Outdoor housing - temporary

[Magpie]

Our two bonded guinea pigs are currently indoors in a 6x2ft c&c cage.

We are going to be putting our house up for sale soon and would like the guinea pigs outside for the photos /viewings until the house is sold which could be .. who knows how long.

I can't see anything suitable for them. I can't spend too much as our money is draining getting the house sorted and once everything is completed they can go back indoors.

Have you got any suggestions please?

 

[flowerfairy]

I have only ever kept outdoor guinea pigs in a shed. I used a 5 foot single chartwell hutch from home and roost and put it in the shed on a very sturdy shelf built especially for that purpose.

There is a section in the housing part of the forum with a lot of housing ideas which may be worth a look.

4 wire (ebay) do some good strong predator proof runs.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You will need a hutch for them.
I note you have boys so you will need a 6ft hutch.

You may be able to find one second hand but it still needs to be suitable (dry, secure etc), and have not recently housed rabbits.

Will you only have them outside during actual viewings (ie their indoor cage will remain in situ)?

Or will they be moving out for the duration of your house being on the market?
If so, then you may also need a run outside or even temporary playpen where you can bring them back inside for playtime.
If the time it is on the market extends beyond summer but the piggies need to stay outside, then bringing them back inside for playtime will be lost due to the temperature differences between inside and outside

 

[Magpie]

Thanks. They will be out all the time as we will need to pack up the indoor cage.

We do plan to bring them in for playtime but I will look at a run as well for outside.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes in that case you need a good secure hutch set up in a shaded location. You have to keep in mind that hutches get hotter than the air temperature suggests so have a thermometer in the hutch and keep a close eye. Unfortunately summer is a very difficult time to keep them outside but we have lots of tips on outdoor care (mine are also outdoor living piggies - in a shed)

Ideally they need slow acclimatisation to outdoor conditions and ideally are only put out during the day to begin with - night times are still too cold for indoor piggies to be outside.
If this isn’t going to be possible then and they have to go out sooner in cooler night time temps , then you any need a hutch cover also. It’s probably not worth going to the trouble of getting a proper one and a tarp may do the job.

Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

They can come in to the house during summer for playtime but if your house sale takes longer (fingers crossed it doesn’t) then come the end of September they will not be able to be brought indoors at all.

Are your piggies used to being on grass?
Access to grass and lawn time has to be built up slowly every year due to the risk of fresh grass causing bloat on unprepared tummies

How to Introduce New or Reintroduce Regular Fresh and Dry Food Safely - The Rules
Fresh Grass and Lawn Time - Tips for Avoiding Spring Time Deaths