Indoors Or Outdoors

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BooshKat

BooshKat

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi folks

I'm writing this post because I'm genuinely undecided about whether to keep my girls outdoors or indoors. I've set their hutch up and have kept it indoors for now. I'm picking them up tomorrow, and figured I'll keep them indoors for a couple of weeks while they get used to me. I'm really tempted to keep them as indoor piggies. I have bought them a massive outdoor run for the nicer weather, so was wondering if they'd be ok to go outdoors in their during the day if they normally live in a hutch indoors? I live on my own, so it's entirely my own choice, but I really don't know what to do! I'm also having a barbecue next Saturday (5th September) for my birthday, so they'll definitely be indoors for the duration of that, away from my friends' children, as I don't want to cause them any further undue stress.

Another complication is that I'm looking after my brother's dog for two weeks, so I was planning on putting their hutch in my spare bedroom, totally out of his way. He's a border terrier, so it's in his nature to want to "play" with rodents! Normally he gets spoilt by me when he stays with me, and is allowed upstairs on my bed, and full roam of the house and garden, but there's no way he's getting anywhere near the stairs when my girls are upstairs! If he causes any problems he's being sent to my parents house! I've got a stair gate to put up, so I've got all bases covered to protect my girls.

What I'm trying to say is, if I do decide to keep them indoors (as they will be for the first few weeks), would it be alright to put them in the outdoor run during the day, or do I have to gradually introduce fresh grass into their diet before putting them in the run? I'm fully expecting to decide to keep them indoors, as I already hate the thought of them being outside overnight, even though I've not even met them properly yet!
 
I'd always go for indoors myself. Mine don't get run time in the garden as we have dogs but I think you have to gradually introduce them to grass...
 
:agr: You do generally have to introduce it slowly if they haven't had it for a while, and I'm sure there's a sticky on how to introduce it or in a sticky to do with piggies in runs outside. I'll find it if you want.

I'd really keep them inside as long as you know they'll be safe from the dog, but I'd keep the hutch roof off to prevent it heating up and something else to go over if needed :)
 
Fortunately I've only got the dog for two weeks so once he's gone the piggies will get more chance to stretch their legs outside. I'll have a look for the thread on introducing grass. I'm thinking that long term, indoors is possibly the way to go. Ulitmately I want to do whatever will make my girls happy, so I'll probably get to know them properly first, then decide what to do. Like I said, I live on my own so can do whatever I want with the little darlings :D. Off to pick them up in a bit - many pigtures will follow :yahoo:
 
Hi,

Can't wait to see the "pigtures" of your girls.

All of my animals live inside (8 piggies, 3 rabbits, 1 puppy and 2 hamsters) with myself and my two teenage sons :lol!:

I love it cause they are part of our family and it allows us and them to interact all day and all night (when they are being naughty lol).

At night if I hear anything outside or like today when it is lashing down with rain and it is cold outside I know all my babies are warm and safe inside with us.

They have floor time in the house most of the time but also have time outside if the weather is nice. Some like being outside and some don't :lol!:

As you have said it is individual choice as to how you deal with them. As long as they are safe and well looked after then it is simply down to personal choice which we as humans all have.

I am sure with all the work you are putting into this you will make the right choice for your babies to :nod:

Best of luck.
 
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We all have our preferences and there's no real right or wrong, it's what ever is best for you and your piggies.

Some reasons for outdoor living:
In some cases people prefer outdoors because they can get them larger living quarters than they could manage indoors.
Constant enrichment of outdoor smells and sounds drifting in

Indoors:
Potentially more time spent with them if kept in the main room of the house
Added security
No worries about the weather

I prefer mine to be indoors as for me I see them loads. I spend a good deal of my time in this room (the living room), as do my family, so the pigs are a part of all of that. New pigs get used to the fact that the humans are a very regular presence in their environment. Even when I'm not interacting with them I see what they are up to, and all their little quirks and ways, and it's great to just sit here and pig-watch. I'm not suggesting that pigs keep outdoors do not form a strong bond with their humans, but in my particular case, because I am so close to them, I believe mine get more attention from me than they would if I kept them outdoors. It's just little thing like I walk past and they come and look at me through the bars, and then I put my hand in for them to sniff, or I nose-sniff with them through the bars. I did that with my boar Freddie the other day, and he went off popcorning around his cage :) These are things I and they would miss out on if they were outdoors, because I would not be constantly there or walking past them.
I have a run that I can set up for them in the living room in such a way that they can have access from their cage, and because it's completely open-topped and taking up a large space in the living room it's almost like they are semi-free-range, and sharing space with us even more. I think that's nice for both pigs and humans :)

