Playtime outside

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LittleEskimo

LittleEskimo

Adult Guinea Pig
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What temp is suitable to bring my boys outside for some grass time?

It's quite sunny but breezy today and it's about 8degrees

I get the feeling this might be a little low for indoor pigs but what is the desired temp?
 
Mine don't go outside until it's about 12-15 degrees and the ground has warmed up a bit. Even if it's a relatively warm day, the ground is still freezing cold and their little piggie feets really feel it. Even on a warm day, I make sure they have a litter tray lined with hay to get into if they want to. IMO, it's still far too cold and damp to put them outside for a few hours. The temperature difference between inside and out is enough to potentially cause URIs.
 
I only put my indoors piggies (who live in a fully heated room) out when the lawn is warm and dry to my bare feet. I've become much more careful after had to deal with UTI issues in some sensitive piggies because I was tempted to put them out too early on a sunny spring day.

If in any doubt - DON'T; if the weather is marginal or changeable, give them a refuge that is off the ground, dry (hay) and that provides shelter from wind and rain if you leave them outside for any length of time. Guinea pigs do not adapt well to sudden changes in temperature and damp ground; it can cause illness quite easily. Guinea pigs living in hutches can go on the lawn sooner, as long as they can get off the grass at any time because they are used to colder temperatures than indoors piggies.

Too much rich fresh grass at first can also cause tummy upsets; start feeding small quantities once the grass is starting to grow again. Please wait until temperatures are in the mid-teens and acclimatise your piggies slowly to life outdoors.
 
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I don't put mine out till I'm comfy sitting out in a tshirt and then i fetch them in if theres a spot of rain :)
 
I just want to say I totally agree with Wiebke. I am more bothered about the temperature and dampness next to the ground than the air temperature.

I am already leading up to time on the lawn with grass seed sown in a washing up bowl, that's deep enough for grass roots, which they get to graze down every few days. This gets their tummys used to grass before they go out as I know they will live up to their name and basically pig out until they are totally stuffed on the lawn! (How many washing up bowls with grass growing in would your lot need Wiebke?)
 
Thanks guys :) I tried feeling the ground and to me it felt ok but after seeing the weather forecast I had second thoughts. Looks like they are going to have to wait a bit longer for it.

I have little chinese takeaway pots of grass growing. It's not enough really :))
 
If it's warm enough for shorts & t-shirt then it's warm enough for the piggies. Ground must be totally dry though.
 
My piggies live in a shed but I won't allow them outside time until the summer. If I can stand outside just wearing a t shirt, I will let them out but not until then :)
 
Agreed, if I wouldnt sit my bum on the grass in a tshirt my little ladies dont head out in it x
 
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