outside? is it a good idea for the winter?

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piggy person

piggy person

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hiya! thanks for taking some time to read this!
my lil pigs live outside and there not aloued inside :0
what can i do to make them warmer in the winter?
they are not aloued hay any more. so if anyone has some ideas please post.
:):):)
 
what do you use to keep them warm outside then? why are they not allowed hay?

do you keep them outside outside, or in a shed?

sorry for question time! hehe :))
 
my step dad dosent like hay becouse it leaves a mess out side and a little comes inside. they have wood shavings (only a thin layer though in the bed bit) and news papper in the main bit.grrrr they dont live in a shed just outside.
 
in that case, i would say that they are going to be far, far far too cold in the winter. unhealthily cold, DANGEROUSLY cold if they havent got anything warm. I would personally never leave my guinea pigs outside. we keep them inside at present but if they had to go outside, then they would go into the shed with LOTS of hay and perhaps fleece underneath.

Can you not persuade your step dad to allow them into the shed, and promise that you will clean up all mess immediately? I really dont think its a good idea to leave them with wood shavings and newspaper alone.
 
I don't want to appear rude but I think it's likely your guinea pigs will die over the winter without lots and lots of hay to burrow into. The set up you have right now is definitely inadequate and dangerous.

Also guinea pigs NEED hay to eat, They should be eating it nearly all the time for their digestion and to grind down their teeth - without it the teeth will become overgrown quickly and your dad will have some hefty vets bills.

Hay is cheap and yes it can make a mess but that mess can be cleaned up. It's vital they they get it and get is asap to keep them warm and healthy.

Sorry they aren't allowed inside anymore. It really is the best place. Outside cn be fine provided they have lots and lots of soft warm hay to burrow into and keep them warm.
 
if your stepdad will really not allow you to use hay for them and they will be left outside for the winter with only woodshavings and paper, then i think you should really consider rehoming them, as you would not be providing for their needs and keeping them safe, healthy and warm.
 
Definitely - if you can't convince him to use the hay (and they need lots in a hutch over winter) then they should definitely be rehomed or they will definitely die.

My dad was the same when I was a girl and we had a rabbit who he left outside in a hutch in winter without proper stuff to keep him warm. I'll never forget his dying from the cold, it was horrible and even though I was a girl and my dad was the grown up i've never forgotten it and feel guilty about it. Rabbits are bigger than guinea pigs too and able to hold their temperature better.

Consider rehoming them if they don't get the hay very soon.

Sorry if it seems harsh - really. But it's that important.
 
maybe your stepdad doesnt know a lot about piggies?

if it was me in your situation, id do some research, and then make a factsheet to present to him to try and persuade him to allow the piggies to have hay, and id make sure i bullet pointed the importance of hay, as well as the consequences of not providing it for them.

i'd also list the benefits of keeping the pigs inside or at least in the shed, and if he loves them as much as you do, he will reconsider. also the fact that you have made an effort to do some research shows that you are being responsible, and if you promise that any mess will be gone straight away, then he might just be swayed.

good luck
 
Hi Piggy Person's mum here. The guinea pigs have a hutch cover at present to keep them warm and sheltered (purchased at PAH Scratch and Newton hutch snuggle) and will be moving into our garage over the weekend. The guinea pigs do have hay in a hay rack in their hutch, unfortunately when we used hay all the time for their hutch the hay was not being swept up and subsequently it was all over the garden and in the house despite our best efforts to encourage our daughter to clean it up! At present they have a thick layer of newspaper and have an abundance of wood shavings in their sleeping area and also shredded paper. I would like to put your minds at rest that the piggies are well cared for loved very much by us.
 
The garage will be fine then, they'll be out of cold winds!

I know that wood shavings are very very very messy, and so is hay for that matter, it sticks everywhere!

Have you considered using fleece as bedding? It would be much tidier, and easier to clean.
You would use a layer of newspaper, maybe some shredded paper if you can get hold of it easily, another layer of newspaper and then a fleece on top... no woodshavings needed!

the fleece absorbs the pee, and you'd either hoover or pick up the poos at least once a day, and the fleece would need washing every few days or so. definitely worth a try if you like to keep things tidy!

its also good to know that they are having a supply of hay in the rack, i am sure that keeps things much tidier too!
 
That's good news and thank you very much for posting on this post. It's great to hear from the parent and to know that we didn't quite have the full picture.

The shredded paper and hutch cover plus the garage sound fine and great they have hay to eat too.

Thanks for adding to the post. :)
 
great stuff, yes I imagine it will be lots cheaper as you would only need a few fleeces to rotate when one is in the wash!

All the best!
 
What about getting a snugglesafe....heat pad ...I now they are £20 but they are great...you could just put it in with the guinea pigs on a night time!!
 
My guinea pigs are in the shed in the winter time(outside in the summer)....which is not heated...but the guinea pigs are ok.They have a snuggle safe on a night time in really good weather and lots of hay!
 
I would still stress that they need lots of hay not just in the hay rack. Even with a snugglesafe heat pad it alone is not enough. I understand that hay makes a mess but you need to be using it. It is good that they will be in a garage away from the winds.

We use duvets on over our hutches here at night as well so that may help but i cant stess enough about the hay. maybe do a rota to ensure it is swept up or a stern talking to explaining consequences if it is not.

Sorry to harp on but it really is very important.
 
I know Hay can be messy and a big thankyou to Piggy Person mum for being great and involved with your daughters cavies.
When its cold I put plastic pods in my hutches which are lined with newspaper and stuffed with hay the guineas love it and the hay stays put ! My hutches are in the garage...no cars ever..attached to my garage which is great as i can nip in and out as i please in all weathers,which is problematic as hay and sawdust follows me no matter what its quite funny.God bless dysons.
Dont be afraid to bring them indoors if its too cold ,they dont smell !
We wash them on a regular basis and the paper just folds up nice with poops inside.
Keep up the good work
Helenxx>>>xx>>>
 
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