Cold Piggies?

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Courtneyyyleex

Courtneyyyleex

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hi! My pigs are outdoor piggies and I'm starting to get a bit worried about them getting cold as winter starts. I can't bring them inside as there isn't any space to put them:( but I just don't want them to get cold. Their hutch doesn't get damp or anything, I'm just worried about the cold. I put in loads of hay for them before bed for them to borrow in (if it even lasts the night with them) but I was thinking about getting some hot water bottles and wrapping them in towels and blankets for them to sleep on. What are people opinions on this? Is it safe?
Thank you
 
I would ideally like to have mine INDOORS in the winter.

I have the next best option . Mine are in a shed and I have electric heaters ( I have greenhouse heaters and an oil filled radiator) linked to a thermostat.

This is a good thread ...

Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs

I'd you have to keep them outdoors over winter, it is essential to keep them dry and out of draughts - with plenty of hay for them to snuggle up in. I wouldn't use hot water bottles if I were you - the snugglesafe heat pads Kerrie has mentioned are a much better idea
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PiggyOwner said:
Er sorry folks, I have just re-read my post . I meant to say I would prefer to have my guinea pigs indoors in the Winter.

I have asked a mod to edit my post .

Apologies for my senior moment .
Click to expand...

:)
 
and thank you for using the report system :) x
 
I am new to guinea pigs and also plan to keep mine outside, so interested to hear responses!

With the heat pads, can you just put them in the hay? Or is there a set place to put them in the hutch.

Thank you
 
I think you can put them anywhere, just make sure they're not too hot. I think what I'm gonna do is wrap the head pad in a blanket
 
I've always had outdoor piggies until this year, and I'm actually more worried about the kids inside this winter! lol!
Have just been bickering with J about it as I woke up perished this morning (J and one of the dogs wrapped up in the duvet and me with none!) to find the heating turned down and the piggies fluffed up and cold. They are nice and toasty now, but pee'd me off a little!

When I had piggies outside I worried, but not too much as they had heat pads, polar fleece covers around the pens and covers over the pens too, combined with bedrooms full to the brim with straw.
I have found that outdoor piggies adapt to the cold much better than they do heat, and don't seem to suffer for the cold weather (as long as they are well bedded and fed etc) but I am worried about our kids at the moment as the temperature in the caravan fluctuated so much!

x
 
If you could find some good quality straw then put that in for them instead of hay as straw keeps heat a lot better and they also won't eat it all! Heat pads are good to and hot water bottles are fine but they will eventually go cold so maybe if possible try and invest in a battery heat pad or something similar. Maybe also if you have any fleece blankets or something of that ilk then pop that in for them to to snuggle up in. But if they have each other then they'll be able to keep each other warm:) and if you have a shed they could go in during the winter then that would be ideal as well but if not if your hutch came with a cover then you could pop that on (,you might already have one but just in case!:)) hope this helped!
 
Mine are outside and I would love to have them inside but there isn't any room :(

I have the heat pads and I microwave these every evening and put them in the hutches and they stay warm until morning. They are in a fleece cover and I put them under a sheet of newspaper just in case they are a little too warm on the feet to start off with.

Lots of straw to keep them warm. I know you aren't meant to use straw but if I put hay in they will eat it and it won't keep them warm .
 
Water bottles are fine but mabe a bit cumbersom
have you thought of a rice filled been bag , they hold the heat for many hours, (6 to 8hours )
 
Rosehip said:
I've always had outdoor piggies until this year, and I'm actually more worried about the kids inside this winter! lol!
Have just been bickering with J about it as I woke up perished this morning (J and one of the dogs wrapped up in the duvet and me with none!) to find the heating turned down and the piggies fluffed up and cold. They are nice and toasty now, but pee'd me off a little!

