Is it okay to keep guinea pigs outside?

[Miguecampos]

Hey, newbie here, but I was wondering if it’s okay to keep guinea pigs outside.
I currently have my two boars in a 150 cm by 75 cm hutch in my balcony (away from potential predators such as dogs or cats), where they can get enough interaction with me, as it’s just beside my room. However, I live in Chile, and have been posting in a local acebook group about guinea pigs that states that having guinea pigs outside is cruel and inhumane. Maybe it’s because of the temperatures? Weather here is very dry, and can get to 30 C in summer and 0 C in winter. However, now that it’s summer I have been leaving a frozen water bottle in order to cool them down and have moved their hutch out of the sun.
Is it okay to have my piggies outside, or should I have them inside (keep in mind the reson I had to move them outside was because my family couldn’t stand "the smell")
Also, what types of bedding are appropiate for hutches? The same facobook group has told me to definetly stay away from pine, which is what I had been using (mixed with wood pellets), and switch to a corn-based bedding. Are there any other options for an outdoor hutch?
Thanks!

 

[Sophie B]

As long as they have suitable covers and the temperature isn’t below 15 degrees they should be fine

 

[Piggies&buns]

Guinea pigs can’t cope with extremes of temperature. They like to be kept between 18 and 23 degrees. Above 25 they can get heat stroke and below 15 they can get can chilled. In summer you will have to keep them cool by being in the shade and giving them cool things to sit against such as frozen water bottles wrapped in towels. In winter (below 15 degrees) they need extra protection, and the colder it gets the more protection they need. Multiple blankets over the hutch and a Thermal hutch cover, lots and lots of extra hay as bedding in the hutch as well as heat pads.
Regarding outdoor bedding. My two are out in a hutch in my shed and they are bedded on something called finacard which is shredded cardboard and loads of hay (about a foot of hay gets put in their hutch every few days). In summer they have fleece over an absorbent layer in their hutch.

 

[eileen]

i would just be certain that you do not have wildlife prey that can get access to your guinea pigs.eg snakes,large cats.you live in chile,not too sure of your wildlife.bedding can be woodshavings,paperbased bedding.corn of the cob bedding is not recommended for cavies,if they eat the bedding it swells up and causes a blockage.it is not an easy decision !

 

[Caviecrazy]

Many people say this, but outside is absolutely fine. My Guinea pigs are outside in an outbuilding, in a dry hutch that is raised off the ground. Not many predators come near, so I don't worry about that. I have a heat pad, a bed, and a few fleece tunnels and snuggle safes.