Winter care for GPs...is it ok to..?

[sharonk]

If we got baby GPs in the next month or so would they be ok to be outside this winter or would they be too young?

If they had to be brought in could they just be brought in nightly to a small indoor cage to sleep and then returned to the hutch in the day or would that just be too confusing?

I would like to say I could buy a large indoor cage and keep them indoors in winter and only return them to the garden in Spring but not sure we have the room for the sort of cage size that would be recommended for continual use!

I know I think too much but I am a worrier and don't want to spend all winter worried!

thanks
Sharon

 

[claremw92]

Guinea pigs need some sort of winter housing all be it in an indoor cage... The hutch moved in to the shed or concervatory... Etc.

Could you not put them in a shed...?
Sheds are relatively easy to heat etc... And the piggies are protected from the weather...

x

 

[Doeylicious]

In order to keep piggies outside all winter you have to be prepared for some hard work

I had to keep most of mine outside last winter and am still so grateful we only got one really bad day of snow. We insulated all my hutches very thoroughly using radiator insulation and bubble wrap and put perspex over most of the fronts. I also went through a LOT of hay (and I am lucky, I can buy it by the bale) and used heatpads every night.

I won't lie, it was not fun cleaning out in the pouring rain with numb toes but it had to be done, so I did it.

This year I am SO happy we have two nice, well built sheds that I can fit all the hutches in and bring my elderly piggies indoors for the winter months

You wouldn't be able to bring them in at night and out in the day I am afraid, as it is the change in temperature that will hurt them more - they need to be either in or out I am afraid.