When I had piggies outside I worried, but not too much as they had heat pads, polar fleece covers around the pens and covers over the pens too, combined with bedrooms full to the brim with straw.
I have found that outdoor piggies adapt to the cold much better than they do heat, and don't seem to suffer for the cold weather (as long as they are well bedded and fed etc) but I am worried about our kids at the moment as the temperature in the caravan fluctuated so much!

x
Click to expand...

kerry said:
Mine are outside and I would love to have them inside but there isn't any room :(

I have the heat pads and I microwave these every evening and put them in the hutches and they stay warm until morning. They are in a fleece cover and I put them under a sheet of newspaper just in case they are a little too warm on the feet to start off with.

Lots of straw to keep them warm. I know you aren't meant to use straw but if I put hay in they will eat it and it won't keep them warm .
Click to expand...

Thanks for such helpful information!

I have just got my piggies and they are outdoors. Understandably they are still hiding in the bedroom area, which i expected as its all new to them! In the main area where the wire front of the hutch is, do you just put shaving/that type bedding and newspaper or hay here too? I'm worried (probably unnecessarily) about whether they will come out for food if it's not as warm! Although I know they will eat hay most of the time. I have got some heat pads, should we use them now or wait until it's even colder? It feels pretty cold to me but I worry about the effect when it gets even colder!

Thank you for your help. I have done so much research before getting them and still have a hundred questions!
 
mine are also outdoors and last night i gave them their snuggle safe heat pad for first time and they loved it, providing Beau doesn't pancake on it then theres plenty to be shared.lol
i also use shredded paper, and straw - i know people do say not to give them straw due to eye pokes, but the way i see it they can get poked by hay, and my lot have had more bits in their eye from hay then straw thus far.
I was initially concerned due to switching to fleece hutch liners and if this would be suitable in colder months, but with their heat pads, plenty of hay, straw, fleece cosies and paper so far they seem to be ok.
they're covered at night by a double layer tarp which is tied down and secured by bungee cords, with only a very minimal gap for ventilation - they def seem happier on fleece than wood chips thats for sure
 
Lots of blankets and duvets and layers are good.
If you know a builder insulation is handy.
Draughts not cold is the big killer so if possible place them in a garage or shed
Alternatively cover or part cover the doors with bubble wrap.
Poundland emergency blankets reflect heat .
Lots of hay.
Snuggle safe heat pads
I hope this helps!
 
lawz said:
mine are also outdoors and last night i gave them their snuggle safe heat pad for first time and they loved it, providing Beau doesn't pancake on it then theres plenty to be shared.lol
i also use shredded paper, and straw - i know people do say not to give them straw due to eye pokes, but the way i see it they can get poked by hay, and my lot have had more bits in their eye from hay then straw thus far.
I was initially concerned due to switching to fleece hutch liners and if this would be suitable in colder months, but with their heat pads, plenty of hay, straw, fleece cosies and paper so far they seem to be ok.
they're covered at night by a double layer tarp which is tied down and secured by bungee cords, with only a very minimal gap for ventilation - they def seem happier on fleece than wood chips thats for sure
Click to expand...

Maisy and Poppy said:
Lots of blankets and duvets and layers are good.
If you know a builder insulation is handy.
Draughts not cold is the big killer so if possible place them in a garage or shed
Alternatively cover or part cover the doors with bubble wrap.
Poundland emergency blankets reflect heat .
Lots of hay.
Snuggle safe heat pads
I hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thank you, I've had them a day or so, they appear to be sleeping in separate areas and have already been out and eating veggies etc, so hopefully they are fine. I put an extra box with hay inside and on it in the sleeping area for extra layer. They also have a cover over the hutch and will pop the snuggle pads in tonight!

I have read so much on straw and can understand why people say it shouldn't be used. At the pet shop they seemed to have very soft flat straw though, which on the top layer in the hutch (to the roof where they don't really go, I imagine could be okay!
 
Just wondering do you have a shed that the guinea pigs hutch could possibly go in to keep them warm. You can buy pets safe hot water bottles but they can be expensive. Lots of hay would also keep them warm.
 
Unfortunately not. I do have a garage but it's full with stuff and still not warm. I've actually been quite lucky where I live because the winter has been so mild
 
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