Are hutches warm enough?

Status
Not open for further replies.
SophRuss5

SophRuss5

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
335
Reaction score
7
Points
255
Location
Nr Tewkesbury
My Guineas are currently indoors however as I still live at home, unemployed graduate, my mum has ordered them outside! I have bought a two tier hutch on Gumtree, however the wood feels really thin. Do they offer much protection, I can imagine it gets quiet cold.... I have seen the hutch snuggle covers, is it best to buy one of these?
Or should I insulate the hutch somehow, cover the wire part with fleece?
Am I worrying too much?
How do other hutch user make sure their guineas are snug!?
 
Outdoors is fine as long as the hutch is well insulated as Guinea Pigs should never be in temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius. Scratch & Newton sell two great hutch covers. One has that silver insulating material they use of space shuttles and it also has a fly net to stp bugs and flys getting in but unfortunately it isn't water proof so you need to also buy the waterproof and wind proof cover. Also what you said about fleece is a good idea as that could go under the hutch covers so the fleece stays warm and dry. Also you could buy a heatpad which is a pad which can be microwaved and put in their hutch to keep them extra warm, it has a fleece cover so that it isn't too hot for them, also plenty of hay to burrow in and each other to snuggle up next to.
 
the mention hutch covers will only fit certain makes of hutches so find out what make yours is, you could also buy some builders membrane and use this to cover the hutch in the bad weather, stain the hutch with oil based stain(only putting pigs back in when the fumes have gone) water based stain will not offer such good protection.
lots of hay in the winter will keep them snug, its not the cold they dislike but the damp should the cage end up getting water in it.
 
if they have plenty of hay to snuggle into they will be fine,as i said its the damp they wont tolarate, i have a group that live in the garden in a large compound and even in the snow and temps of - 10 they come out and popcorned around and foraged around, if they disliked it then they would stay in the hutch and snuggle together, evem my rabbits sit out in the snow it does not bother them.
 
fluff said:
if they have plenty of hay to snuggle into they will be fine,as i said its the damp they wont tolarate, i have a group that live in the garden in a large compound and even in the snow and temps of - 10 they come out and popcorned around and foraged around, if they disliked it then they would stay in the hutch and snuggle together, evem my rabbits sit out in the snow it does not bother them.
Click to expand...

Your set up sounds amazing. Any pics? :)
 
fluff said:
if they have plenty of hay to snuggle into they will be fine,as i said its the damp they wont tolarate, i have a group that live in the garden in a large compound and even in the snow and temps of - 10 they come out and popcorned around and foraged around, if they disliked it then they would stay in the hutch and snuggle together, evem my rabbits sit out in the snow it does not bother them.
Click to expand...
Rabbits are different to guinea pigs, rabbits are very hardy and can take bad weather but generally most Guinea Pigs can't, but as you've said as long as they've got hay and some form of insulation they'll be fine.
 
A good thing to use is greenhouse insulation, it is cheap to buy and looks like giant bubble wrap but thicker. You can use drawing pins to attach to the outside of the hutch and then a waterproof cover.

The key is to keep bedding dry and use plenty of hay, snuggle sacks and heat pads.

Always keep the hutch in a sheltered position in the garden.

I have kept gps in a hutch outside in the past, and I used to worry but when I felt them they were always snug and warm.
 
Hey thanks or all the replies, I have varnished the outside twice, used water based as its meant to be saver for animals. Added a new roof and have put some of that greenhouse insulation, found some in the barn from a few years ago. To be honest it is a bit run down, I had such a short period to find one and can only really afford second hand. Not entirely happy as it smells of dusty farm, even after I pressure washed it all. Sorry if I'm having a bit of a whinge, I really would rather they were inside. I think it will be a temporary thing till I can afford something less scone hand :(
 
SophRuss5 said:
My Guineas are currently indoors however as I still live at home, unemployed graduate, my mum has ordered them outside! I have bought a two tier hutch on Gumtree, however the wood feels really thin. Do they offer much protection, I can imagine it gets quiet cold.... I have seen the hutch snuggle covers, is it best to buy one of these?
Or should I insulate the hutch somehow, cover the wire part with fleece?
Am I worrying too much?
How do other hutch user make sure their guineas are snug!?
Click to expand...

my ditto lives indoors but my old pigs always lived outside when i lived with the parents. I would definatly buy a hutch snuggle cover and a waterproof one to go over that to prevent drafts. One trick i did was plenttly of bedding in the sleeping area this was newspaper with a thick layer of wood shavings on top and a mountain of hay they could burrow into at night. I also had my dad nail fleece onto the inside of the hutch sides to prevent drafts and to insulate piggys. Only for the colder months obviously.. Also ensure you regularily check your piggys water bottles in the cold months as if they ice up your piggys could dehydrate. .so basically plenty of bedding is key and a cover on the hutch. I would put your piggys out now while it is still mild as the shock of going from a warm house into a cold cage in say october november time could make them really ill.
 
before you put the hutch cover on, how about wrapping it insulation? you can buy a whole roll for less than £10 in places like B&Q. That might help. I used to have chickens and I cladded the outside of their coop with sheets of polystyrene then they had a tarpaulin cover :)
 
Piggie Life said:
Rabbits are different to guinea pigs, rabbits are very hardy and can take bad weather
Click to expand...

