Outdoor piggy owners- are you bringing them inside during the cold weather?

[EmmaA24]

Hi everyone!

I am suddenly feeling very worried about my ladies staying outside this winter- I only got them in May so it will be their first winter outdoors.

They have a thermal, waterproof hutch cover but there was a frost on it this morning!
Even with plenty of hay and igloos to snuggle in I’m so worried!

I am thinking do I need t bring them indoors? And if I do am I better getting a C&C cage for them rather than trying to bring in a heavy wooden hutch?

Thank you, from a very anxious piggy owner x

 

[ThePiggieHouse]

I'm 50-50 on this... my Girls will be indoors this winter as two are potentially pregnant and apart from Primrose they are all under a year old...
That said my "boys" and the Bun-bun live outdoors, and only come in when the weather conditions are extremely cold (aka the Beast from the East)
They have multiple layers of insulation and a rain cover for their hutches. I put sox over the bottles and fill with tepid water in the evening so it doesn't freeze.
Every time I open the hutch door I play spot the Piggie, as the layers of hay are mountainous.
Providing (in my opinion) you do everything possible to keep out draught and cold. They should be okay. But of course this is just my opinion and shouldn't be your choice if you feel you should keep them indoors, ultimately you should. At the end of the day sheds/garages/outhouse will always be preferred. But when that isn't possible you have to do what's right for you.
Just please if you do leave them outdoor, keep them, dry, warm and draught free. Change their bedding more as piggies don't like wet.
@Wiebke what do you think?

 

[EmmaA24]

I don’t have a shed or a garage I can put them in, so the hutch is on the patio next to the house.

I know I’m cold when I go to check on them in the evening wearing a big jacket at the moment and it’s only October. It was absolutely bitter when we had that snow last year, and I’d me we forgive myself if the cold weather made sick or killed them.

I have plenty of fleece and blankets I could use and the hutch cover does keep out the wind. But I’m wondering if that’s enough. They also have fleece liners which I imagine must keep their toes a bit warmer, which are changed and washed regularly.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone!

I am suddenly feeling very worried about my ladies staying outside this winter- I only got them in May so it will be their first winter outdoors.

They have a thermal, waterproof hutch cover but there was a frost on it this morning!
Even with plenty of hay and igloos to snuggle in I’m so worried!

I am thinking do I need t bring them indoors? And if I do am I better getting a C&C cage for them rather than trying to bring in a heavy wooden hutch?

Thank you, from a very anxious piggy owner x

Hi! If you have the option to bring them indoors for the winter, please do so. It is not just a matter of keeping them safer and warmer - just a thermal cover is not enough - but also having much more interaction with them throughout the day; don't underestimate this aspect! We have had a fair number of piggies that have stayed on as indoors piggies after their first winter simply because they'd become much more part of the family and their owners didn't want to miss that aspect anymore.
Casual interaction is often minimised in winter because of the short days and the weather. It is not a good idea to bring piggies in from cooler conditions into a warm house and then taking them out again all the time - hutch/shed and house temperatures should be within 5 C of each other.

At this time of year, here in the UK you also have to consider that piggies are generally better off indoors during firework season with a radio/tv and curtains masking the noise much better. See our advice links to winter care (including advice on what you can do additionally if you do not have the option to bring your guinea pigs inside, like snuggle safes and plenty of hay to burrow into) at the flags at the top of our home page where we highlight current issues.

Here is the direct link to Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
You can access our extensive guide collection via the shortcut on the top bar.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I do agree that just hutch covers are not enough and if you can’t offer them protection of a shed, then I would bring them in. As I understand it, fleece blankets outside (as in not in a shed) are not a good idea because they can absorb moisture from the air and then get damp.
My boys are outside in my shed so are wind and rain protected and I spend so much time out there that they get sick of seeing me! They have absolutely loads of hay and warm hideys. Their hutch has a thick blanket over, a thermal hutch cover and then a double duvet over the top of everything (given i don’t have to worry about anything getting wet inside). I have fleece blankets over their log hideys to hold the warmth inside from their snugglesafes (which work a treat). they have four snugglesafes between the two piggies which are keeping their beds very warm and the air surrounding them. i can’t recommend snugglesafes highly enough - after a minor blip with mine as they needed a little longer heating than I was giving them - they stay warm for 10 hours, just heat up in the microwave. As above though, and while they are being kept considerably warmer with all my measures inside than the outside temperature is, if there were to be a beast from the east scenario again, then I would bring mine in.

 

[ThePiggieHouse]

Snugglesafes? I have fleece for hiding and even a cat fleece hide thing and microwave "hotties" are they similar to those @Piggies&buns?

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is a Snugglesafe (Possibly the same thing as your microwave hottie) but snugglesafe is a brand name, pet specific, pet safe and stays warm for 10 hours (Heat in microwave)

 

[Swissgreys]

As someone who started off with her piggies indoors in an outdoor hutch (the plan was that they would go outside when the weather got better) I would highly recommend a C&C if you decide to bring them in for the Winter.
Keeping a wooden hutch clean inside is a lot of work, and a C&C would make your life easier as well as being more aesthetically pleasing in your home (imho).

