Moving Piggies To The Great Outdoors...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rosyautumn girl

Rosyautumn girl

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 24, 2016
Messages
76
Reaction score
41
Points
195
Hi everyone
So the girls have been moved into the garden, they have only known indoors and despite my husbands rolling eyes and 'they're only Guinea pigs!' comments, I am feeling very apprehensive about the move!
The weather here in Kent today is actually quite mild, but it is windy and they forecast rain later, we have a thermal cover for the hutch, so this should protect them from any rain and chill tonight.
I've put lots of hay all around the hutch, but have allocated an area for 'good hay' which I hope they will eventually realise is the feeding area.
The sleeping area we've put more 'rough' hay for warmth and their snuggle sacks are in there too.
The hutch is double decker and at the mo I can't ever imagine them venturing down the slope! But I'm sure they will eventually?!?
Down the bottom is a fleece liner, more hay, their igloos, and a litter tray.
The plan is to hopefully have them roaming around freely, up and down the slope, and in and out the hutch into the playpen outside (will only let them out when we're around so can keep an eye on them).
I am going to the pet shop tomorrow to get some snuggle heat pads, but other than that have I done everything ok? Is there anything else I need to think of? Will they be ok eventually and get used to their new home and environment? I'm worried that the move is so stressful they won't venture outside their snuggle sacks to find the 'good' hay or water.
I will keep their cage clean and ready just in case we have any cold snaps and I'll bring them indoors for the night.
I think I just need some reassurance from gp pros that I've done the right thing :(
 
Which hutch do you have? Mine have always been tentative about ramps and often have needed showing how to use it. Mine was fairly slippy so we ended up putting a side on it and adding carpet to make it easier to use. In the old hutch there was no problem with the steepness or grip but it was too exposed so again they only used it when we added sides. Last week I found Donald still being tentative about going downstairs so I picked him up and put him halfway down the ramp with Daisy queuing behind him. Now he zooms up and down as much as the other two do :))
 
It's a hutch from pets at home, bluebell hideaway I think it was called, I thought about adding the carpet, I'll do that this week I think, as otherwise as you say it will be abit slippery for them.
They are still hiding away in the sleeping quarter, haven't ventured out at all! I am starting to feel super guilty! I'm sure they will come around eventually, they are little survivors aren't they?
 
I can understand you are a little anxious regarding your piggies being outdoors. My hutches have both the insulator with the fly net plus the external cover to protect from rain, wind and snow. You would be surprised how warm the hutches can be, especially with all the boxes stuffed with hay, plenty soft beds etc. I make sure there is both food in their hide part of their hutch and the open area. I also keep a thermometer on the inside of the hutch facing out so I check the temperature.

I also put fleeces blanket over the top of their wooden stick ramp, they enjoy laying underneath it and on top of it.

Ramps work well with some carpet on, and like @Lady Kelly says, placing a piggy in the middle of the ramp a few times really does make a difference to getting them used to it, along with food on the ramp continuously to keep them interested in going up and down.

It does sound like you have everything prepared for your hutch though, don't worry, easier said than done but they will be fine.
 
Rosyautumn girl said:
It's a hutch from pets at home, bluebell hideaway I think it was called, I thought about adding the carpet, I'll do that this week I think, as otherwise as you say it will be abit slippery for them.
They are still hiding away in the sleeping quarter, haven't ventured out at all! I am starting to feel super guilty! I'm sure they will come around eventually, they are little survivors aren't they?
Click to expand...

Don't feel guilty, they are just particularly enjoying the sleeping area and probably munching away on hay in there. Mine sometimes spend a lot of time in there but usually the send of veggies arriving brings them running
 
i use a ramp tunnel from c and e cozies,they all run up and down,even the five year old boar ! your piggies will be fine,plenty of hay,and heat pads on cold nights will see them through.x
 
I'll second the use of the ramp tunnel that @eileen mentioned. I've got one for my 6ft double storey hutch, and it made my older pigs much more confident in using the ramp.
 
Hi everyone and thanks for your kind replies! I have looked up the website for c and e cozies but can't seem to find a ramp tunnel? Maybe I will drop them an email and ask them. So I have put the carpet on the ramp and have been putting some spinach (their favourite) down it to try and coax them down but no luck so far.
However, they have ventured out of their sleeping corner and go between this and a wooden arch at the other end of the hutch, they are coming out for their food and nuggets, I have the thermal rain cover for the hutch now, typically it hasn't stopped raining since we put them outside! And it's been windy too. But hopefully with this and their hay and snuggle sacks they are warm enough.
I think they both have the hump with me as I've not had one squeak since they've been out there :(
I am a bit concerned they are not getting enough exercise but once the weather (hopefully!) dries and warms up I will make more of an attempt to get them down the ramp and possibly even out in to the playpen outside.
It's been such a worrying week and I still feel so guilty, I wish I'd put my food down with my hubby and insisted we leave it a few more weeks...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top