Please bring your outdoors piggies inside or under cover for the winter NOW!

Wiebke

Wiebke

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Autumn has arrived in the UK with plenty of storms and the first night frosts. Guinea pigs are NOT winter hardy and need extra warmth and protection over the cold months. They should be kept well away from cold breezes and gales, frosts and dampness. If you are using a unheated garage, please make sure that your piggies are safe from rats and mice and that their hutch is well insulated and that you do not use the garage for your own car (exhaust fumes).

Recommendations and practical tips in here: Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
 
I’ve just tucked my two in their hutch in their shed with loads of hay, an extra fleece layer in their beds, two snuggle safes and an old duvet pulled over their hutch.
 
So glad mine are snuggled up in their own room, I’m surprised I didn’t have a heart attack through stress when I had outdoor piggies but the thread is great for those with outdoor piggies and they can still be kept nice and warm following the advise in the thread.
 
I had 3 outdoor rabbits and i never brought them inside. If i had them now i would never leave them outside brrrrrrrr
 
Our thermal cover has been down against the wind for a while and this year my husband has added another layer of insulation for when it gets colder. Snugglesafe pads on order!
 
Thanks Weibke! I’ve been contemplating doing this! Wasn’t sure if the insulation, extra bedding and hot water bottles were enough! I feel much better now they’re inside, I’m slightly worried the cage is only 3x2 but they seem happy and I’m sure it’s a damn sight better that freezing all night in a 5x2. They’re only 6 months old. I’ll let them run around the dinning room 1st thing 😊 xx
 
I have a indoor room for guinea pigs, but there is not heating or anything. So, I just use extra blankets, old fluffy pants (They can snuggle in them for warmth), and hay.
 
PiggyPoo said:
Thanks Weibke! I’ve been contemplating doing this! Wasn’t sure if the insulation, extra bedding and hot water bottles were enough! I feel much better now they’re inside, I’m slightly worried the cage is only 3x2 but they seem happy and I’m sure it’s a damn sight better that freezing all night in a 5x2. They’re only 6 months old. I’ll let them run around the dinning room 1st thing 😊 xx
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PiggyPoo, I wouldn't recommend hot water bottles. Your guinea pigs can easily chew through plastic. (I'm assuming you have plastic water bottles. Sorry if you don't) If they chew a hole through the water bottle, it may fall onto the guinea pigs and can easily burn them. But of course, you can cover the water bottle up with towels too.
 
I'm having this dilemma, do i bring them inside in a cage with the colder weather, especially nights, or use heat pads, blankets loads of hay etc etc etc? If I bring them in, which I would rather do, as not fancying going out in the snow, rain etc to feed, water clean and check for warmth, what size cage would be best for 2 piggies? I have a very small 1 bed bungalow :hmm:
 
CocoAndOreo said:
PiggyPoo, I wouldn't recommend hot water bottles. Your guinea pigs can easily chew through plastic. (I'm assuming you have plastic water bottles. Sorry if you don't) If they chew a hole through the water bottle, it may fall onto the guinea pigs and can easily burn them. But of course, you can cover the water bottle up with towels too.
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They’re the rubber ones with a fleece cover and I put them under a blanket. They’re not really chewers, it was only temporary until the snugglesafes arrives (should be tomorrow) but thank you for your advice. I think I’ll be keeping them indoors for now as it’s going to be really cold over next few days and they’re only 6months old so this is their first winter! Xx
 
Katz said:
I'm having this dilemma, do i bring them inside in a cage with the colder weather, especially nights, or use heat pads, blankets loads of hay etc etc etc? If I bring them in, which I would rather do, as not fancying going out in the snow, rain etc to feed, water clean and check for warmth, what size cage would be best for 2 piggies? I have a very small 1 bed bungalow :hmm:
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Bring them inside when it’s very cold, personally I don’t think the heat pads cut it when it’s below 10 degrees all day/night.

Go for as big as you possibly can but the minimum for 2 sows is 4x2 (I think boars need more room to prevent fighting). They’ll still need more room to excercise though xx
 
CocoAndOreo said:
I have a indoor room for guinea pigs, but there is not heating or anything. So, I just use extra blankets, old fluffy pants (They can snuggle in them for warmth), and hay.
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Would you consider using additionally microwaveable heat pads for small animals? They are sold in the UK under the brand name snugglesafes. A walk-in lidded cardboard box filled with soft hay (which is a great insulator) is also a good enrichment and warming place - and useful as over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay. Just don't stuff the hay in too tight; the piggies should be about to burrow through).

More tips in the link in my first post.
 
Katz said:
I'm having this dilemma, do i bring them inside in a cage with the colder weather, especially nights, or use heat pads, blankets loads of hay etc etc etc? If I bring them in, which I would rather do, as not fancying going out in the snow, rain etc to feed, water clean and check for warmth, what size cage would be best for 2 piggies? I have a very small 1 bed bungalow :hmm:
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Cage Size Guide
You can if necessary look on the local free-ads for cheap secondhand rabbit cages (2x4 ft i.e. 60-120 cm).
 
