Moving Guinea Pigs Outside(again)?

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CarnivalPiggy

CarnivalPiggy

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Hi. I have three guinea pigs that live inside. They've been outside before, but the last time they were out there we kept putting them in at night (my mother is a little bit worried if they get cold at night. I can't argue with her, I'm a over-worrier too.) and now they're inside. The cage is too small and I'd like to put them outside. It's going to rain tonight, a little chilly too, possibly some small wind. Seeing as they've been inside for awhile can I put them outside for the rest of the time now straight away? Could I just put more hay and warm things in? Truthfully, I think the cage is too small and the hutch is two-stories with a dark, warm room that's split at the top level.

I haven't got a plastic cover for the hutch so I thought putting a towel or cover over it would be alright?

Sorry for the amount of questions. Heh.

Quick answers appreciated. (It's 6:30 in the evening and the piggies are having pen time. The regular time is three or four hours, but it's been 6 today.)

(2nd edit: It's going to drop to about 11 or 12 [possibly 13] degrees. Can I still keep them outside? They say to leave it up to how a human feels in it but I love the cold so I can't tell the difference. Could I move them in the shed? I have two heat pads and loads on houses for them.)
 
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The RSPCA said guinea pigs should not be outside if it goes below 15 degrees. I don't know if that is any help.
 
piggyfan said:
The RSPCA said guinea pigs should not be outside if it goes below 15 degrees. I don't know if that is any help.
Click to expand...

Thanks:) I've looked up online about a few more things so I'm just going to move them in the shed tomorrow. I've been cleaning the hutch out and I found a little bit of vinigar mixed with warm water really helps.
 
I am having this dilemma! I bought a hutch as I feel their indoor hutch is too small really and I would rather they had a larger space and more access to grass and being generally outside.

However I think I shall just have to accept it is too late this year to have them outside. Even in a shed I think it will be too cold? But I am a big wet blanket when it comes to this sort of thing! Is yours insulated?

xx
 
Thankfully my shed is insulated, although I do need to replace some of the wood, although I'm completely stupid when it comes to woodwork. I'll probably ask my dad, heh.

I think it would be fine to have them in a shed as long as they have lots of hay and warm things. Do you have the microwaveable SnuggleSafe heat pad? It works amazingly when it comes down to it.
Unfortunately my guinea pigs will only go on it if it's in a corner or near a bowl of food to sit their rumps on while eating. You can get it from PetsAtHome, too! Unfortunately both online and near me, it's £22. Just days later I found the exact same thing on Amazon for £14.10, £13.73 from a different company (and new!). Bought two of them as well -_- Do you want the link?
 
Oh you have got me thinking now!

I don't think I could leave them out in like November or December etc. But I keep imagining them being in the shed, with all day access to the run. It would be much better than their poxy cage!
 
Heh. I think insulating the shed would be a good idea, but I'm pretty sure it's just optional. My family said I was over-exaggerating, but I was originally going to electric heater that shuts off after reaching a certain temperature. I settled with the heat pads instead. I do think it would be a wonderful idea, though.
 
I see what you mean! Both of my neighbours on right and left have guinea pigs and they put them inside at winter, but a lot of people don't have the space and put them in a shed or garage (no cars). Unfortunately I don't have enough room for a C&C cage, but I could probably if I cleared out the music room... Do you think I could put a hutch inside? Stupid question, but I was just wondering.
 
I have mine in a hutch inside, I have tried C and C cages and conventional cages, but the hutch creates the least mess and is the least scary for them if the dogs come up stairs.

However the having of the hutch inside is a bit annoying, looks odd in the room! Have done it for a year and really it isn't big enough and I must do something else!
 
Really? I have a two-tier hutch (I didn't know some people think they're dangerous before I got it, but so far the piggies are fine) and when it was outside and in the shed, the hay kept getting kicked on to the floor. It's the same with the inside cage they're in now. My toy poodle kept going up to them when they were in the hutch outside and whining because she couldn't get near them. :3

Could you give a pic of the hutch? And maybe if you put a cover or towel or something on the floor and put the run in, they could have a bit more room?
I've been having frustrating problems with the carpet during the piggies pen time. Because of the small cage the pen time is about three or four hours, normally extending to five and sometimes eight. The only problem is the piggies urine goes through the cover and makes white stains on the carpet and I can't get them out.

