads of space but they just don't have the sense to go out into the cooler temperature.

Keep us updated Kayjay, what you decide to do. It's difficult isn't it, especially when they reckon we'll have such hot days in the future. They need to be able to get into a cool area, especially if you're out for the day. I always keep a thermometer in the shed, am going to get one of those min/max ones so at least I know what extremes there are.

You've got the same problem as me, if they're inside and going to put them outdoors or in shed, when do you plan to do it because of the changes of temperature?
 
I've been looking at hutch/run combis but the ramps seem too steep. So am thinking maybe hutches that can go inside the shed in winter and pull out in summer and put the piggies in a run during the day.. the poor things won't know where they live :-\

I think when the weather starts to warm up I'll put them in the shed first, then out in runs during the day and back in shed at night, then when it gets hot out the whole time. It is difficult as if we're getting warmer then it'll be a big problem for these small furries, I have two rabbits to worry about too!
 
I think you and I are going to be running in and out of houses, sheds, hutches & runs 24 7!
 
my two sheds have hugh front double doors that hubby has cut in half to make them like stable doors in summer i can just open them wide they get shade from the shed but get the sunlight from through the doors they also have runs that they get rotated round during the day,
 
michellemuffin said:
my two sheds have hugh front double doors that hubby has cut in half to make them like stable doors in summer i can just open them wide they get shade from the shed but get the sunlight from through the doors they also have runs that they get rotated round during the day,
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I could do this with our shed door, but the overall temp in the shed gets very hot and stuffy and I'm afraid it'll be too hot for them, although they could be out in runs in the day until quite late in the evening once we get lighter nights..... oh I don't know, I can't sleep for worrying what to do :( :(
 
Jillybean said:
I think you and I are going to be running in and out of houses, sheds, hutches & runs 24 7!
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It's my full time job ;D ;D
 
I keep mine outside in the hutch all summer. They go in the run during the day if I am home. My three piggies are in the house for the winter months, Will start putting them out during the day when its starts to warm up march/april time.
I do have two piggies in the shed at the moment its a heated shed and it never drops below 10c they seem happy enough.
 
I know what you mean apaprently next summers going to be hotter and I am also already worried about it, we lsot our dog due to the hot weather now his 14 year old brother will be at risk as well, am emigrating to urm........ northern Scotland its the only place that often seems to have cool weather ::)
 
michellemuffin said:
my two sheds have hugh front double doors that hubby has cut in half to make them like stable doors in summer i can just open them wide they get shade from the shed but get the sunlight from through the doors they also have runs that they get rotated round during the day,
Click to expand...
Sounds like someone else who runs round their guineas all day!
 
I do love my shed for the summer especially as they have loads of room but the only thing is the temperature. I think I need to get openings at each end so that some air passes through but then on a colder day it would be draughty!

AAAAGGGGHHHH! Am I worrying too much. :-\
 
Right, I've ordered two 5ft hutches off ebay and will have them in the shed over winter and cold months. Then come spring I will put them out in a run for a couple of hours a day to acclimatise them and when the hot weather hits they're going outside with covers on for the rain.

Next decision, do I neuter Fudge and put him with my girls outside or pair him with a baby boar and keep girls inside

More decisions :( :-\ :-\
 
kayjay said:
Right, I've ordered two 5ft hutches off ebay and will have them in the shed over winter and cold months. Then come spring I will put them out in a run for a couple of hours a day to acclimatise them and when the hot weather hits they're going outside with covers on for the rain.

Next decision, do I neuter Fudge and put him with my girls outside or pair him with a baby boar and keep girls inside

More decisions :( :-\ :-\
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Depends whether you want a good reason to adopt another piggy or not ;)
 
Our piggie is outside with the rabbit - he has a 2 storey hutch with secure run attached. At night in the winter they each have a snuggle pad and fleeces, and during the day they can go in or out the hutch, and play in the pen which has a covered section for when it rains and some hidey places for Tiger.
I thought this was fine for them, they both seem happy and well, but since trying to adopt a rescue piggie I have found that many orgs are worried about letting a piggie go to a home outside... why is this?
We are getting another hutch and pen this weekend which we might connect to the exisitng run if the new pigiie gets on with Tiger and bunny.. if not we wouldn't keep him outside on his own...
 
