Keeping guinea pigs outside

[Wizzy]

Hellooo, I’m moving house to a really lovely new house but unfortunately there is no longer space for my guinea pigs inside anymore. Does anyone have experience with guinea pigs being outside? x

 

[DM030819]

@Wizzy Would it be possible for you to get a shed for them? It has been many many years since I had outdoor piggies but mine were in a shed. Not only was it better for them as it protected them from the weather and predators but it was better for me as it made clean outs easier in the cold and rain.

 

[Guineautopia]

Hi, I have always kept piggies outdoors in various set ups.
In the summer months, April -Oct, they do fine in a hutch with lots of hay at night.
In the winter months they would go into a shed with natural light (windows) and lighting ( so I can see). Also they have a tube heater in their hutch (which requires the shed to have electricity) and on very cold nights a heat pad, more hay and a blanket over part of the hutch.
I know some people keep them outside without any of this but if you can put them in a shed at winter it will also help you be in the dry when you need to clean them.
Good luck with the house move.

 

[Betsy]

My piggies are outside all year round. Now is the right time to start acclimatising them to living outside all year as the nights are fairly warm . My hutch has an insulated cover on it and a waterproof thermal cover on top of that. I have loads of hay on the hutch and pile in so much on the winter it is just floor to ceiling hay! As the nights get cooler piggies start to grow their insulating layer of fur to help keep them warm in the winter. I use snugglesafes and lots of warm hideys too in the winter. I also give them a more pellets than in the summer as they' re using up more energy keeping warm. Last year they were alright outside to around -3 outside and inside the hutch it was toasty and warm. When the snow came and it was -10 I shoehorned then into the Conservatory for ten days. After which the Piggies went back on the hutch and they were very pleased to be back home!

 

[Tiamolly123]

There must be room somewhere. You could always say to you mum, that you'd miss your piggies so much, & it's a bit unfair that the piggies are being put out, when they will probably will pine for company.

 

[Charlpigs]

I’ve had guinea pigs for over 10 years and they’ve all lived outside with no problems. My three girls at the moment are in a shed that keeps the wind and rain out, in a cosy hutch with lots of hay all year round. In winter I put insulating blankets over every side of the hutch, making sure to leave a bit of breathing room, and give them snugglesafe heat pads to cuddle up to they’ve never seemed to have a problem with any of this and are just as lively in winter as they are in summer!

 

[LittleGems]

LOADS OF HAY

 

[Caviecrazy]

Snuggle safes, heat pads, and loads of hay. Outside is a great place for piggies!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Mine are in conservatory in winter, although they go out most days on the lawn unless it’s raining. I think they do grow a thicker coat which protects them from the cold. Damp conditions are far worse for them than cold dry air.