New Guinea Pigs After Death? How Long Should I Wait?

[mills066]

Hey, my 2 guinea pig passed away of unknown causes yesterday and today, i am really missing them even after only owning the for 6 months. (age roughly 3 plus unknown age due to adoption from pet store) i really want to get 2 new piggies however am unsure on how long to wait before getting them.
would love it if anyone could help

 

[Wiebke]

Hey, my 2 guinea pig passed away of unknown causes yesterday and today, i am really missing them even after only owning the for 6 months. (age roughly 3 plus unknown age due to adoption from pet store) i really want to get 2 new piggies however am unsure on how long to wait before getting them.
would love it if anyone could help

Please do thoroughly disinfect your hutch and make sure that it is totally safe from mice and rats (can get through amazingly small cracks), and is also safe from predators etc.

Ideally any hutch should be under cover and out of wind and weather in winter; we recommend to bring guinea pigs indoors over winter if at all possible.
The cold weather this winter can be a immune suppressing factor in their death.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs

Personally I would wait until spring and warmer nights; guinea pigs should be treated like tender plants. This is definitely not the time to bring new ones from an indoors setting outside!

 

[Betsy]

I agree. I have outside piggies and they need to get acclimatised to being outside over a good few weeks/months. I got my piggies in April 2 years ago and put them outside during the day and brought them in at night as it was too cold for them. They had come from an indoor environment and weren't used to the cold. Only when the temperature got to over around 15 degrees at night did I transfer them from the cage to the hutch. They have been living outside ever since. There are lots of warm snugglies, snugglesafes and loads of hay to keep them warm. There is a thermal cover over the hutch as well as a hutch hugger these are permanent. In the winter I put an old blanket over the front to help keep the heat in as well.

As @Wiebke has advised now is not the time to be getting new Piggies and putting them outside.

 

[ElizaCavies]

Hi. So sorry to hear that, do you know why they died? That can sometimes help.

Well, whenever you feel ready would be a good time to get new piggies, as Wiebke said, do disinfect the hutch fully. So really whenever you feel like you have got over some of the sadness and are ready to take on more responsibilities again.

ElizaCavies xx