Outdoor Piggies advice needed!

[SophRuss5]

So at the moment I have a two tier hutch i have insulated outside, however, I still think its too cold. I have the option of moving this into a barn, however, its pretty dark and grim in there. I have a small spare hutch.

Would it be ok to put that small hutch in the barn - get it all warm and toasty and put the pigs in there at night, move them back outside during the day? The hutch is 3ft x 2ft so not big enough for two boys - but is it ok for them just during the night?
They are coming up to 3 months of age and I wouldnt want to cause problems, but surely during the night they are just sleeping?
I have bought one of those microwave pads but wanting to get them under cover!

Thanks Soph

 

[fruitdance]

Hi I'm having a similar dilemna worrying if my piggies are going to be warm enough this winter! I don't know how you insulated the hutch but I just chuck a piece of carpet over but have made the entrance to their sleeping area smaller so its less drafty and have just been constantly filling it with hay and they seem to be fine. Heat pads sound like a good idea! I'm going to put and old fleece blanket in mine I think as it starts to get colder.

I'm not sure about moving them in and out. In some ways I don't think it's much different to taking them out and putting them in a run but I think if you've already insulated the hutch you'd be fine leaving them outside as they are to be honest! I've had outdoor guinea pigs for years and they've always survived the winters and eventually just died of old age so I wouldn't over-worry about moving them in and out.

I've never had males, so unfortunately I have no advice for you on the space issue. Hopefully somebody else will!

 

[Claire W]

Personally I wouldn't be moving them from their hutch outside to the hutch in the shed and then back out again.

You either need to put their hutch in the shed and leave them there for the winter or leave them in their hutch outside.

I have seen the photos of your hutch and you have done a good job at insulating it. A 3ft hutch would be too small for two boars even for overnight use.