Warning: Freezing UK nights ahead!

Aye it's been trying to snow here, not managed more than a light dusting of it before I locked the front door for the the night though.
 
It's been so cold all week (scarcely above freezing even in the afternoons) that our house temperature dropped below 16° this morning. 🥶🥶 The thermostat is set to 17° during the day, but the heating has been on much of the day trying to get it to that level - unheard of previously. It didn't manage to reach 19°, the evening setting, despite being on since 5pm.
I'm glad we don't have the piggies outside now, it would be costing the earth to keep their room heated enough.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
It's been so cold all week (scarcely above freezing even in the afternoons) that our house temperature dropped below 16° this morning. 🥶🥶 The thermostat is set to 17° during the day, but the heating has been on much of the day trying to get it to that level - unheard of previously. It didn't manage to reach 19°, the evening setting, despite being on since 5pm.
I'm glad we don't have the piggies outside now, it would be costing the earth to keep their room heated enough.
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I have had to have the heating in the piggy shed on 24/7 these last few days just to keep it above 12° and my electric this week has been what I usually spend in a fortnight.
Piggies all seem fine with plenty of hay

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I tell a lie, we've had about an inch, inch and a half at most, but the council could definitely be saving the money on streetlamps right now. Bright enough out there with the snow and snow sky they wouldn't be needed.

So long as my Tesco order still turns up. I know how it sounds for me to be complaining about that but the cupboards are near empty.
 
I'm so thankful that our living room at least holds its temperature, no snow here but it's bloody freezing.

Pigs are still sleeping out in the open so can only assume that they're a comfortable temperature. :roll: We were gifted a heated clothes airer many moons ago (top tier housewarming gift) which we have on in the utility room all the time at the moment... definitely to dry clothes, definitely not anything to do with that room being my elderly cat's bedroom. I'm absolutely not washing clothes later in the day so that I have an excuse to keep it going all night.

Husband can't tolerate a heater on overnight or anything other than a summer duvet, so lots of blankets under the duvet for me 🥶
 
We woke up to a slightly more than a dusting of snow here this morning.
It’s drizzling slightly now so it is turning into slushy mess.
 
Wiebke said:
Please make sure that your piggies are warm and safe as the coming nights are going to be rather a shock to the system after an unusually warm autumn.

Plenty of practical advice and tips in this link here: Cold Weather Care for Indoor and Outdoor Guinea Pigs
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Hey am not sure if this is the right place but I’ve just recently got two guinea pigs yesterday there in my room,in the mornings when I go downstairs it’s cold so I turn the heating on I do have a radiator cover in my room am so unsure what to do if to have a window open and the heating on in my room for them or turn it down or not to have it on a tall in my room or what degrees is it gonna be at I do like to open my window the tiniest bit for fresh air and doesn’t get to smelly is there certain way of doing things now it’s winter
 
Abbie1258 said:
Hey am not sure if this is the right place but I’ve just recently got two guinea pigs yesterday there in my room,in the mornings when I go downstairs it’s cold so I turn the heating on I do have a radiator cover in my room am so unsure what to do if to have a window open and the heating on in my room for them or turn it down or not to have it on a tall in my room or what degrees is it gonna be at I do like to open my window the tiniest bit for fresh air and doesn’t get to smelly is there certain way of doing things now it’s winter
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Give the guide linked into the first post a read.
It is important to ensure guinea pigs are warm enough - the general rule is if you are comfortable then so are they. Piggies like to be kept at around 18-21 degrees.
Ventilating for a little while each day is a good idea though but you don’t want guinea pigs to be in draughts. You can cover their cage with a blanket to protect them from any cold air
 
Okay thank you very much I have an upstairs bit which there currently up there there is a door and the top can that be covered? but also will they still be able to breathe as there is a downstairs bit with stairs which will still be open ?
 
Abbie1258 said:
Okay thank you very much I have an upstairs bit which there currently up there there is a door and the top can that be covered? but also will they still be able to breathe as there is a downstairs bit with stairs which will still be open ?
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It will be easier for you to post a picture to show us your set up. perhaps do that in your new thread also (New owner)
 
Abbie1258 said:
Hey am not sure if this is the right place but I’ve just recently got two guinea pigs yesterday there in my room,in the mornings when I go downstairs it’s cold so I turn the heating on I do have a radiator cover in my room am so unsure what to do if to have a window open and the heating on in my room for them or turn it down or not to have it on a tall in my room or what degrees is it gonna be at I do like to open my window the tiniest bit for fresh air and doesn’t get to smelly is there certain way of doing things now it’s winter
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Hi

The most energy efficient way of airing a room in cold weather is to open the window just for 5-max 10 minutes every 1-2 hours when you are around. This uses less energy than a leaving open a window slit over longer periods or opening the window fully for longer than 10 minutes.

Every degree less in the room also saves you a lot of energy. If it done slowly, the guinea pigs will adapt especially if you support with smaller measures. What they cannot cope with is sudden major temperature swings over 5 C if at all possible. So bringing outdoors piggies inside for a cuddle is not a good idea.

Cold Weather Care for Indoor and Outdoor Guinea Pigs
 
I spoke too soon, just went out to jump in the car, it didn't like being parked up in cold damp temperatures for 2 days, it wouldn't start, I've had to to give it a jump start and take it for a drive to charge the battery. 👍
 
BossHogg said:
I spoke too soon, just went out to jump in the car, it didn't like being parked up in cold damp temperatures for 2 days, it wouldn't start, I've had to to give it a jump start and take it for a drive to charge the battery. 👍
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I can't actually shut my PC down at the moment, or even use Sleep Mode, because it can't wake up from the cold. Keeping it running means it keeps warm.
 
I've put my mobile booster pack on charge, so it's fully charged for the morning in case it won't start again, thankfully, the battery is still under warranty. So if it is damaged, I can get it replaced. 👍
 
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