Extension for the piggies

[ladymuck83]

Hey all

Hoping you can all help. Started with my piggies inside but it is just too noisy here for them. So basically bought a lean too shed plastic sort of material. Insulated it and then bought a hutch with the thermal cover. I have then purchased straw for them to sleep in and every evening give them fresh hay nuggets and either spinach and broccoli carrots baby leaf lettuce parsnips peppers cucumbers. Every morning I make a new run for them in the shed (they have it to themselves) and let them out to play in it the whole day while I go to work. We then have cuddles with myself and kids for half an hour to hour a day with a run around the kitchen.

I was wondering about the temp what is the ideal temp. It goes to 9 in the shed but they have thermal cover on their hutch so hoping is about 15 in there. How can I check?

Am I feeding them the right stuff?

The hutch is sooooo messy to clean the sawdust is everywhere all over me my house - is there’s anytbing better to use? Are their trays for the hutches? Mine is the pets at home £55 hutch amen £35 thermal cover.

Is there a better bedding solution that doesn’t be cost a fortune?

Their wee is cloudy sometimes dark is this normal?

They don’t seem to approach me at all just hide at the moment does This change?

Would really appreciate any help or advise want to keep Mike and Roy as happy and healthy a possible

 

[Betsy]

You really shouldn't use straw for piggies it is too hard for them and their feet. Hay is much better. There is a greater risk of haypoke (a painful condition of being poked in the eye by straw (can be hay but rarer) requiring vet treatment and eyedrops at least twice a day).

Their wee is cloudy cos it's the only way that they have to excrete excess calcium.

Nuggets are much better than muesli to eat. Here is the Nugget comparison chart.
Nugget Comparison Chart
FYI mine love Harringtons and it seems to be a popular choice with quite a few members for their piggies too.

The link I gave on your other thread on how to settle shy piggies will address the hiding from you problem.

Here is the link about bedding for you.
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

 

[Siikibam]

An answer was typed as I read. In terms of feeding, Carrots should be kept to a treat once a week. Spinach should be fed sparingly as it’s high in something (fail to remember now!). You can also give them two sprigs of coriander a day. Green beans. Broccoli is also not one to be given daily I think.
The threads below are a good guide on feeding.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Edible And Forbidden Veg And Fruit List With Vitamin C Grading

 

[ladymuck83]

Thanks guys I will read up on all these

Any idea if there are any trays for the hutches u can buy so I can slide them out? - will get rid of straw asap

Do u know how I can measure the temp in the hutch. Don’t want to put thermometer in there incase they eat the mercury! Xx

 

[Siikibam]

Not sure about the trays to be honest. Is there a gap for them? As advised, please think about using something other than straw for bedding.

 

[Betsy]

You can get digital remote thermometers that you can put a screw or nail in and hang them up.

 

[Gia]

Not sure about the trays to be honest. Is there a gap for them? As advised, please think about using something other than straw for bedding.

You can try to find a short kitty litter box that'll fit in there. I got a few at the dollar store.

 

[DMS260820]

An answer was typed as I read. In terms of feeding, Carrots should be kept to a treat once a week. Spinach should be fed sparingly as it’s high in something (fail to remember now!). You can also give them two sprigs of coriander a day. Green beans. Broccoli is also not one to be given daily I think.
The threads below are a good guide on feeding.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Edible And Forbidden Veg And Fruit List With Vitamin C Grading

Spinach = high calcium high phosphorous i believe. And ofcourse high vit c

 

[ladymuck83]

Here it all is? Everything seem ok? Any comments appreciated I’m still very new at this

I will be ordering fleece as this other blue stuffs is expensive and not that great tbh

 

[DMS260820]

Here it all is? Everything seem ok? Any comments appreciated I’m still very new at this

I will be ordering fleece as this other blue stuffs is expensive and not that great tbh

Is this all metal? I'm worried this will turn into an oven in hot summer days

 

[ladymuck83]

No it’s that strong plastic stuff poly something and sun is rarely on that part of the garden. I think it shines on the door last thing at night. There is a vent there. I’ve put a thermometer in there today and it’s 20 when the door wasn’t closed. Will check it often, that ok? Thank uuuuu

 

[ladymuck83]

My boyfriend seems to think that the insulation will keep it cool in summer? Is this right? Should I take it out I wonder?

 

[Merab]

No @SkyPipDotBernie - in the original post it says the shed is plastic. I went back to double check
Weather is still an issue with outdoor piggies but we have a lot of members with the experience to advise.

It looks a great set up and your piggies are lucky to have such a committed and caring owner

 

[DMS260820]

Cool, worth a mention just incase

 

[ladymuck83]

No @SkyPipDotBernie - in the original post it says the shed is plastic. I went back to double check
Weather is still an issue with outdoor piggies but we have a lot of members with the experience to advise.

It looks a great set up and your piggies are lucky to have such a committed and caring owner

Thank u that’s very nice to hear we do love them a lot

 

[ladymuck83]

Cool, worth a mention just incase

Yes for sure I need as much advice as possible. Hoping once I have had them a year I will know how to adapt the shed for them

 

[ladymuck83]

I’ve put a board up so they getting some fresh air and the roof is a skylight but UV protected so not a window

 

[Betsy]

Looks good! Does the door half open like a stable door? Can't quite see from the pictures.

 

[ladymuck83]

Looks good! Does the door half open like a stable door? Can't quite see from the pictures.

No my boyfriend made it so we can get some air in there they we’re too scared to come out when it was open so closed the door and kept an eye on temp