I recommend not leaving them in their outdoor run while you are at work. Pigs have been caught out with sudden changes in the weather that way....
It's a misconception that they need daily grass time. Mine don't go out at all once the weather starts getting cold, or it is wet or windy :)

Perhaps someone who keeps theirs outdoors will type up the advantages for them, and why it works out so well in their circumstances and preferences, and then you will have more information on the advantages of both ways :)
 
i'd say indoors, especially now at this time of year because it'll soon be getting colder again. but it's lovely having them inside all the time :luv:

as mentioned already, grass should be introduced slowly like all other foods. and if you do take them outside to play, make sure it's when it's warm enough :)
 
My pigs have always been outdoor pigs (hutches in sheds/no-car garage) due to multiple high prey-drive dogs and Dad objecting to indoor rodents! They have always been fine. My new pigs, who I'm hoping to get this winter, will also be outdoors as I can give them more space outside and my OH is allergic to hay! So it's really the only option. They will be free range in a purpose built shed (oh my ££) and come in for lap time in the evenings or out for grass time when the great british weather allows! ( it's monsooning where I am atm!)
 
The girls are now home. I've decided on names - Annie and Lillian after the characters in Bridesmaids, which is one of my favourite films. They've been put in their indoor cage for now. Annie ran straight for the cardboard tunnel, whereas Lillian ran to the middle of the igloos and just sat there. I guided her into one of the igloos, where there is lots of hay for hiding. I've now come upstairs to give them some peace and quiet, as I've got wooden floors downstairs and so I don't want to create too much noise while they're feeling anxious. I'll keep you all posted :D.
 
Aw congratulations, and lovely names. I hope they settle well :)
I always feel like I must creep around quietly when I have a new piggy, and to be fair we all do to a certain extent, but we do introduce the noise over the following few days. We are not a noisy house-hold but you know, indoor living, people, walking around, talking, hoovers......

I find that if I hoover it is best to start off in another room and slowly edge from there into the room they are kept. It's not such a sudden loud noise from the start, and not so scary that way. Most of mine have been frightened of it at first but after a few times they know it's nothing but a noise.
As for people walking around I tend to give my new ones pre-warning. I start to talk in the voice I use when I talk to my piggies when I'm about to get up and move around the room. That way they know exactly who is approaching, and is reassuring for them. Again after a while they don't need that anymore and know that people moving around near them is nothing to be frightened of.

I also offer them regular treats, again I use my 'piggy' voice and place a treat in. They soon learn that the person who uses that voice is a nice person! :)

When my news ones do come out of hiding they are rewarded by - absolutely nothing happening (at first anyhow). It's to teach them that when they are brave nothing happens, so it's fine to be brave. I then start approaching them with treats, and then with treats and hand-sniffs, or nose sniffs through the bars, letting them approach me.

Other people will have their own tips on helping to settle them in :) x
 
Mine are indoors, but then again I don't live in a climate where it's feasible to keep them outdoors for much of the year (I'm in Ontario, Canada, they would freeze to death outside in our winters.) I do put them outside for short times when the weather is conducive to that (really only a few months of the year where it's in the right temperature range.)

Personally, I like having them inside because I see them and interact with them so much and they are very much a part of the household. They are very comfortable with the household noise (and I have three kids, so there is some household noise.) They know all of our voices and respond to them. They know when we are in the kitchen and wheek in case we might want to get a treat for them while we're there! I'm not sure that they would be so much a 'part of the family' if they were outdoors, even if that was possible where I live. But really, as long as the climate is okay for them, it's completely up to you.
 
My first Guinea Pigs were kept outside as I didn't realise at that point you could even keep them inside. After they died, I had a little break, moved to a bigger house & decided to get some more assuming I would keep them outside. However the pet shop said they needed to be kept indoors initially and slowly acclimatised to the outdoors. Well, that was it, they never went outside apart from in their outdoor run. It was so much more fun having indoor piggies. I usually chat to them in the evenings, whereas before, once it was dark I wouldn't see them again.
 
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