You're not wrong, it can be blowing a gale and pouring down and my 2 will play outside in it!
 
You mention finding bubble wrap in the barn, can you house the hutch within a barn or shed? The main thing is to keep the bedding dry so that it doesn't get cold (or worse freeze). Another idea is to pop a cardboard box inside the bed end of the hutch, fill it with hay and also fill all around the outside with hay too so there is a double layer.

Just one important point, if you do move the piggies outside please don't bring them in for cuddles in the winter months as the change of temperature is not good for them, I'm afraid you will have to wrap up and go outside to be with them.

Whilst in an ideal world I'm sure we would all love to keep our piggies indoors, sometimes this just isn't possible, but if you put into practice all the ideas suggsted I'm sure your piggies will be fine.
 
The barn has no windows so is very dark and depressing! In all truth I am hoping to find work and move out asap! The struggle with finding pet friendly rentals! However, if I am still stuck with the parents come winter time I will consider clearing out the shed or putting them in the barn! I have bought a few fleecy beds and sleeping bags. Will definitely add much more hay for bedding and cover up the wire sides with fleece at night. I am such a worrier I know they don't cope well with temperature differences and was up all night worrying that they will react badly when they go into the hutch tomorrow night!
 
fluff said:
i have a group that live in the garden in a large compound and even in the snow and temps of - 10 they come out and popcorned around and foraged around,
Click to expand...


My Old Guinea Pigs use to live in the Garage but we build a run outside and they would use a cat flap to the run. In winter they would love to come out for little munching sessions then head back in. When it snowed i would see them Tip toeing around their run wondering what all the white stuff was covering the grass.

I keep my two piggies at the moment outside and make sure they plenty of hay to snuggle in. i also cover the hutch at night with a waterproof sheet. (an old sheet that was lying around) They have a Snuggle Sac in there too.
 
Their first night outside and it's thunder and lightning, I'm getting really upset worrying about them. I wish I had bought a new warmer hutch. It's stressing me out
 
Try not to worry too much, they're a lot more resilient than they look!

mine are in home built hutches made from 8mm exterior ply wood, they're hardly Buckingham palace, but they're dry and draught free which is half the battle :)

they're felted on the roof and back wall (as i can't get around there to paint, but it adds a bit more waterproofing) my piggies have been outside in these hutches for all of their lives, and yes - that even includes during the 1 & ½ feet of snow & -14°C temperature it registered here in york last year!

i felt so guilty about it, but the pigs couldn't have cared less so long as they got their wagg & veggies :P
even my old timers were perfectly fine, a thick layer of substrate on the floor (woodshavings in my case) their beds were packed with as much hay as i could get in there and they have clear perspex wind and rain covers (so they can still see out in poor weather)
that's basically all i do, other than the far end hutch having a bit of insulating underlay for laminate flooring pinned to the end wall for a bit of extra insulation (as the bed end of the hutch is exposed to the elements at that end, on the others, they are pushed up to the leading wall of the hutch next to it.)
with water bottles, if it's forecast to get really cold, they have their last drink at about midnight before i bring them in, refill them ready for the next day, then take them back out no later than 8 am the next day. it's really not the perfect solution, but when you have 15 bottles, the last thing you want to happen is to wake up the next day to discover they've all frozen and split in the night.

shop bought ply hutches are very thin, but with extra insulation around them, they're still well suited for the job if they're painted and felted well.

no matter what anyone says though, you'll always worry, but as soon as you go out and see them it'll put your mind at rest as they'll be there happily wheeking at you and waiting for their dinner :(|)
 
Pandora said:
Try not to worry too much, they're a lot more resilient than they look!

mine are in home built hutches made from 8mm exterior ply wood, they're hardly Buckingham palace, but they're dry and draught free which is half the battle :)

they're felted on the roof and back wall (as i can't get around there to paint, but it adds a bit more waterproofing) my piggies have been outside in these hutches for all of their lives, and yes - that even includes during the 1 & ½ feet of snow & -14°C temperature it registered here in york last year!

i felt so guilty about it, but the pigs couldn't have cared less so long as they got their wagg & veggies :P
even my old timers were perfectly fine, a thick layer of substrate on the floor (woodshavings in my case) their beds were packed with as much hay as i could get in there and they have clear perspex wind and rain covers (so they can still see out in poor weather)
that's basically all i do, other than the far end hutch having a bit of insulating underlay for laminate flooring pinned to the end wall for a bit of extra insulation (as the bed end of the hutch is exposed to the elements at that end, on the others, they are pushed up to the leading wall of the hutch next to it.)
with water bottles, if it's forecast to get really cold, they have their last drink at about midnight before i bring them in, refill them ready for the next day, then take them back out no later than 8 am the next day. it's really not the perfect solution, but when you have 15 bottles, the last thing you want to happen is to wake up the next day to discover they've all frozen and split in the night.

shop bought ply hutches are very thin, but with extra insulation around them, they're still well suited for the job if they're painted and felted well.

no matter what anyone says though, you'll always worry, but as soon as you go out and see them it'll put your mind at rest as they'll be there happily wheeking at you and waiting for their dinner :(|)
Click to expand...

