Weather Warning UK week com 26th NOVEMBER

sport_billy

sport_billy

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Autumn has arrived in the UK with plenty of storms and the first night frosts.

We are now getting storm season over in the UK, we have several weather warnings issued for this week with Storm Diana on the way also Weather warnings

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).

When storms are forecast you would be very wise to bring your piggies indoors

Recommendations and practical tips in here: Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
 
Will they be ok indoors, or will they need anything extra?
 
Is there anything else I can do for my piggies other than give them loads of hay, straw, snuggle safes and their hideys? It’s raining hard and I feel so bad for the little things 😔 also I’m hoping they’re not bored, I can’t put them out in the run and we don’t have a big enough one indoors for them to run around. They have a towel, some fleece and their hideys in their hutch at the moment, there isn’t a lot of room for me to put anything else in there because otherwise they get claustrophobic 😂 any ideas?
 
Laura_Deakin said:
Is there anything else I can do for my piggies other than give them loads of hay, straw, snuggle safes and their hideys? It’s raining hard and I feel so bad for the little things 😔 also I’m hoping they’re not bored, I can’t put them out in the run and we don’t have a big enough one indoors for them to run around. They have a towel, some fleece and their hideys in their hutch at the moment, there isn’t a lot of room for me to put anything else in there because otherwise they get claustrophobic 😂 any ideas?
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Do your piggies normally like to play? My two aren’t the playing type, if they were out in their run they would nibble at grass and then go and sit in their hideys and not do much anyway! To keep them a little more entertained when they can’t come out, I hide their veggies amongst hay, in cardboard boxes etc just so that it takes more time for them to eat. I buy them edible toys such as carrot cottages or cardboard tunnels which they will play with for a little while.

It’s best not to use straw as it is too sharp for piggies, just bed them on hay. Don’t worry about the fact you don’t have room for a run indoors because outdoor piggies can’t really come in at this time of year anyway due to the huge change between outdoor/indoor temperatures.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Do your piggies normally like to play? My two aren’t the playing type, if they were out in their run they would nibble at grass and then go and sit in their hideys and not do much anyway! To keep them a little more entertained when they can’t come out, I hide their veggies amongst hay, in cardboard boxes etc just so that it takes more time for them to eat. I buy them edible toys such as carrot cottages or cardboard tunnels which they will play with for a little while.

It’s best not to use straw as it is too sharp for piggies, just bed them on hay. Don’t worry about the fact you don’t have room for a run indoors because outdoor piggies can’t really come in at this time of year anyway due to the huge change between outdoor/indoor temperatures.
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My two nibble at the grass and then sit in their tunnel and do nothing 😂 thanks for your help!
 
My piggies are getting a bit bored as it's been a while since they have been able to go in the outside runs. Todays entertainment in one cage is a cardboard box with a hole cut in the sides and filled with hay. Cage 2 has a large paper bag stuffed with hay, cage 3 has lots of scrunched up newspaper. The pigy from cage 4 is currently running around the ground floor of the house and took great delight in chewing the lace in one of my partners boots to bits, I'm always telling him not to leave his shoes in the kitchen!
 
My four girls have a huge double decker hutch with an adjoining Ramp that they seem to love running up and down. So are getting of exercise despite the winter weather!
 
piggieminder said:
My piggies are getting a bit bored as it's been a while since they have been able to go in the outside runs. Todays entertainment in one cage is a cardboard box with a hole cut in the sides and filled with hay. Cage 2 has a large paper bag stuffed with hay, cage 3 has lots of scrunched up newspaper. The pigy from cage 4 is currently running around the ground floor of the house and took great delight in chewing the lace in one of my partners boots to bits, I'm always telling him not to leave his shoes in the kitchen!
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😂😂😂😂 this made me laugh!
 
It’s so windy and everything’s blowing across the garden. My two are scared I think 😢 I can’t bring them indoors though. Any ideas?
 
Laura_Deakin said:
It’s so windy and everything’s blowing across the garden. My two are scared I think 😢 I can’t bring them indoors though. Any ideas?
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Shed or garage? Turn the hutch so that it is temporarily facing a wall?
What sort of covers do you have over their hutch?
 
Laura_Deakin said:
It’s so windy and everything’s blowing across the garden. My two are scared I think 😢 I can’t bring them indoors though. Any ideas?
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Just make sure that their hutch is as sheltered as possible (in a corner, under the eaves or against a wall).
I would also consider putting something heavy on top (like a paving stone) to make sure that it can't blow over, but first be very sure the huch is stong enough to hold it.

Ad Eddi says everyone should have extra blueberries (but that part is probably not essential).

Hoping all of our piggie friends in the UK stay safe and warm. :hug:
 
Piggies&buns said:
Shed or garage? Turn the hutch so that it is temporarily facing a wall?
What sort of covers do you have over their hutch?
Click to expand...

They’ve got a thermal hutch cover. My dads put his car in the garage and won’t move it :( I’ll think about turning the hutch though. It’s a bit further away from the wall because there’s loads of plants/tree in between the wall and the hutch :(
 
Swissgreys said:
Just make sure that their hutch is as sheltered as possible (in a corner, under the eaves or against a wall).
I would also consider putting something heavy on top (like a paving stone) to make sure that it can't blow over, but first be very sure the huch is stong enough to hold it.

Ad Eddi says everyone should have extra blueberries (but that part is probably not essential).

Hoping all of our piggie friends in the UK stay safe and warm. :hug:
Click to expand...

Extra blueberries is always essential in the minds of piggies!
 
Laura_Deakin said:
They’ve got a thermal hutch cover. My dads put his car in the garage and won’t move it :( I’ll think about turning the hutch though. It’s a bit further away from the wall because there’s loads of plants/tree in between the wall and the hutch :(
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It’ll certainly help.
However, I wouldnt think just a thermal hutch cover will be enough for them throughout the whole winter. Guinea pigs are not hardy and need a lot of protection. My two are in a shed which obviously keeps the wind and rain away from them as well as keeping them a couple of degrees warmer. As well as that, they also have two thick blankets over the hutch and then a thermal cover over everything. When it get really cold I also pull a double duvet over the thermal cover (you obviously couldn’t do that though as it would get wet being outside!), as well as four snugglesafes inside.
 
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