Winter and the piggies & a little rumble

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Hi all!

We are coming into winter here in Aus & I’m just wondering is it safe to let my piggies go outside if it’s cold… If so, how cold is too cold?! My girls are inside at night time and if it’s raining they still stay in during the day too. However, in my mind the UK is very cold…. And the piggies are outside during the day?

On another note, I have 4 sows. They are about 6-7 months old. Only the past couple days I’ve been awoken to hearing the rumbles and the bums swaying side to side. Is this the age the piggies work out who is top pig in the herd? They have never done this before with each other & I wonder if it’s starting now because they are older?

Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Their temperature comfort range is 18-22 degrees with below 15 degrees being too chilly and above 25 being too hot.
So the general guide is if you are comfortable (not too cold or too hot) then they will be comfortable too. If you can stand outside with bare feet and nothing on your arms and not feel cold, then they will probably be ok. If you can’t do it, then they can’t be outside.
But, it’s not always that straightforward! Humidity plays its part, as well as what they are used to.
My own piggies cope better with it being colder than they do with it being warmer.

In late autumn and winter in the UK, piggies will definitely not be put out on grass, not even those used to living outside - it’s too damp (in autumn), wet as well as too cold. If they do live outside, they will be tucked up warm in hutches for the whole of winter with a variety of warming and protection measures and with those hutches ideally being kept inside a shed or garage for even further protection.


Piggies work out the hierarchy of a herd within the first two weeks of them being together. So if they’ve been together for longer than that, then they definitely have already done it and it either went smoothly so there were no big shows or you didn’t notice it!
They are now teenagers though so get hormone spikes and some seasons are stronger than others resulting in more dominance

Sows: Behaviour and Female Health Problems (including mounting and ovarian cysts)

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Please also be aware of snakes. We don't have that problem here in the UK but sadly the number of outside guinea pigs that are killed by snakes in Australia is rather high. If you want to, you will need a very robust set up with a very tight, strong and solidly fixed mesh that is well anchored and protected from the bottom and top, too - but be aware that piggies should not live directly on a mesh floor as their feet are not laid out for gripping and that any resulting foot injuries/infections can be crippling or even fatal.

Guinea pigs regulate their body temperature mainly via the blood flow through the ears, which is not the most efficient system but they have evolved to live in thick undergrowth which acts as an insulation in all extremes and their main times of activity when they come out to feed are down and dusk when temperatures are at their most moderate. They do not cope well with massive sudden temperature swings (including day and night swings). It usually takes them several days to gradually adapt to somewhat higher or lower temperatures.

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Their temperature comfort range is 18-22 degrees with below 15 degrees being too chilly and above 25 being too hot.
So the general guide is if you are comfortable (not too cold or too hot) then they will be comfortable too. If you can stand outside with bare feet and nothing on your arms and not feel cold, then they will probably be ok. If you can’t do it, then they can’t be outside.
But, it’s not always that straightforward! Humidity plays its part, as well as what they are used to.
My own piggies cope better with it being colder than they do with it being warmer.

In late autumn and winter in the UK, piggies will definitely not be put out on grass, not even those used to living outside - it’s too damp (in autumn), wet as well as too cold. If they do live outside, they will be tucked up warm in hutches for the whole of winter with a variety of warming and protection measures and with those hutches ideally being kept inside a shed or garage for even further protection.


Piggies work out the hierarchy of a herd within the first two weeks of them being together. So if they’ve been together for longer than that, then they definitely have already done it and it either went smoothly so there were no big shows or you didn’t notice it!
They are now teenagers though so get hormone spikes and some seasons are stronger than others resulting in more dominance

Sows: Behaviour and Female Health Problems (including mounting and ovarian cysts)

Ohh it was definitely hormones after reading that! The rumbles have settled so they only lasted a couple days. Thank you!

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Hi

Please also be aware of snakes. We don't have that problem here in the UK but sadly the number of outside guinea pigs that are killed by snakes in Australia is rather high. If you want to, you will need a very robust set up with a very tight, strong and solidly fixed mesh that is well anchored and protected from the bottom and top, too - but be aware that piggies should not live directly on a mesh floor as their feet are not laid out for gripping and that any resulting foot injuries/infections can be crippling or even fatal.

Guinea pigs regulate their body temperature mainly via the blood flow through the ears, which is not the most efficient system but they have evolved to live in thick undergrowth which acts as an insulation in all extremes and their main times of activity when they come out to feed are down and dusk when temperatures are at their most moderate. They do not cope well with massive sudden temperature swings (including day and night swings). It usually takes them several days to gradually adapt to somewhat higher or lower temperatures.

ohh now I don’t have the heart to put them outside when it’s cold, even during the day! They have a sufficient cage now in my bedroom (2x8) and I’ll keep the heater on for them when the cold really sets in. TBH, I think the girls prefer being inside anyway!