Fleece bedding outdoors?

[ForrestTheTexel]

Hi all, my guinea pigs are currently indoors but I'm planning on moving them outside. They'll be in a hutch with ferplast cage attached, inside a shed so well protected from the elements. At the moment they have a homemade cage with part fleece and part hay which works well so I wanted to do the same in the shed if possible. Is it OK to use fleece 'outdoors'? I'm just worried that when it gets wet it might get cold? I've built them a wooden hidey inside the bed area of the hutch so it's extra insulated. I was planning on putting fleece in that section, hay in the main hutch section along with another hidey (as they tend to sleep seperately!) and the fleece in the cage part. I'm hoping to keep them there year round, so for winter I plan to make an insulated cover for the hutch and put a blanket over the cage at night. Does this all sound OK? They are both long haired but don't tend to snuggle together so they won't keep each other warm
Thanks in advance! I'll try and add a link to pics of their current set up.

 

[ForrestTheTexel]

Thought I'd done a post with their current set up but I hadn't so this pic shows how I've attached the ferplast cage to the home made bit so I plan to attach to hutch in same way and try and keep the layout as similar as I can

 

[Siikibam]

No idea here I’m afraid. I think it’s @Betsy who keeps her piggies outside (but in a garage).

If those are the bag holders from ikea they’ve got a bad reputation with piggies getting heads stuck in them. If not then don’t mind me

 

[eileen]

HI,I have outdoor piggies and indoor piggies . i would say fleece is ok when temps are 15 degrees and above consistently day and night.in the winter i use aubiose throughout the hutches,fleece remains cold and damp in winter and autunm.vet bed is good in winter,and summer,as all moisture goes to the absorbent layer,eg towels,reusable/disposable puppy pads. if your shed is to be heated in colder months then fleece is fine.you could place fleece over disposable bedding.your cage is great.i use an area of diposable bedding and hay,fleece liners in my c and c cages.

 

[ForrestTheTexel]

No idea here I’m afraid. I think it’s @Betsy who keeps her piggies outside (but in a garage).

If those are the bag holders from ikea they’ve got a bad reputation with piggies getting heads stuck in them. If not then don’t mind me

Eek yes they are the ikea bag holders! I haven't had any issues with them, but maybe I'll have a rethink for the outdoor set up! Thanks

 

[ForrestTheTexel]

HI,I have outdoor piggies and indoor piggies . i would say fleece is ok when temps are 15 degrees and above consistently day and night.in the winter i use aubiose throughout the hutches,fleece remains cold and damp in winter and autunm.vet bed is good in winter,and summer,as all moisture goes to the absorbent layer,eg towels,reusable/disposable puppy pads. if your shed is to be heated in colder months then fleece is fine.you could place fleece over disposable bedding.your cage is great.i use an area of diposable bedding and hay,fleece liners in my c and c cages.

Thanks, I did find some threads last night about vet bed and puppy pads so I'm going to get some and try that system! Was hoping to move the piggies this weekend but might have to wait a couple more weeks now! The shed won't be heated. Will the fleece over the vet bed and puppy pads work in winter or am I best not having fleece at all in winter? Thanks for your help

 

[eileen]

i would suggest not to use fleece in winter ,you could try vet bed in the sleeping area.snugglesafe heat pads are great for when weather is cold.puppy pads and hay is another type of bedding,needs changing twice aweek in my experience.it is trial and error ! I'm going to put two herds out into remaining hutches when weather is warmer...may time.x

 

[ForrestTheTexel]

i would suggest not to use fleece in winter ,you could try vet bed in the sleeping area.snugglesafe heat pads are great for when weather is cold.puppy pads and hay is another type of bedding,needs changing twice aweek in my experience.it is trial and error ! I'm going to put two herds out into remaining hutches when weather is warmer...may time.x

Thanks I am going to get some vet bed and wait a few weeks to live them out. I have been leaving window open in the room they're in and not had heating on so they'll get used to the temperatures. I currently use wood pellet litter and newspaper under the hay section of their cage, that works well but gets very expensive if used in too large an area!