Putting piggies on the lawn!

Gus&Arlo

Gus&Arlo

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have recently moved house (piggies have settled into their very own free roam piggy room very nicely!) and now the weather is looking nicer I’ve been thinking about getting my 2 boys a run so they can go out on the lawn.

I’ve had them for two years and we’ve never had a garden or any grass to put them out on, and as a result… I have lots of questions! :))

The lawn looked pretty terrible when we moved in so I have been seeding and did use a fertiliser on the lawn early in April. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about when I can safely let my piggies out on the lawn if it has had fertiliser on it? I read somewhere I think it requires 3-4 mows to ensure any treated grass has grown out? (FYI I don’t intend on continuing use of fertiliser).

I also read that daisies and buttercups are toxic to guinea pigs, I haven’t seen any in the lawn yet but it’s been regularly mowed and I’ve only lived here since December. Any tips to spot these in the grass if they maybe just haven’t come into flower yet or I’ve been mowing them down?

I know guinea pigs can’t eat grass cuttings either but the lawn here is growing like crazy and I’m mowing weekly at the moment; is it safe to put them out on freshly mowed lawn (my mower does collect the cuttings)? Or how long is it suggested to wait after mowing?

I’ll start pulling some grass up to feed to them a little at a time to gradually introduce them to eating grass, and increase slowly, but once they are eating a decent amount of grass inside, should I start with 15 minutes in the run once a week and gradually increase?

I’m purchasing a run that I will peg into the lawn so there are no gaps for the piggies to escape out from under, it has a half covered/half mesh roof so they have some shade but also protection from predators, and I will put some hideys in there for them too. I don’t plan to leave them out there unattended, but I really worry that if a cat or other animal were to come anywhere near, it could really terrify them. Any tips for keeping them safe from predators whilst they are outside?

Thanks in advance and sorry for all the questions! 😊
 
I’ll add in some guides that can answer all of your questions.

I personally would recommend you get a strong wooden and mesh run.
You can buy folding wooden runs that make for easy storage over winter (they don’t fold with the lid screwed on though).
The wire runs that peg down tend to be quite flimsy in reality.

Fresh Grass and Lawn Time - Tips for Avoiding Spring Time Deaths
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time
Outdoors Time: Tips for keeping cavies safe and luring escapees back
 
Thank you.

Have read these ones already, can’t see anything about how to potentially spot daisies or buttercups (but think it does say they would need to eat a lot so assume on that basis if I haven’t spotted any then all ok) or if I can put them out on freshly mowed lawn?

Looks like these forums also just say to “gradually introduce grass”, how long have others started with when first putting them out? I don’t want them to absolutely gorge and get ill.
 
Also - the run I’m buying is wooden with a wooden roof - I have just bought lawn pegs to make sure it’s pegged down firmly into the lawn. Haven’t seen any wire ones.
 
Gus&Arlo said:
Thank you.

Have read these ones already, can’t see anything about how to potentially spot daisies or buttercups (but think it does say they would need to eat a lot so assume on that basis if I haven’t spotted any then all ok) or if I can put them out on freshly mowed lawn?

Looks like these forums also just say to “gradually introduce grass”, how long have others started with when first putting them out? I don’t want them to absolutely gorge and get ill.
Click to expand...

You would need to identify the leaves of potentially unsafe plants in the lawn. Even on mowed grass they would be there but you would need to look closer.

I don’t let my piggies go anywhere where are buttercups at all - not even a little bit.

I don’t let mine on the lawn on the day it has been mowed.

You can start by handpicking some grass and feeding it to them in the cage. An amount the size of your thumb, then the size of your first, then increase it from there.
They can then go on the grass for 10-15 minutes for a week and then build it up to 30 mins for the next week, an hour the following week and so on.
 
Gus&Arlo said:
I have recently moved house (piggies have settled into their very own free roam piggy room very nicely!) and now the weather is looking nicer I’ve been thinking about getting my 2 boys a run so they can go out on the lawn.

I’ve had them for two years and we’ve never had a garden or any grass to put them out on, and as a result… I have lots of questions! :))

The lawn looked pretty terrible when we moved in so I have been seeding and did use a fertiliser on the lawn early in April. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about when I can safely let my piggies out on the lawn if it has had fertiliser on it? I read somewhere I think it requires 3-4 mows to ensure any treated grass has grown out? (FYI I don’t intend on continuing use of fertiliser).

I also read that daisies and buttercups are toxic to guinea pigs, I haven’t seen any in the lawn yet but it’s been regularly mowed and I’ve only lived here since December. Any tips to spot these in the grass if they maybe just haven’t come into flower yet or I’ve been mowing them down?

I know guinea pigs can’t eat grass cuttings either but the lawn here is growing like crazy and I’m mowing weekly at the moment; is it safe to put them out on freshly mowed lawn (my mower does collect the cuttings)? Or how long is it suggested to wait after mowing?

I’ll start pulling some grass up to feed to them a little at a time to gradually introduce them to eating grass, and increase slowly, but once they are eating a decent amount of grass inside, should I start with 15 minutes in the run once a week and gradually increase?

I’m purchasing a run that I will peg into the lawn so there are no gaps for the piggies to escape out from under, it has a half covered/half mesh roof so they have some shade but also protection from predators, and I will put some hideys in there for them too. I don’t plan to leave them out there unattended, but I really worry that if a cat or other animal were to come anywhere near, it could really terrify them. Any tips for keeping them safe from predators whilst they are outside?
Thanks in advance and sorry for all the questions! 😊
Click to expand...
It is admirable that you have put so much effort into creating a safe, comfortable and natural space for your piggies. A small house on the lawn, with a semi-covered roof, cute hideys and your loving presence – that is already a “tiny paradise” for the little ones. However, as you might worry, that paradise also needs a sturdy fence to protect against unwanted guests such as feral cats, birds of prey or even foxes if you live in a rural area.
 
aueranna said:
It is admirable that you have put so much effort into creating a safe, comfortable and natural space for your piggies. A small house on the lawn, with a semi-covered roof, cute hideys and your loving presence – that is already a “tiny paradise” for the little ones. However, as you might worry, that paradise also needs a sturdy fence to protect against unwanted guests such as feral cats, birds of prey or even foxes if you live in a rural area.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much 😊
 
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