does anybody leave piggies out over winter?

Status
Not open for further replies.
n.moore

n.moore

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
300
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
stourbridge
just curious, when i was younger my mom always had rabbits n piggies n they always lived outdoor in hutches, bk in the day qith big sheets over the front, theen moved on to the propa fitted covers, but *** seemed to bat an i lid about them being out all year round, n my mom religiously marching to the hutch in 6 ft of snow lol, ok that may be a bit of a over reaction lol mybe 2 ft haha but now it seems that its like a major no no to leave them outside for the winter... can some one correct me if I'm wrong,or just explain why this is as surly in the wild they would b outside...
my 2 are inside but thats based on the fact that i though it was essential to keep them inside due to weather conditions n only put them in run etc during the day. but i was just curious
 
same here, we had them outside when i was little, my main reason that i wouldnt now is due to cats, foxs etc but also cold and the fact that they are part of my family and i wouldnt live outside so why should they lol, only my opinion, i have no probs with others doing it at all x
 
thats so lovely, personaly i kinda think the same, you wouldnt enjoy them so much outside, i like to here them squeeking away lol nice company, i just wondered thats all
 
I am not allowed to have them inside, the Landlords rules. So the majority have to be outside during winter otherwise I would certainly have them all indoors.
 
Astral Heart said:
I am not allowed to have them inside, the Landlords rules. So the majority have to be outside during winter otherwise I would certainly have them all indoors.
Click to expand...

do they seem to manage fine, i presume like my mom used to do. bit of plastic covering n extr ahay would no doubt do the trick.
 
My piggies live outdoors. Their hutch will be moved into the shed in the next few weeks so they have a little extra protection from the elements.

They'll have an insulated and weatherproof cover too - as well as lots of hay and heat pads to try and keep them as warm as possible. We have four piggies so they can, hopefully, also cuddle together for warmth.

I'll just be glad when it's Spring again to be honest :(
 
Mine are out all year round, they did fine in -23oC last winter, and I suspect this year will be even colder! It's already been -1oC this week.
 
n.moore said:
as surly in the wild they would b outside...
Click to expand...

In the wild they would be in South America :)

I know what you mean though, people used to keep them outside all the time, and they used to survive, I wonder if they lived as long though? not sure as I have never kept them outside.

I like having mine inside personaly so I can see them although some of mine are in the garage I do sit in their with them :))
 
Ange17 said:
In the wild they would be in South America :)

I know what you mean though, people used to keep them outside all the time, and they used to survive, I wonder if they lived as long though? not sure as I have never kept them outside.

I like having mine inside personaly so I can see them although some of mine are in the garage I do sit in their with them :))
Click to expand...

hahaha i didnt think of that... durrr geograpy never my strong point lol
 
I think wherever you keep your pigs, it is the care that you give them that makes the difference. OP said her mum religiously trekked out in the snow to make sure they were well cared for, which is great. Sadly a lot of pets are left out, and not cared for in that way, and do freeze to death. It;s too easy not to check them on a cold wet morning when the family is dashing out to school and work. Or at the other end of the day when it is dark and cold. I really hate the thought of guinea pigs being outside, I think the people on here are the ones who really do put in that care needed, but I know they are in the minority. xx
 
We used to keep them outside all year around with a tarp and towel over the hutch, and then had them free range in the shed during the worst of the winter, but I remember losing guinea pigs during that time to respiratory infections and/or pneumonia.

That's what I'm worried about with my boys cos they're getting on a bit now (~ 5 years old) so I put them free range in the shed with a heater (not using it yet though), lots of hay and hidey boxes.
 
Ive got a rabbit and a pair of guineas who live outside, Id rather they were inside especially the guineas over winter but I live with my parents and there is not much space for an indoors cage. Having said that Leo bunny is 13 and has always lived outdoors and given the chance would be out in rain/snow - he still goes out in the run in winter for a bit but does have a full run cover on his run and I get carpet tiles for him to sit on!

My older guinea who lives on his own lives in my room in a large cage, brought him in last year when it went cold as really felt he would not survive outside. Its great having him insode he gets so spoilt and loves the attention!

Ive just cleared space for Melvin and Parsnip to have a hutch in the garage - they will have a day hutch with covers outside for sunny days and then the garage hutch, again with covers and Il be getting snuggle safes. Garage is not as light but its out of the winds and dry and I can wrap up and sit outside with them in the evening.

