A few housing questions!

[Euro1989]

Hey everyone, I only just fot my 2 Piggies yesterday morning and I have been doing my research but there are just a few questions I have to make sure of if thats ok.

Firstly my piggies are in a hutch in my summer house, now if the weather gets colder and the frost comes is there anything else I need to do in which to keep them warm to the hutch itself or to the summer house even?

They are of course quite nervous at the moment, I have been reassuring them and have managed to pick both up, I have been trying a technique were I pick them up, stroke them for a minute, then place them back down and try again a little later on as to try and get them used to it (After leaving them for 24 hours too).

Also I have a picture here of the amount of hay in their bedroom, can someone check to see if its not enough or too much for me (I am changing the hay each day with the food and water but will be doing a proper clean out once a week.

And finally I have a run for them, would they appreciate hay while they are in there and should I be keeping my hay in a container to keep it fresh?

I know thats a lot of questions in one go but I am scared of doing something wrong!

Thanks

Euro1989

 

[JoBo]

Hi your photo has not come out. It sounds as if you really care for your pigs welfare, if they are youngsters i would not advice them being out at all in the winter, do you have a lobby or hallway in your house that they can come into, praticularly when the weather gets really cold -10 here last year. YOu can buy special insulating covers for hutches or perhaps look at how you can insulate it yourself DIY. YOu can also buy heat pads for your guinea pigs from most pet suppliers.
I am glad that they are in a summer house as this will take some of the winter elements from them.
You are doing the right thing with hay. Use lots and lots of hay and newspaper throughout the whole of the hutch and remember that they will eat most of the hay so carry on doing as you are doing and daily stocking up.

YOu need to keep your hay somewhere dry, not necessarily warm put as long as it is covered up. I buy my hay by the bale and used to keep it in a shed covered in plastic tarpulin.

Hope this helps and all the best of luckxx

 

[piggyfan]

You need never worry about feeding too much hay. They should always have an unlimited supply. It would be good to put some in their run too as they must have access to hay at all times.

I would not like to have them outside as it is so cold at night. If you have piggies indoors they get to know you more. You can spend more time with them and observe them. After all they are part of your family now.