[just a question. Would putting a hutch inside make it stuffy? The music room is a little small and I fear they'll get too hot.]
 
In the heat I opened the roof to avoid it getting stuffy. I use a shower curtain, fleece and puppy pads during run time to avoid leaks! try vinegar on the stains, it may stink for a bit but should in theory remove the stains (unless you have a super special carpet!). currently they go outside if it is not wet/raining.

The outdoor hutch I just bought has two tiers and before they lived in the single tier I had a double tier up stairs -that was a mare. hay all over and impossible to hoover under it. I much prefer the single tier. But it is a bit small.

Ideally I would have them in the double tier either in the shed or the garden with a run attached. Next summer they are going outside!

urghhhhhhh!
 
I've put electricity in my shed, so they have heating and lighting. ;)
 
[sorry about the long period in between. I had a sudden freak out for my guinea pigs health]

@sophieandhoney That's a good idea. Just today I was cleaning out the top level of the hutch (in the pouring rain, but that's my favourite weather ^^) with warm water mixed with vinegar. I still need to scrub at the white stains, if I can ever get them out, and do the bottom level. But thanks, my mum's been moaning about it for a while now.
I'm trying to keep them off the grass outside for now because of fleas (my dog caught them a while ago and the treatments worked) but I will do it in nice weather. Britain's being gloomy as usual. Wind all day and tomorrow apparently, say it's going to drop to 11 to 12 degrees at night with wind and rain. Anyway, they seem happy enough with dry grass and hay. :)

Did you get it online or in a store? The hutch I have has the same problem. I have to keep poking the broom under it!

Heh, I think they'd like that.

@BossHogg Hi there:] What kind of heating did you use?
 
I have an oil filled radiator, it gives off plenty of heat with no smell or fumes, it has a thermostat so it knocks itself off if it gets too warm.
 
After reading this and having yet another sleepless night about the piggies I have come up with a plan.

Much of this you guys don't need to know but any how :)

(1. sell cupboard and chair)
2. Problem one - single tier hutch is too small and too high for the piggies
Solution - cut legs down and add a ramp to allow access to run. (still allow storage)
3. Problem two - hutch is big and bulky mainly because of the roof
Solution - take roof off! I don't need a big waterproof lump, I shall replace it with a piece of hardboard and paint it white to make it look more sideboardy
4. must line all of with tiles not just some bits ;)

need to run now but thanks XX
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Hi. I have three guinea pigs that live inside. They've been outside before, but the last time they were out there we kept putting them in at night (my mother is a little bit worried if they get cold at night. I can't argue with her, I'm a over-worrier too.) and now they're inside. The cage is too small and I'd like to put them outside. It's going to rain tonight, a little chilly too, possibly some small wind. Seeing as they've been inside for awhile can I put them outside for the rest of the time now straight away? Could I just put more hay and warm things in? Truthfully, I think the cage is too small and the hutch is two-stories with a dark, warm room that's split at the top level.

I haven't got a plastic cover for the hutch so I thought putting a towel or cover over it would be alright?

Sorry for the amount of questions. Heh.

Quick answers appreciated. (It's 6:30 in the evening and the piggies are having pen time. The regular time is three or four hours, but it's been 6 today.)

(2nd edit: It's going to drop to about 11 or 12 [possibly 13] degrees. Can I still keep them outside? They say to leave it up to how a human feels in it but I love the cold so I can't tell the difference. Could I move them in the shed? I have two heat pads and loads on houses for them.)
Click to expand...
The worst thing is to keep changing them from outside to inside and vice versa. They don't have time to acclimatise .
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
True. I didn't realise that at time (I feel slightly guilty now) but I'll make sure to stick to one place. Thanks:)
Click to expand...

It is so hard tho, I would do the same thing, just because I would have felt it better for them to be out and about. However the whole minimum temp for 15 degrees from the RSPCA made me not do this.

The weather has definitely turned now too. pah! Next year they will be there as soon as I can get them out!
 
I'll be sure to go to a Poundstretchers.

Hmm. I want to put my guineapigs in the hutch now, but I've just found three earwigs (killed them) so I'm going to post a thread about it.
 
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