I'm not sure whether the link works - the product is
Petnap Flexiguard 44 Metal electric Cat Dog heat pad mat 33cm x 44cm
 
PiggyPoo said:
They’re the rubber ones with a fleece cover and I put them under a blanket. They’re not really chewers, it was only temporary until the snugglesafes arrives (should be tomorrow) but thank you for your advice. I think I’ll be keeping them indoors for now as it’s going to be really cold over next few days and they’re only 6months old so this is their first winter! Xx
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Okay! I was just making sure. :tu:
 
My Finn and Lara are indoor piggies with central heating and air-conditioning however, I am still worried about my piggies in the winter months.
Finn and Lara's cages are centrally located in the house. Lara loves her fleece pouches so she goes inside her pouches when she wants to. Finn on the other hand with his long hair doesn't like the pouches and doesn't go inside the pouch like Lara. I am not even sure how I can convince Finn to use the pouch when the weather gets cold. Mostly, I just cover Finn's cage with a thick blanket at night so he can keep warm.

If someone else has a better idea, I would like to hear it. If I am just too worried about absolutely nothing, and Finn should be fine being an indoor piggy, please let me know also.
 
I should also notate that Finn cuddles with his stuffed animals in his cage. He has two stuffed animals in his cage at all times near his curtain. I am not sure if his stuffed animals are keeping him warm since he doesn't use his fleece pouch most likely because of his long hair. I think his long hair gets in the way when he goes inside the fleece pouch.
 
Seven7 said:
I should also notate that Finn cuddles with his stuffed animals in his cage. He has two stuffed animals in his cage at all times near his curtain. I am not sure if his stuffed animals are keeping him warm since he doesn't use his fleece pouch most likely because of his long hair. I think his long hair gets in the way when he goes inside the fleece pouch.
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Feel him! Does he feel cold? If so try a snugglesafe pad or a bigger pouch\igloo. Maybe he doesn’t like to get his hair messy lol xx
 
Mine are outdoor piggies. There is a permanent insulated hutch snuggle and a thermal hutch cover on the hutch at all times. There are various fleecy items in the hutch at all times in the winter (tunnels, pouches etc), pigloos, blankets, snugglesafes (5 so they can have 1 each), loads of hay oh and a blanket over the front and the top of the hutch at night as well as the other two covers. They were toasty warm this morning when I went to check on them. They will be warmer this winter as they are in a new hutch which is much better quality than the old one (and about 3 times as expensive!)
 
Betsy said:
Mine are outdoor piggies. There is a permanent insulated hutch snuggle and a thermal hutch cover on the hutch at all times. There are various fleecy items in the hutch at all times in the winter (tunnels, pouches etc), pigloos, blankets, snugglesafes (5 so they can have 1 each), loads of hay oh and a blanket over the front and the top of the hutch at night as well as the other two covers. They were toasty warm this morning when I went to check on them. They will be warmer this winter as they are in a new hutch which is much better quality than the old one (and about 3 times as expensive!)
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I love your hutch and your piggies are very lucky :)
 
Betsy said:
Mine are outdoor piggies. There is a permanent insulated hutch snuggle and a thermal hutch cover on the hutch at all times. There are various fleecy items in the hutch at all times in the winter (tunnels, pouches etc), pigloos, blankets, snugglesafes (5 so they can have 1 each), loads of hay oh and a blanket over the front and the top of the hutch at night as well as the other two covers. They were toasty warm this morning when I went to check on them. They will be warmer this winter as they are in a new hutch which is much better quality than the old one (and about 3 times as expensive!)
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That’s good to know @Betsy as I have the same hutch and covers! Just need the snugglesafes to arrive and a few more fleecy beds. I’m being over cautious at the min because it’s their first winter so brought them in last night as temp has been low for over 12hrs. Think I’ll keep them in tonight too and see how they go! Xx
 
My two were snuggly in their beds this morning! Outside temp was 4 degrees but inside their shed and hutch was 10 degrees so it offers quite a bit of protection so far - I’m under no illusion it’ll get colder, don’t worry!
New hutch arriving in an hour and a half (I’m more excited about this than when I have a parcel containing a new handbag!) so that will also help.
 
PiggyPoo said:
Bring them inside when it’s very cold, personally I don’t think the heat pads cut it when it’s below 10 degrees all day/night.

Go for as big as you possibly can but the minimum for 2 sows is 4x2 (I think boars need more room to prevent fighting). They’ll still need more room to excercise though xx
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I have been looking at cages on stands, there are 2 i'm wondering about, a single storey 120cm x 55cm, or they do the same size in a 2 teir, but mine are not keen on ramps, do you think it will be big enough?
 
Katz said:
I have been looking at cages on stands, there are 2 i'm wondering about, a single storey 120cm x 55cm, or they do the same size in a 2 teir, but mine are not keen on ramps, do you think it will be big enough?
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Ideally go as big as you can, depends how much time they’re going to have for excercise! If they have plenty run around time then I’d consider that one but if not I’d definitely get bigger! There’s not much room left when you put all their things in!

They usually spend most time on one tier but if there’s not much in the price then a two tier is good for storage xx
 
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