What age do guinea pigs have to be before going into hutch

[Piggies&buns]

Yeah hopefully it will be warm enough for them be out day and night in the spring next year. I’m the winter I would probably move the hutch inside my garage but I would have to leave the garage door slightly open to keep it ventilated as my garage doesn’t have windows

As I said, not initially it won’t be. They should ideally only be out during the day for the first few weeks and brought back in at night. It’s still important to get them used to being out slowly.

Is that a door to outside?
If so, then it will need to be secured somehow to prevent predators from getting in, but also to ensure the piggies aren’t exposed to draughts

I only have the plastic igloo hides for them and I don’t really want to be spending more money on wooden hides

Perhaps spend this winter saving up for wooden hides.
The other issue you will face with plastic hides is not only in winter with damp, it’s also in summer. Hutches themselves can become incredibly hot in summer so with plastic hides, the issue will be even worse. The plastic hides could pose a real risk to them of overheating if that is all they have

 

[Deleted member 147427]

This is the hutch I bought for them. I bought the cover along with it

 

[Deleted member 147427]

As I said, not initially it won’t be. They should ideally only be out during the day for the first few weeks and brought back in at night. It’s still important to get them used to being out slowly.

Is that a door to outside?
If so, then it will need to be secured somehow to prevent predators from getting in, but also to ensure the piggies aren’t exposed to draughts



Perhaps spend this winter saving up for wooden hides.
The other issue you will face with plastic hides is not only in winter with damp, it’s also in summer. Hutches themselves can become incredibly hot in summer so with plastic hides, the issue will be even worse. The plastic hides could pose a real risk to them of overheating if that is all they have

The plastic hide would just be going into the sleeping compartment of there hutch would that be ok

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is the hutch I bought for them. I bought the cover along with it

I'm so sorry to say that at 120x50cm it is too small. The absolute smallest hutch for two sows is 120x60cm and only the bottom floor counts towards the space

The plastic hide would just be going into the sleeping compartment of there hutch would that be ok

I wouldnt recommend it for the reasons I mention above ie plastic hides potentially getting damp, not being as insulating as wood will be in winter, plus the issue that they will get too hot in summer

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I'm so sorry to say that at 120x50cm it is too small. The absolute smallest hutch for two sows is 120x60cm and only the bottom floor counts towards the space



I wouldnt recommend it for the reasons I mention above ie plastic hides potentially getting damp, not being as insulating as wood will be in winter, plus the issue that they will get too hot in summer

Could u just put hay only in the sleeping compartment during the summer . Would the plastic ones be ok in the spring

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I'm so sorry to say that at 120x50cm it is too small. The absolute smallest hutch for two sows is 120x60cm and only the bottom floor counts towards the space



I wouldnt recommend it for the reasons I mention above ie plastic hides potentially getting damp, not being as insulating as wood will be in winter, plus the issue that they will get too hot in summer

That’s the hutch I bought . It cost me a lot of money so I don’t really want to be buying another one

 

[Piggies&buns]

Could u just put hay only in the sleeping compartment during the summer . Would the plastic ones be ok in the spring

You could just use hay in summer. You will need an absorbent layer underneath though - shavings, aubiose, megazorb etc.
I personally wouldn’t use plastic ones at all. Not least because they tend to only have one door in them which is not recommended.

That’s the hutch I bought . It cost me a lot of money so I don’t really want to be buying another one

Sadly it is below the minimum RSPCA welfare requirements. The internal measurements will be less than 120x50cm so it just doesn’t provide them with enough space and it’s unfortunate that it is for sale in the first place.
This is the issue with getting hutches from Amazon I’m afraid. I have seen so many on there which are entirely unsuitable both in terms of size and in quality

 

[weepweeps]

My two boars are in my garage. Instead of plastic hides I use cardboard boxes with two doors cut into them. Stuffed with hay and a snugglesafe. Plus a thick duvet over the top to stop drafts.

 

[Lady Kelly]

That’s the hutch I bought . It cost me a lot of money so I don’t really want to be buying another one

Usually Amazon has the option to return items to them for a refund. This doesn't meet the minimum welfare requirements for two guinea pigs so I would return it and search for a different one. You can't put them outside til April/may so you have plenty of time to seek out an alternative that does meet the standards.

 

[Deleted member 147427]

It’s already been made up

 

[Lady Kelly]

I don't use hides in the bedding area of my hutch at all as hay is by far the best insulator. I just pile it full of hay. I only use wooden hides (or fleece cosies in cold weather) as plastic can be a heat trap in hot weather and contribute to heatstroke

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s already been made up

That is a shame, but sadly it just isn’t fit for purpose.
Too small of a hutch not only isn’t good from a welfare perspective, but also in terms of their relationship - lack of space can cause piggies to fall out.
If is only the bottom level of a hutch which counts towards the cage size, so you really only need a single storey cage but it does need to be bigger

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I was thinking maybe just using hay and sawdust in the sleeping area in the summer

 

[Deleted member 147427]

That is a shame, but sadly it just isn’t fit for purpose.
Too small of a hutch not only isn’t good from a welfare perspective, but also in terms of their relationship - lack of space can cause piggies to fall out.
If is only the bottom level of a hutch which counts towards the cage size, so you really only need a single storey cage but it does need to be bigger

I don’t think my parents would let me by a bigger one after spending a lot of money on that one

 

[VickiA]

I wonder whether Amazon would be prepared to take it back on welfare grounds. Given that it doesn’t meet RSPCA minimum welfare standards there is an argument that it isn’t fit for the purpose for which it was bought. I’m sure another member was able to return a cage/hutch on this basis recently.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I don’t think my parents would let me by a bigger one after spending a lot of money on that one

As we said, the hutch doesn’t meet welfare standards.
Please do try to return it and get a refund

I note you have also just posted a question regarding the plastic hides on somebody else’s thread - the answer to that question is on this thread -

It would not be a good idea to use plastic hides year round outside - they can cause piggies to overheat in summer, and will not be warm enough and can cause damp in winter.

