Indoor Piggies Going Outside & Omlet Eglu?

[GinaG]

Got my pigs in October and they are indoor pigs. Currently they have floor time during the day in my utility room but I'd like them to go out in a spacious run outside. I'm not sure when it'll be warm enough? I'm also looking at options for an outside run - has anyone got an Omlet Eglu? Are they any good for piggies?

 

[kiera]

I'm putting indoor guineapigs outside but I'm getting a big shed for them to have as there on house

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I don't think my girls will be going out into their run for a couple of months yet, but they may well be back in the shed before that.

I like the asthetix of the eglu as long as it's only a run and not a home. Have heard of people keeping pigs in there full time, even in winter and there's never enough space or light inside the hide for that. :-(

They're sooooo expensive though, I don't think they're good value

 

[GinaG]

Yes I'm thinking the 2m run and for them to be out there during the day and to come back in at nighttime. The little house seems a good retreat for playtime, but not a permanent home as you say.

 

[Lady Kelly]

The thing to be wary of with the eglu is that it does not provide a lot of indoor space for play. So if it's raining your pigs will be stick in a very small area.

In regards to the weather it does need to be much warmer and no risk of frosts. I wouldn't put them out all day until they are acclimatised to being outdoors. You should start in small visits and build it over time especially if they will be on grass

 

[GinaG]

Yes I hadn't thought about rain as such! My situation is that I work from home so I'm always around - at the moment, during the day they go in a big pig run in the utility room and I'm just thinking in the nicer weather it would be nice for them to go outside during that time instead, but because I'm around all day I'd be able to bring them in if the weather turns etc. When do they normally start going out? Sort of May-time? (I'm in the UK, in the North West)

 

[artcasper]

I love the look of the Eglu - but very pricey .... i have two runs, one my dad made me and one a friend gave me.... i will start to put mine out when its a lot warmer for a short visit to the grass ! they didnt get out much last year cos the weather was never just right ! then i sit there the whole time incase of birds or cats - even though the runs have a mesh top etc...

 

[Critter]

I agree it's best to wait. The grass is likely to be damp and the ground too cold for quite some time yet

 

[GinaG]

It's extortionate price-wise, I'm scouring eBay!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I got a 6ft ish run for peanuts, I don't like the look of those runs you mentioned as they don't look very practical for piggies and as you say, they're ridiculously expensive. You could get a nice big one for half the price I reckon.

Also I don't tend to put the piggies out until the weather is much better and no longer damp. I also don't like to leave them out when I'm not around as I constantly worry about predators. Next year I want to grow a few big trays of grass for them for the winter, so they won't miss out like this year!