Hello, new to guinea pig care post 1980's and wondering if anyone can help. My ten year old son has his heart set on a guinea pig (now two for companions) or possibly a hamster. I've always liked GPs and think their temperament is much better suited to my son, but it's not the 80's anymore and I want to make sure we can give them a good home unlike what I fear my childhood ones had. However, we don't have a big house so having a permanent indoor set up year round, which looks perfect, would be awkward so I wanted to ideally have them in a garage/outdoors but that comes with other concerns.
We were thinking about buying below for 2 GPS.
Kavee 4 x 2 lidded run with lid as we have a cat.
Chartwell hutch 6ft (with access to the kavee)
Outdoor grass run - tbc
Wondering if below sounds possible for them to live in.
In winter/cooler months keep in a brick built garage - no vehicles, has five windows and daylight. Have hutch and access to the kavee for exercise and play/interactions etc. No heating in garage but thick walls and solid door/metal roof, not draughty and is dry.
In warmer months, when garage might feel too warm (as metal roof which makes garage warmer than outside temp) move to the hutch outside with access to a tbc run. We have a large grassed garden with shade from neighbours tall trees, I also work at a school so the main warmer months I'm home so can be supervised for long periods outdoors and not a known fox area (I've never seen any but there are cats) and shorter days for afternoon/evening time outside.
When it is too warm for outside (or too cold), use the kavee inside. Would it be confusing for them if they'd previously used the kavee with the hutch, or would they be happy to use kavee for sleeping in if they'd previously favoured hutch sleeping? I couldn't fit both inside.
I will get a remote thermometer so I can read the temp on my phone of the garage/hutch area.
If we need to offer indoors all year round and outdoors/garage plan doesn't seem suitable we won't go ahead with guineas but wanted to explore all options before I discussed with my son that it might not be possible.
Thank you very much for advice.
We were thinking about buying below for 2 GPS.
Kavee 4 x 2 lidded run with lid as we have a cat.
Chartwell hutch 6ft (with access to the kavee)
Outdoor grass run - tbc
Wondering if below sounds possible for them to live in.
In winter/cooler months keep in a brick built garage - no vehicles, has five windows and daylight. Have hutch and access to the kavee for exercise and play/interactions etc. No heating in garage but thick walls and solid door/metal roof, not draughty and is dry.
In warmer months, when garage might feel too warm (as metal roof which makes garage warmer than outside temp) move to the hutch outside with access to a tbc run. We have a large grassed garden with shade from neighbours tall trees, I also work at a school so the main warmer months I'm home so can be supervised for long periods outdoors and not a known fox area (I've never seen any but there are cats) and shorter days for afternoon/evening time outside.
When it is too warm for outside (or too cold), use the kavee inside. Would it be confusing for them if they'd previously used the kavee with the hutch, or would they be happy to use kavee for sleeping in if they'd previously favoured hutch sleeping? I couldn't fit both inside.
I will get a remote thermometer so I can read the temp on my phone of the garage/hutch area.
If we need to offer indoors all year round and outdoors/garage plan doesn't seem suitable we won't go ahead with guineas but wanted to explore all options before I discussed with my son that it might not be possible.
Thank you very much for advice.
