Keeping warm in winter

Fayld

Fayld

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi i know I've asked a few times now but still worried- my pigs in there hutch in the shed and have snuggle pads, extra fleece (feels cold not wet in the mornings) sheets and bubble drapping over the front and a small tubular heater on all night, which doesnt seem to make a difference .
It was still 2° when I walked in the shed this morning! Not sure what to do I do worry?
I was going to get a oil radiator but then its gonna cost me only pounds I know but I'm a single mum and it all adds up? Also do u leave it on all day or just night time?
I actually leave the shed doors open for light and air in the daytime so shall I keep them shut in the day now its colder, but they seem to be ok with it?
Also I know people say dont take them in doors at night, then back out in the morning cos of temp change but what's the difference if your putting a radiator on just at night? Is that not changing the temp 4 them? Sorry lots of questions.
Thanks
 
It may have been you I mentioned it to previously, but if you’re only using fleece outside as bedding in winter then it is highly likely it won’t work. Fleece bedding simply isn’t warm enough They need lots of deep piles of hay to snuggle into all over the hutch. The hay also helps to insulate and fill air space. My entire hutch gets filled with hay, snugglesafes under the hay and the piggies spend the night in hay, not having to move from a warm spot if they don’t want to and are still able to eat. The hay is always very warm to touch where they have been sitting.

i have two layers of thick blankets over the front of the hutch, then a custom made thermal hutch cover, then a second hutch cover (this is a new addition, as I never used to use a waterproof cover given they don’t need it but it has worked wonderfully in providing another layer and holding in more warmth), and then an old duvet pulled down over all of it. Their hutch has never dropped below 10 degrees, I usually find it around 12 degrees all winter. I don’t have electric in my shed so snugglesafes, hutch covers and lots of hay is all that is available to me.

is your shed insulated?

The radiator in the shed needs to be left on all day and night on a thermostat so it comes on as and when needed - that way the temperature will be constant and they aren’t exposed to fluctuations. If you only put it on during the night then it could mean there are fluctuations if your shed isn’t staying warm during the day. It’s also the humidity between being inside and outside you’ve got to consider - exposing them to sudden changes is what causes the health problems.
 
Do u think this is big enough for indoors just 4 the winter as I dont want to take the whole hutch back indoors?
 

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If I buy a rad I'll have to leave the doors shut all day/night so they won't get much light at all! Beginning to think I'm gonna have to just bring them inside
 
Fayld said:
Do u think this is big enough for indoors just 4 the winter as I dont want to take the whole hutch back indoors?
Click to expand...

The whole area looks ok but without knowing the measurements and the sex of your piggies I couldn’t entirely confirm.
if you plan on letting them access to the whole area inside the outer row of grids though, then I would remove the cage and just let them have the area uninterrupted and not having to climb over the cage base.
pop a plastic sheet down to protect your floor, then something absorbing (puppy pads for example) and then the bedding on top

Fayld said:
If I buy a rad I'll have to leave the doors shut all day/night so they won't get much light at all! Beginning to think I'm gonna have to just bring them inside
Click to expand...

if you can’t keep it warm enough then yes it may be better to just bring them in. It’ll be less stressful for you as well as you won’t be worrying
 
Both Males and they do stay in there 4 wkends if I go away etc I just thought being long term? They will sometimes have the run round of the whole room but only when I'm about as they poo & pee everywhere and will never find where they did it and start stinking lol
so most of the day will just be in the cage and the cage area on outside of it. The cage is 38"x22
Outside cage area 38x18
 
Fayld said:
Both Males and they do stay in there 4 wkends if I go away etc I just thought being long term? They will sometimes have the run round of the whole room but only when I'm about as they poo & pee everywhere and will never find where they did it and start stinking lol
so most of the day will just be in the cage and the cage area on outside of it. The cage is 38"x22
Outside cage area 38x18
Click to expand...

I’d remove the cage altogether and let them have that whole area inside those grids so the floor space is uninterrupted without the cage being in there. the cage itself is too small for them to be locked into it anyway ( it doesn’t meet minimum welfare requirements - The smallest for two piggies is 120cm x 60cm and your cage measures 96cm x 55cm. Two boars however need a bigger cage - a minimum of 150cm x 60cm but 180cm x 60cm is best)
that would, If my calculations are right, mean they have access to 10 sq ft of uninterrupted floor space which is still a little less than the recommended for two boars but not having the cage in there just makes It easier for them to move about without having to jump over the cage base
 
Yes I was just redundant to bring everything back in as had such a great set up outside in the shed but 4 now there warm & safe for the winter. Thx all.
 
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