If it goes really cold or either of them look ill Il just have to move them inside. Not given up on that plan yet!
 
yes they would be in south america-but south america can get bloody cold you know! it's not all cocktails on the beach in rio!:))

they have snow and ice and everything!

i think the key thing about keeping gp's outdoors is to care for them properly. make sure the hutch is covered, that they have somewhere warm and dry to shelter-free from draughts and to just monitor the situation. if you feel it is getting really to cold then be prepared to bring them in
 
I keep mine outdoors all year round. I live in the south of Ireland, never had a problem with them. Even my lone 7 year old pig last winter was fine on her own. She had a run attached to her hutch all the time and sometimes even ventured out on the snow covered ground when it warmed up during the day! I wanted to bring her in when it snowed, but I live with my parents and they said she'd be fine.

My dad grew up in reading and they kept guinea pigs outdoors all year round, and according to him it's much colder in reading (got much much colder there last winter than here) and it was much colder in the 60's than it is nowadays, 6ft of snow and all that!

I've never had a problem with mine.

Though people on here have mentioned pigs getting frost bite or freezing to death. I wonder if those pigs had lots of clean, dry bedding, and were in good hutches? Was it more the temperature or the lack of care?

It's probably much harder having pets outdoors, because you have to go out and look after them, whatever the weather, even if it's dark early and all. But it's possible to look after them just aswell. At least having my pets outside is good for me cos it means I have to go out and get some fresh air! :)) I have all my pets outside, but my kittens sleep inside, and one of the adult cats (we leave a window open for her). My dogs/cats have a shed, and my bunnies and piggies have another shed. My guinea pigs will get snuggle safe heat pads this year, and lots and lots of hay.
 
My guinea pigs are in a 6 by 6 shed outside, and the bunnies are in a hutch and run combo, tucked under trees. They are checked twice a day, everyday.

I only move them indoors if they are unwell, or if there is a problem with their hutch or shed. The bunnies spent a few weeks indoors last year. We have large cages, and the c & c cubes in the garage for emergencies.

Planning some serious work with the hutch and shed for this winter, hoping to get it done for the middle of Octuber.
 
My piggies (I have 4) are in a shed through fall and winter. I had to move them in early this year due to our cold weather. I live in Canada. I have a heater that I use but it's not on yet. My shed thankfully has electricity and so I have lights and also it has windows to let in natural light.

Last year I used ceramic heat emitters in the guinea pigs hutches. They are inside wooden hutches with one side fully enclosed. But this year I"m going to use the heater instead as I have a rabbit who used to be an indoor rabbit and I got him in early August but don't know if he has had time to grow a winter coat. So I don't want him getting chilly.

I have another rabbit who free ranges in the shed and he doesn't mind winter at all. He just grows a nice warm coat.

But the rabbits and pigs are kept completely apart.

I also have a snugglesafe that I"ll heat up at night for my old guinea pig, Chipychanga. He is 5 years and I don't want him getting sick. He has lived in the shed and outside during summer for 4 years. And he seems fine. :)

I would LOVE to have my guinea pigs inside. I used to always have them inside until after 3 years I suddenly developed allergies to piggies and was devestated. I thought I would have to find homes for them but I did a lot of research and decided I could keep them but not in my house. It was depressing at first but now I guess I'm used to it. Although sometimes I think "if only.... " and sigh.

I don't think I would leave them outside without heat though. I would be too worried and always be thinking how uncomfortable they are.

Lynn
 
I think the climate is different though, as we have wet, miserable, damp snow where as America has dry icy cold snow if you understand where I'm coming from? It 'feels' different, so can understand why the guineas cope better outside over there.. I seem to remember that the Incas bred and ate them?
 
I have always kept my pigs outside in winter unless they are really young, old or ill. As long as they have lots of bedding to keep them warm and you cover the front with something at night and blowy, cold, wet days to stop the draughts you will be fine. Oh and remember to put something like a sock over the bottle to stop the water freezing and they will be fine.

Make sure the hutch is nice and secure as foxes come out earlier in winter and need more food so they need to be kept safe.

My pigs have always lived to an old age and rarely see the vet so it doesn't seem to affect them. Like some others have said, as long as they are looked after, kept warm and dry and checked on twice a day that is the main thing.

Hope that helps.
 
My first ever pig Murvin the purv lived in a converted coal shed through the winter and he did fine. Buried under about 2ft of straw. In the summer mine for the majority unless poorly live in hutches and runs in a shed. I have two indoor hutches and the oldies come in when it strts getting cold.
As the majority of pigs are now 6 + I think I'm going to have to invest and copy you guys once again on in house runs and guniea houses this winter!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top