i have a housing dilemma-opinions please

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dannyanddodgersmum

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my two guineas pigs are approx 10 weeks old ish

they live in a hutch in the garden

i am not very happy with the hutch for a couple of reasons and so am planning on replacing it this weekend.

i WAS going to replace it with another outdoor hutch which is 5ft by 2.5ft and big and roomy.

however i am wondering whether to replace it with an indoor cage instead. they won't have anything like as much room but they will be indoors where i t's warm and will get more interaction.

so-there is a trade off.

what would you do?
 
I have nothing against outdoor, however, with just two piggies, and for the best interaction they will be incredibly happy being part of your household in a Nero 4 xx
 
How big will your indoor cage be? Personally id rather have my pigs indoors where its warmer and safer plus like you said, they'd have more interaction. As long as you have a decent size cage indoors, (it doesnt have to be huge just not titchy) and you give them appropriate floor time everyday so they can stretch there legs and run about a bit, i dont see it to be much of a problem x good luck! :)
 
These are both the size of a Nero 3 is. The Ferplast is a sturdier built cage I think. If you are handy, you could build another level within this to give extra running space/ramp, a bit more adventurous. x
 
if i didn't build an extra level-would it still be ok?

they will of course have a run-outside when the weather is good and inside when it's bad.

then maybe in the spring they could move back outside.

i just don't know what to do for the best.
 
personally i do think inside is best.i have a nero 4 which seems to have plenty of space for 2 piggies.maybe if you dont have much room you could get a 2 tier cage.have you looked on ebay?
 
At 10 weeks old, it probably would be ok, but when they are fully grown, there really isn't enough running around space. If they run around somewhere in the house daily, it could compensate for a while. The problem arises though, when you have a busy time, and the piggies don't get to come out daily or except for cleaning, it's a small cage to be shut in. x
 
so -if you were me and wanted to sort this this weekend would buy the big roomy hutch and stick with outside or go for the smaller indoor cage?
 
When you say 'in the garden' do you mean outside/outside or in a shed or outhouse? x

If completely outside, then I would choose inside cage. Then save up for a big hutch for next year, then while that is being used, sort out indoor space for the following winter. xx
 
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at the moment i mean outside in the garden. when the weather gets worse i plan to move the hutch into the shed
 
Your choice then really, I think I would go for the indoor option as above. It will be great for watching them grow, and getting to know you. x
 
They are small enough still to go in a smaller cage this winter; it will be a great opportunity to bond, if you make sure that they get their daily run or two.

You can always try to sell this cage afterwards, or keep it as a hospital cage for emergencies.
 
Inside definitely and then outside in spring but make sure they get regular (every day) exercise out of the cage.

We have the 120 and here is what we did to give more room

gypsyandbessienewcagewithupstairs.jpg


It doesn't take up any more space and gives upstairs which now we use for their food level.

I have had pigs inside and out and would chose inside over outside every day. The pigs get tame so fast indoors.
 
I suggest figuring out where you want to put them, measure it and see what the biggest cage you can get is. When I first got my guinea pigs, I had quite a small cage for them (indoor). They lived in that and running around my home for about a year then I saved up enough to buy them their bigger cage and I'm saving up again to buy an even bigger double tier cage hopefully. I'm not sure how one guinea pig would cope with the second tier just because he's got bad balance but if you're short on cash now, buy the Pets@Home cage you looked at then either save for a biggg hutch or a the biggest indoor cage you can fit... Whats your home like? Flat, house? I live in a flat, atm my guniea pigs are in the livingroom but are usually in the study (Y) =D
 
right -i have made a decision. i bought the ferplast cage this morning-it is literally the biggest cage we can fit indoors. we are going to keep them in for the winter and then next spring buy the big hutch and put them outside.

they will get time in the run every day-either outside or inside and i can stop worrying about the cold at night.

we have moved them into it about half an hour ago and they are already running about and munching on the melon in their bowl.

i know that in a ideal situation they would have a massive cage indoors but it's justnot possible i'm afraid.
 
Sounds like a good plan to me. Hope they love their new home. I'm sure they will, and you will have such pleasure having them so close by. x
 
I don't think a Nero 3 is big enough for 2 piggies, I had that for my single boy.
 
Well there are pro's and con's to it but I have to say I worry about the cold too so I know exactly where you are coming from. And what they miss out in room they make up for in comfort.

If you have the right indoor run they can stay in it for ages too. My hubby built ours and it's really long - my kitchen 2 were in there yesterday all day. They had a fine ol time. If you use the run alot it's like the run is the cage and the cage is to sleep if you see what I mean.

At least you can rest easy now and spoil them over winter. Decision made!
 
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