New Guinea Pigs - Advice Please!

Kelly Degaute

Kelly Degaute

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
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Location
Hertfordshire
Hello, we are new to guinea pigs & got two today for our daughter.
They are six month old sisters.
We have settled them in their hutch, which is currently in the shed.
However, I am slightly worried about the weather forecast this week!
We got them a pet heat pad which is wrapped in fleece. We have put loads of hay in a corner & they have snuggled into it.
I have also put a 13.5 tog duvet over the house part of the hutch.
The shed is secure & draft free but I am worried in case they won’t be warm enough. Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

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Hello and welcome.
Gorgeous piggies there.
@Betsy has outdoor piggies and can advise better than I can as mine live indoors.
 
Kelly Degaute said:
Hello, we are new to guinea pigs & got two today for our daughter.
They are six month old sisters.
We have settled them in their hutch, which is currently in the shed.
However, I am slightly worried about the weather forecast this week!
We got them a pet heat pad which is wrapped in fleece. We have put loads of hay in a corner & they have snuggled into it.
I have also put a 13.5 tog duvet over the house part of the hutch.
The shed is secure & draft free but I am worried in case they won’t be warm enough. Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

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My 5 piggies live outside. This is what I do to keep them warm.

They have MOUNTAINS of hay in the hutch under which they can cuddle and keep warm for this very cold spell of Siberian Winter that has been predicted this week, I have just shut off the bottom tier of the hutch to them so the can keep extra warm at the top. They have 4 snugglesafes between them and a selection of snuggle sacks, snuggle tunnels and fluffy hooded beds. There is also a thermal cover and a hutch hugger over the hutch and a blanket over the front to keep out the frost and the worst of the cold.
 
Betsy said:
My 5 piggies live outside. This is what I do to keep them warm.

They have MOUNTAINS of hay in the hutch under which they can cuddle and keep warm for this very cold spell of Siberian Winter that has been predicted this week, I have just shut off the bottom tier of the hutch to them so the can keep extra warm at the top. They have 4 snugglesafes between them and a selection of snuggle sacks, snuggle tunnels and fluffy hooded beds. There is also a thermal cover and a hutch hugger over the hutch and a blanket over the front to keep out the frost and the worst of the cold.
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Thank you so much for all the advice! I have put more hay in & have covered the house area of their hutch with a duvet too. They are in the shed so we won’t put the hutch outside till this horrid cold snap has gone! Typical timing!
 
I know I am quite worried about mine but I have no room in the garage or the house for mine so just have to do everything possible to keep them warm.
 
Betsy said:
I know I am quite worried about mine but I have no room in the garage or the house for mine so just have to do everything possible to keep them warm.
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I’ve never had small animals that live outside before so its all new to us! They are very snug inside the little house part of the hutch & I have pulled up the ramp so they can’t go down. Will have to see how we get on! Thanks again for replying, its really appreciated xx
 
Kelly Degaute said:
I’ve never had small animals that live outside before so its all new to us! They are very snug inside the little house part of the hutch & I have pulled up the ramp so they can’t go down. Will have to see how we get on! Thanks again for replying, its really appreciated xx
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I'm sure you have but just checking ...have you blocked the door with something where the ramp goes so that they can't fall down and hurt themselves?
 
Betsy said:
I'm sure you have but just checking ...have you blocked the door with something where the ramp goes so that they can't fall down and hurt themselves?
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Yes! we hooked the ramp up to the top of the wire cage part of the run & put some strong cardboard over the door
 
Quick morning update, after our first nervous night of owning new piggies, I can report they are alive & well this morning....phew! They have eaten lots of veggies & didn’t run away from us this morning, thanks to all for your support & advice, I feel like I have a newborn all over again! :help:! Hope everyone elses piggies stayed warm x
 
My piggies were fine this morning when I went out to give them breakfast and reheat the snugglesafes. I couldn't find Dennis he is small for a boar only 975g and he was hiding under the hay behind the fluffy hooded bed. He would have been warmer in the hooded he is a silly piggy!
 
sport_billy said:
Hello Kelly :) Welcome to the forum!

Your piggies are :love:
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Thank you! We are in Hertfordshire & in the last hour the snow has fallen loads ❄️❄️!, so we caved & got an indoor cage for now so the girls are all settled & snug & I feel much happier! Everyone has been so kind, what a lovely piggie community!

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