 

[VickiA]

As we said, the hutch doesn’t meet welfare standards.
Please do try to return it and get a refund

I note you have also just posted a question regarding the plastic hides on somebody else’s thread - the answer to that question is on this thread -

It would not be a good idea to use plastic hides year round outside - they can cause piggies to overheat in summer, and will not be warm enough and can cause damp in winter.

 

[Deleted member 147427]

As we said, the hutch doesn’t meet welfare standards.
Please do try to return it and get a refund

I note you have also just posted a question regarding the plastic hides on somebody else’s thread - the answer to that question is on this thread -

It would not be a good idea to use plastic hides year round outside - they can cause piggies to overheat in summer, and will not be warm enough and can cause damp in winter.

Okay

As we said, the hutch doesn’t meet welfare standards.
Please do try to return it and get a refund

I note you have also just posted a question regarding the plastic hides on somebody else’s thread - the answer to that question is on this thread -

It would not be a good idea to use plastic hides year round outside - they can cause piggies to overheat in summer, and will not be warm enough and can cause damp in winter.

could u put a cool pad under it in the summer

 

[Piggies&buns]

Okay

could u put a cool pad under it in the summer

Please don’t use plastic hides and certainly not in summer, not even with cool pads.
Hutches are hard enough to keep cool in summer anyway so putting a plastic hide in will be dangerous

 

[VickiA]

Okay

could u put a cool pad under it in the summer

The issue with plastic houses is that they overheat. A cool pad won’t change that. The plastic itself insulates and the piggies can literally overheat and die from heat stroke.

 

[Deleted member 147427]

Please don’t use plastic hides and certainly not in summer, not even with cool pads.
Hutches are hard enough to keep cool in summer anyway so putting a plastic hide in will be dangerous

Okay maybe just take it out of the hutch in the summer and just use hay and woodshavings

 

[Deleted member 147427]

The issue with plastic houses is that they overheat. A cool pad won’t change that. The plastic itself insulates and the piggies can literally overheat and die from heat stroke.

Okay maybe take it out of the hutch in the summer and just use woodshavings and hay. Are they ok to use in the spring

 

[VickiA]

I appreciate that you are new to piggy keeping and that you have lots of questions. That is natural. But you’ve come to a forum where we have no hidden agenda - just guinea pig welfare at heart. please don’t keep asking the same questions because you don’t like or don’t trust our answers. We have the experience to back up the answers you are being given.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Okay maybe take it out of the hutch in the summer and just use woodshavings and hay. Are they ok to use in the spring

I would not use plastic hides at all, not in any season, not outside. Replace them with wooden hides

Yes you can use hay and wood shavings but they will still appreciate having hides elsewhere in the hutch.
This is why a hutch needs to be single storey and big enough. There isn’t enough space in the hutch you have for them to have enough space for running about and the enrichment they require. Ramps also use up and waste floor space

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I would not use plastic hides at all, not in any season, not outside. Replace them with wooden hides

Yes you can use hay and wood shavings but they will still appreciate having hides elsewhere in the hutch.
This is why a hutch needs to be single storey and big enough. There isn’t enough space in the hutch you have for them to have enough space for running about and the enrichment they require. Ramps also use up and waste floor space

My dad will be making them a run to play in

I would not use plastic hides at all, not in any season, not outside. Replace them with wooden hides

Yes you can use hay and wood shavings but they will still appreciate having hides elsewhere in the hutch.
This is why a hutch needs to be single storey and big enough. There isn’t enough space in the hutch you have for them to have enough space for running about and the enrichment they require. Ramps also use up and waste floor space

if you can’t use plastic hides why do pet shops sell them

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I appreciate that you are new to piggy keeping and that you have lots of questions. That is natural. But you’ve come to a forum where we have no hidden agenda - just guinea pig welfare at heart. please don’t keep asking the same questions because you don’t like or don’t trust our answers. We have the experience to back up the answers you are being given.

Maybe I should leave the forum then with all the abuse your giving me

 

[VickiA]

My dad will be making them a run to play in

if you can’t use plastic hides why do pet shops sell them

pet shops sell many things that shouldn’t be used for small pets, including far too small cages and dangerous toys. Many things marketed for small pets are not really suitable for them.

 

[VickiA]

Maybe I should leave the forum then with all the abuse your giving me

You have received absolutely no abuse from me or from any other member.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My dad will be making them a run to play in

if you can’t use plastic hides why do pet shops sell them

Having a run doesnt make any difference - the hutch is still too small.
They need an appropriately sized hutch/living space measuring ideally 150x60cm plus an additional run space.

There are lots of things for sale in pet shops which are not suitable

 

[Deleted member 147427]

pet shops sell many things that shouldn’t be used for small pets, including far too small cages and dangerous toys. Many things marketed for small pets are not really suitable for them.

This is the size of cage my Guinea Pigs are in at the moment