Looking For Advice For Moving Guinea Pigs From Indoor To Outdoor

[krj24]

hi

I have 2 male piggles, olly and theo. I got them in august and they live indoors, the thing is my husband seems to be allergic and is suffering quite badly. I really do not want to have to give them away, so the only option i'm left with is to move them outside, as my house is too small to have them anywhere other than where they are now
how would you suggest I go about this, if it's possible?
I will be buying a shed or summerhouse to put their cage or hutch in and insulating the shed, so any other tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
thanks
kirsty x

 

[Tewdric]

I've had to do the same due to my husband and his allergies and severe asthma. I didn't want to give them up, nor did my husband, so they had to move outside.

I was lucky in that the boys arrived at the beginning of May, and by the time we'd realised that it was the Rex pig who was making my husband so ill we were into a warm June. The boys had been spending the days outside in a run, so were used to the noises etc. of being out of the house. I found a large hutch (5ft by 2ft originally) and placed it with a brick wall and garden fence adding some additional shelter on the back patio. The nights were warm so with plenty of hay and a couple of cardboard hidey boxes the boys moved in.

If you've got a shed or summerhouse the move will probably be even easier, especially if the shed has a power supply so you can provide it with some heat.

I've got through the last four winters by adding extra insulation to the hutch when the weather begins to turn more chilly. With plenty of bedding, the extra insulation, wind proofing and an added water proof layer (I've used pond liner to cover three sides and the roof of the hutch) my boys have always been toasty warm and dry.

 

[madguinealady]

you can get snuggle safes as well. I think you heat them up in the microwave and they stay warm for 10 hours.

 

[krj24]

thanks for the replies. they've managed to get my husbands asthma under control and he's ok with them being in the house now, he just can't clean them out. i'm glad they can stay in the house!

 

[Tewdric]

Glad you've managed to the asthma under control and that your pigs can stay inside with you.

 

[Stewybus]

At least you've picked the best time of the year to move them outside. We've had frosts recently but from the forecasts & think we may have seen the last. The 2 things I'd be worried about having them outside is predators or thieves but if they're going to be safe from these then a shed with a free range area would be great. Just be careful they don't get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.