i have 4 guinea pigs who live outside i have had 2 for over a year now and 2 for a few months and there are fine outside now its winter and at night i have old cartians beding etc what i put down over the cages and i put my wheel bims in frount of the cages so when its windy thee dont blow up and my 4 guinea pigs are fine with that i mean my older 2 have been outside for a year now and are use to it i just make sure there have loads od hay in the winter and lots of food

i have also had 4 rabbtis over the last 10 years and there all lived outside and we did the same as we do wit hthe guinea pigs

i aslo had another 2 guinea pigs before the ones i have now and there live outside 2 sadly one died and the other one was on it ouwn in the cage for a year untill she got ill and died and she was fine on her own for the year

if the new pig dont got alone with your rabbit and guinea pig you could try if you have sapce to put the cages so there can see each other

as when i had my rabbits at guinea pigs at the same time i use to the there runs in the summer next to each other and there use to watch each other

dont let the person who you are buying the pig of upset you if its going to live outside
 
Thanks Hannah! Nice to know I am not doing something wrong!
When I put them away this evening I checked their bedroom and it was warm and dry - Bunny is sprawled out on his fleece bed and a snugglepad, and Tiger is in the bedroom on another fleece, hay and another snugglepad! They seem totally fine and were very chirpy!
 
Have you considered adding extra insulation to your shed. Mine is a very thick shed which is in the full sun for most of the day and does not get very hot. You may need to work out additional ventilation to allow for a through draft to occur by perhaps cutting a small extra window towards the top of the shed. A mesh door also helps with ventilation in the summer, using the proper door when the weather is really cold.

Some people I know have used the reflective foil insulation you can get, on the sides and top of the shed.
 
katiep said:
Thanks Hannah! Nice to know I am not doing something wrong!
When I put them away this evening I checked their bedroom and it was warm and dry - Bunny is sprawled out on his fleece bed and a snugglepad, and Tiger is in the bedroom on another fleece, hay and another snugglepad! They seem totally fine and were very chirpy!
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your welcome - not eveonye has the room to have them in the house or in a shed etc and there is rule or saying that there have to live inside but if there live outside there will get use to it as of there live in sid ethere will get use to it

i allways feel my ones tummys to make sure there warm and there allways are i mena there sit in the bedroom with hay up to the roof and there sit in there
 
Guineas are really happy in hutches outside in the spring, summer and autumn. Some even sing when they hear the birds :D They have more to look at from a hutch even if it is raining and they can't go in a run (I wouldn't use a cover unless it is cold as long as the hutch is dry). They manage the ramps in combos such as the happy hutch ones really well once they have learned if they are not too old and set in their ways. I had one group of piggies come into rescue with the steepest ramp and they sort of levitated up it. I was amazed. These were three and a half years old and not lightweight either!
I put my guineas out as soon as the ground starts to dry out in the spring and only bring them in when it gets water logged and they can no longer use a run. This usually works out as April to the end of October.
Of course the hutch needs to be big enough, as does the run. For a pair a minimum of 4ft by 2ft or a 4ft double hutch and for three or four a 5ft by 2ft hutch. Runs should be at least 4ft square. And always bigger is better. Guineas will use every bit of space you can give them.
 
Hopperhaven - do your guineas have access to the run all the time when they're outside or do you let them have access dependent on the weather? Mine will be going back into the shed in the spring and they can get to an outside hutch from the shed all the time and then when the weather is nice I open the hutch which is inside an aviary so they can come onto the grass. I think I worry too much that they won't have the sense to come back into the shed when the weather isn't so good so I might be restricting access to the outside too much.
 
Jillybean said:
Hopperhaven - do your guineas have access to the run all the time when they're outside or do you let them have access dependent on the weather?
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I have occasionally not let them into the pen when we had torrential rain, just to keep them dry. I'm wondering how they will react if it snows! Tiger will probably try to eat it!
 
Yep! that would make sense for a guinea - something new, eat it! ;D
 
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