Please bear in mind that if you do bring them in now, you are 100% commited to keeping them indoors for the entire Winter, as once they are used to the warmer temperatures insdie it is unfair to put them back out again if you change your mind.

Our piggies are inside year round and we did sacrifice a large part of our living room for this, but it was well worth it and I am glad we chose this option.

 

[Theodor51]

Hi everyone!

I am suddenly feeling very worried about my ladies staying outside this winter- I only got them in May so it will be their first winter outdoors.

They have a thermal, waterproof hutch cover but there was a frost on it this morning!
Even with plenty of hay and igloos to snuggle in I’m so worried!

I am thinking do I need t bring them indoors? And if I do am I better getting a C&C cage for them rather than trying to bring in a heavy wooden hutch?

Thank you, from a very anxious piggy owner x

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hi! If you have the option to bring them indoors for the winter, please do so. It is not just a matter of keeping them safer and warmer - just a thermal cover is not enough - but also having much more interaction with them throughout the day; don't underestimate this aspect! We have had a fair number of piggies that have stayed on as indoors piggies after their first winter simply because they'd become much more part of the family and their owners didn't want to miss that aspect anymore.
Casual interaction is often minimised in winter because of the short days and the weather. It is not a good idea to bring piggies in from cooler conditions into a warm house and then taking them out again all the time - hutch/shed and house temperatures should be within 5 C of each other.

At this time of year, here in the UK you also have to consider that piggies are generally better off indoors during firework season with a radio/tv and curtains masking the noise much better. See our advice links to winter care (including advice on what you can do additionally if you do not have the option to bring your guinea pigs inside, like snuggle safes and plenty of hay to burrow into) at the flags at the top of our home page where we highlight current issues.

Here is the direct link to Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
You can access our extensive guide collection via the shortcut on the top bar.

As someone who started off with her piggies indoors in an outdoor hutch (the plan was that they would go outside when the weather got better) I would highly recommend a C&C if you decide to bring them in for the Winter.
Keeping a wooden hutch clean inside is a lot of work, and a C&C would make your life easier as well as being more aesthetically pleasing in your home (imho).

Please bear in mind that if you do bring them in now, you are 100% commited to keeping them indoors for the entire Winter, as once they are used to the warmer temperatures insdie it is unfair to put them back out again if you change your mind.

Our piggies are inside year round and we did sacrifice a large part of our living room for this, but it was well worth it and I am glad we chose this option.

It’s these two statements which concern me about the fireworks. Better inside during fireworks, but then being committed to keeping them in.
If I was to bring mine in for firework weekend - it’ll probably be four nights in my area - surely then going back out would be too much for them?
I can’t decide what to do for the best when it comes to fireworks - bring them in for four nights but they’d be back outside in the daytime; or leave them outside with all their covers over their hutch.

 

[Crocus]

Hello, I brought my piggy girls in on Monday. They've enjoyed a big hutch and run over the summer. I'd insulated the hutch and it had a cover but it's just so cold and damp. Sizzle and Splat are in a 120cm cage until next summer. They were popcorning on the first evening, which was too much for the cat who sat nearby watching intently. The piggies aren't bothered.

 

[EmmaA24]

Thank you everyone.
I think you have pretty much confirmed that my worries are justified.
I have enough space if I rearrange some furniture to keep them in my kitchen. I have 4 so I’ll be looking at a 6x2 C&C minimum in that case. They can use ramps so I can always add space with another level. Any mess I can just hoover up as they’d be on a tiled floor. I’ve looked into and it’s a pretty cheap set up rather than buying an indoor hutch (why are they so small?).
I have found one on eBay for £65 with a lid which seems fair. Lid is a must as I have a cat. Would just need corex which is cheap as chips really.
I’m more than happy to keep them in until next spring once they move in x

 

[Wiebke]

It’s these two statements which concern me about the fireworks. Better inside during fireworks, but then being committed to keeping them in.
If I was to bring mine in for firework weekend - it’ll probably be four nights in my area - surely then going back out would be too much for them?
I can’t decide what to do for the best when it comes to fireworks - bring them in for four nights but they’d be back outside in the daytime; or leave them outside with all their covers over their hutch.

If you want to put them back outside again, please wait until a warmer night and do not put them outside again when the following night is a cold one. Remember about temperature swings?

 

[Seven7]

Even if you had a garage, I wouldn't put them in the garage as the fumes from the cars would be unbearable for them.

Mine are indoor piggies.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Even if you had a garage, I wouldn't put them in the garage as the fumes from the cars would be unbearable for them.

Mine are indoor piggies.

I shouldnt think there are many of us in the UK who actually keep cars in garages now! Some I’m sure, but it’s possibly not as common as it used to be. Some new build houses don’t even have garages these days.

 

[Seven7]

I shouldnt think there are many of us in the UK who actually keep cars in garages now! Some I’m sure, but it’s possibly not as common as it used to be. Some new build houses don’t even have garages these days.

In US, most people use their garage. I have two car garage, which I use everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I guess it is definitely different than UK.

 

[Piggies&buns]

In US, most people use their garage. I have two car garage, which I use everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I guess it is definitely different than UK.

Definitely different! A lot of us just use our garages for storage!