Question about cleaning

[dgilb80]

Hi all,

We are getting two baby sows imminently and just wanted to find out the answers to a couple of questions (have been furiously reading/watching all I can about caring for Guinea Pigs over the last month!).

For logistical reasons they will be outside piggies...we have a single storey 5ft x 2ft hutch with hutch hugger and hutch snuggler, with an option to move into the garage in colder months (never used for cars and has some natural light as double garage doors both with frosted windows at the top).

Regarding daily spot cleaning...do I assume that it is better to remove piggies into their indoor run or pet carrier before doing this in case of escapee piggies? Or is it better to try and spot clean whilst they are still in the hutch?

In winter, what do I do with the piggies whilst cleaning the hutch as I know temperature fluctuations are not good for them so I take it I can’t bring them inside whilst cleaning their hutch...or would this be ok for 15/20 mins or so?

Many thanks

 

[Veggies Galore]

You will work out what systems are better for you .

It is much easier to spot clean when your guineas are having floor or grass time...however, I often do a quick spit clean (I call it room service) while they are in the hutch . They are supposed to move to one side while I clean the other side ...but they usually get in the way

 

[Piggies&buns]

i spot clean/full clean my piggies and rabbits with them still in their hutches during winter (although my piggies have access out to their shed year round for playtime so they are sometimes not in the hutch during spot cleans anyway. They’ve grown up with that so don’t try to escape when I open their doors. My piggies usually just move away but the rabbits like to ‘help’....!

 

[eileen]

i do daily cleans with them in the hutch,and clean the whole hutch every five days.i place them in a run in the shed for cleaning the hutch,take all bedding out,scrub hutch,then replace with clean bedding !

 

[Siikibam]

Spot cleaning doesn’t need them taken out of the hutch. Just clean around them and keep an eye on them. They’ll probably just hide on the opposite side to where you are in the beginning. Remember to talk to them while you’re doing it. You can always come up with a phrase you can use for cleaning time.

Is it possible to put them in the garage all the time, even before it gets cold?

 

[Veggies Galore]

Remember to talk to them while you’re doing it.

I sing to mine ....I reckoned that , as my singing keeps most humans away, it'd work for Guinea pigs too