Not sure if the girls like it outside?

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SallyG

SallyG

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Hiya,

I've got 2 girlies that I got from a rescue centre last november. I aren't sure what happened to them/where they lived before but I assume they went outside at some point. Betty and Bertha live indoors but I've bought a hutch with a run underneath for them to go out in during the day. I was worried they wouldn't be able to do the ramp but I tend to put them in the run section, and for the first couple of times they stayed downstairs, but now they go up the ramp and stay in the hutch bit the whole time they're out.

They can go down the ramp, so I'm not sure why they don't. I thought they would love to sit and eat the grass. I don't know if they are frightened outside so prefer to stay hidden upstairs?

They're in a 4 x 2 C&C (with a hayloft) so have enough space, but the hutch I've got them isn't that big (120 x 60cm) it was a bargain and as they would only be in it 10-3 ish during the day, with a decent sized C&C and free run of the lounge on an evening I didn't think it mattered too much. I now feel that as they stay in the house bit which I think is probably about 40x40cm, would they be happier not to go outside, to stay in the C&C/living room where they are more relaxed?

They've probably been in the hutch about 10 times, do you think they are just getting used to it and I should stay as we are and see how they get on?

Sal
x
 
I have indoor guineas too, I find that a couple of them like to go out for short periods of time, say 30mins to 1hr, maybe you could try this and then gradually increase the time. I am sure they are just getting to know all the different smells and sounds of being outdoors.
 
could they be cold? i don't know what the weather has been like where you are but it's still really cold, especially for them to be going from inside to out and back. unless it's warm, mine don't like to stay out a really long time either. :{

or they could be getting used to it still, but i'd keep them inside personally where they know and take them out for a run about when it's warm enough and build up the time. :)
 
I've followed advice on here and only put them out if it's been warm enough for me to comfortably sit out, on the ground, with short sleeves on. My husband keeps looking out of the window to find me sat on the grass look like I'm trying to find the meaning of life!

Maybe I'll keep them out for a shorter time then, thanks guys
x
 
my 2 girlies hated it to start with. I just put them out for 10 minutes at a time. But now they love it, they are in an outside hutch in the day, and an indoor hutch at night. They dont even mind the dogs running by their run and barking, or hubby mowing the lawn. They will get used to it.
 
Don't worry about it. I put my piggies out, and yes at first they didn't like it but the longer * leave them out the more they'll explore- taking them in after 10 minutes seems a bit ridiculous.
I found that covering the hutch with a sheet or something gives them more privacy and they will explore more.
Mine loved it so much that I moved them to livin outside full time on Saturday, and they are far happier !
 
I'm wondering now if they are too frightened to go down the ramp (its a double one with the hutch on top of the run) They get themselves up the ramp but I've seen a couple of times that they wander to the top of the ramp stand there for a bit and then go back into the hutch. I think I might see if I can extend the ramp to make it less steep. Not sure how to do that tho?
 
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