Moving Somewhere Without A Garden?

[little_buttons]

Hi, I'm starting a new job in 11 days and I currently haven't found anywhere to live It's near London and finding somewhere to rent in that area that's affordable, allows me to have pets AND has a garden is proving impossible.

My piggies love to go in the run on the grass in the spring and summer and I'm so worried they'll be sad if I move somewhere without a garden but with 11 days left I'm really running out of options..

they have an indoor run so they will still get space to run and play. Do you think they'll be okay? Should I expect weight loss? Does anyone else not have a garden and has any ideas for ways to give them access to grass/let them play in the sunshine? I'm trying to think of ways to live grow my own turf idk but I could be in a flat and also I would never feed them grass that strangers could have been near for fear of weedkiller etc

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome.

I do have a garden but sadly, my lawn is nowhere suitable for the guinea pigs as it's completely ruined by rain and it never dries out.

I just put lay soft fleeces down in their run on the concrete patio and they are perfectly fine and still enjoy the sunshine during the summer.

My old house only had a yard and I did the same thing there too.

I really wouldn't worry as your pigs will soon adjust and in my opinion, there's more important things to provide and there are many members on here who do not have gardens

 

[Lady Kelly]

Hi, when I split up with my ex I had to find somewhere on a tight budget very quickly (I was only working 3 days a week) and I got a two bed flat, the living room was large so I had a ginormous c&c cage in the living room with me. I also used a propagator tray (for a couple of quid) to grow a mini lawn for the piggies and when it was long enough I would put it in for short bursts to allow it to keep growing back in between. You can get creative with growing your own indoors (it's not impossible)

 

[Swissgreys]

I have a beautiful garden (well technically it's kind of a mess, but the piggies like it) and in all honesty they don't get out on the lawn that much.
Because of the weather it is usually not possible from the start of September until May - today it actually snowed (again).
So even with a garden my piggies only get out a couple of times a week for 3 - 4 months of the year.
But I grow grass in seed trays the rest of the time, and cut them fresh grass when I can, and they seem perfectly happy with this set up.
So I wouldn't worry too much.
Mine have very limited grass time, and seem perfectly happy (except Ruby anyway, and that has nothing to do with grass or lack there of!).

 

[chesca_27]

Honestly, my guineas barely get any time out in the grass (by the time I get back from school it's too cold and on the weekends it always seems to rain) and they aren't too bothered by it. I do give them play time though.

You can always grow grass in little trays for them. I recently bought some Nibble Grass trays from Zooplus for the pigs to try. It's very simple and they are currently growing well.

 

[Wheekallweek]

As others have said, you could try growing trays of grass for the piggies to munch on, and let them run around on another surface like a patio (as long as you put something soft down first!)
We have piggies at the rescue that have never been out on the grass, even though we have a garden, and Toffee and Fudge have yet to go out onto the grass too; having adopted them in the winter months and being elderly, we're going girl leave it until it's a bit warmer and drier.
So don't worry! Your piggies will make do with whatever you can offer them!

 

[flowerfairy]

I have my two guinea pigs in a north facing room. They have floor time each day and I pull them grass from local fields. As a back up I have a couple of trays from zooplus to grow grass in for them.

I am sure yours will be fine. Good luck finding somewhere.

 

[JenniferG]

I live in a flat and can't put my piggies in a run on grass...they have good quality, green grass hay instead. I've also bought from zooplus a tray of grass seed for growing inside that I can cut and give to them.

 

[*kate*]

I have a lovely garden but Hettie never goes out as she hates it!

Maybe find somewhere for now, without a garden, and carry on looking round for something that suits you all better

 

[Freela]

I'm in Canada so the climate precludes the pigs being outside for most of the year, and even in the city I don't trust the grass (even though I don't spray, many of my neighbors do and there is potential blow-over to my yard, plus run-off from rain, etc.) Basically my pigs enjoy being outside when I go to the cottage, but that is probably about 4 or 5 weeks out of the year, tops. I think they will do okay without a garden, so long as they still have opportunities to run around in other environments. I try to simulate foraging opportunities for mine by putting food around the indoor area where they get to run every day.

 

[Puma]

I don't have a garden neither but grow some grass for the piggies in little pots. On the other hand I do have a small allotment plot and I was thinking to bring the piggies with me for the day when the weather is much better but have not made a final decision on that.
They do get lots of floor time and varied fresh food diet so I'm not worried.
I guess finding a place in London where you can take them with you is more important than a garden. Good luck with the flat hunt!