Coming from someone who has to house their piggies outdoors, this is refreshing to know here :)
 
Like another poster said, felt works really well. When I still lived at home, my dad made me an amazing hutch - we covered the back and sides with roofing felt and he made me some little 'shutters' out of wood that I could just slot into place at night and take off in the morning.
For the last couple of years I've used one of those rabbit tents that you can buy. I've put that inside their sleeping box, then folded an old pillow round the back and sides of it and then packed any gaps with scrunched up balls of newspaper. With the tent then filled with hay, they have been toasty warm - I've often checked them in the middle of bitter nights and when I've felt under their bodies they are really snug. Another thing that we did, when my hutch was just outside, was to stand the legs on 4 bricks - that way, damp doesn't start tracking up the wooden legs.
With a bit of effort, you can definitely keep them warm outside, so try not to worry too much.
:)
 
Hey, I'm in a similar situation to you. Live with my parents and all the pigs got kicked outside! (They were making a terrible mess of the house though) hopefully by winter I'll have a shed for them, I think thats the best option!
 
Thanks everyone, they have braved two nights, both incredibly stormy and horrible weather. Just my luck it turns torrential their first night! They both seem fine though, still not sure about exploring the lower level yet, am planning to sow a fleece tunnel tomorrow! Bank holiday weekends are all a bit too busy! I guess I will just have to look harder for a f/t job so I can get my own place!
 
Claire W said:
What's their hutch made of? Tonge and groove is better and thicker than plywood.

Try not to worry although I know it's hard xx
Click to expand...


Not always
My homemade guinea pig's hutch is thicker ply than my rabbits Tongue and groove hutch.

My guinea pigs live outside all year round. They have a their bedroom filled to the brim with straw in the winter and have a blanket to go over their hutch. They are happy and were absolutely fine last winter! :)
 
We thought about buying a hutch cover but found them expensive for what they were.
8)
Himself found an idea on the internet - Use Aluminium Bubble Insulation Foil.

1. Using your hutch as a template for good measurements - unroll insulation around width then secure with Aluminium Tape at the sides.

2. Unroll across the roof and secure all round with Aluminium Tape so this forms a slide on 'Cover'
_____
[ ]

3. Mark the door area. Cut a flap from bottom to top leaving an inch or so clear so you can roll up the flap exposing door. For a snug fit, cut out extra sides for the door gap and secure with tape. This makes sense for the next step.

4. Using Velcro Self Adhesive Sticky Strips, place Hooks on the flap and Loops on the extra sides - then roll down your flap. This should form a roll up and down door which can be secured.

5. Finally - once on and Piggies settled for the evening, cover with a waterproof Bench Cover (my fellas idea) or Tarp.
The idea being you can slide the Insulation on and off but in winter still have access to the hutch via doors.

8:) I apologise ive not got photos of this - as we still need to make one! We did a 'mock up' with cardboard and it looks good. Peeps could probably use the idea and modify it. But I thought id share as it sounds like a great solution but id be damned if we could find the website again so credit to the person who thought of it! 8:)
 
BlueDreamer said:
My Old Guinea Pigs use to live in the Garage but we build a run outside and they would use a cat flap to the run. In winter they would love to come out for little munching sessions then head back in. When it snowed i would see them Tip toeing around their run wondering what all the white stuff was covering the grass.

I keep my two piggies at the moment outside and make sure they plenty of hay to snuggle in. i also cover the hutch at night with a waterproof sheet. (an old sheet that was lying around) They have a Snuggle Sac in there too.
Click to expand...

that catflap sounds EPIC!
 
My mam works in catering and often gets polystyrene blocks.

MY foster piggies were outside and i taped some of that wrapped in thick refuse bags under the bottom back and sides of the hutch. I then used a waterproof cover which just basically a tarpaulin someone made for me cut to side and sewn up to cover the sides and front when it rained etc.

The NASA approved cover and insulator thing their mum bought for me to use on their hutch was only better in the respect of cosmetically it looked professional and the front was clear so could be used during the day. BUT it was basically just bubble wrap which was encased in like those emergency blankets you can get in pound land, with a fancy water/wind proof cover coat.

Its like pretty much everyone has said. draft free. and dry bedding.

I used to layer their bedding up too with loads of card and news paper ont he bottom shavings more news paper and then hay on top. just so they didnt get any shavings in their actual area but so it would wick away moisture and insulate a bit more.
 
no!

Hey, we always find that, especially in winter that our guinea pigs are shivering when i go out to check them in the morning. We started using wool blankets to keep them warm.They are soft and warm yet are usually rough enough that the guinea pigs cant or wont eat through it. See what works for your little ones!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top