Should I bring the girls in ?

[MarthaAndMaud]

Please can I have your opinions on if I should bring my rescue guineas in for the night. We have freezing temperatures, snow and hail in Norfolk at the moment. I have 5 sows that I have rescued in the past two weeks. One hutch of 2 underweight short haired and one hutch of 3 mixed breeds. As I don't know their full background history, do you think I should bring them in to be of the safe side or shall I just give them plenty of straw for the night ahead and keep them well covered up?

Alternatively if you have any other tips on keeping them warm they will be appreciated.

At present they are kept outdoors in hutches with newspaper lining, then megazorb and straw in their sleeping area and newspaper lining with megazorb in their free area. The hutches both have a felt roof covered with thick waterproof rubble sacks that I use to keep the drafts out at night.

Thank you
Claire

 

[Loopylou]

Personally, I would only bring them in if they can stay in until the warmer weather. Even in the daytime here it has been very cold, so if they went out again it would be a big temperature drop. Otherwise I would put them in the most sheltered place you have and give them loads of bedding and a snugglesafe if you have one. Then loads of blankets or an old duvet and something waterproof over the top.

 

[Vikki]

cardboard boxes inside sleeping compartments can add an extra layer of insulation and bubble wrap over the hutches with space left for ventilation we only have two pairs outside at the moment and they are well wrapped the rest are all in the sheds or indoors O0

 

[spitcher88]

I think you should do what feels right, if you're having doubts about them being outside, bring them in for a bit. Plenty of hay will help to keep them warm, or pigloo's if you have them. Covering the cage itself would help a lot, maybe with some blankets to stop the wind coming in. Keep it weighed down with bricks or something.

 

[Claire W]

Hi. I too was concerned about my piggies being outside in the cold weather. Mine live in our outhouse. They have a big piece of carpet on the roof and sides of the hutch and I give them plenty of hay and wood shavings and they seem to be fine. xx