Outdoor Piggys & The Approaching Winter

[bob2sea]

Sorry if this has been covered already elsewhere.

We have had our Guinea Pigs outside since the summer so that they can get their coats ready for the approaching winter, but we need some assistance with REALLY cold winter days.

We have no room in the house for the guinea pigs double hutch, so its either outside on the patio, or in a very tiny shed which will take a cage, but will leave hardly any access to clean them, etc.

IF we have vetbed on both floors, large bubble wrap sheets stapled to all external sides of the hutch, plus a hutch cover, will this be enough to keep them suitably warm in the depths of winter? Or will then need to go in the shed?

Would love to hear from people with outdoor piglets to see what you do in the winter, we're a little bit clueless :{

Thanks in advance...

 

[flips]

Hi, someone will probably answer your specific questions (I have no useful advice as I am lucky enough to have indoor piggies) but you might find this thread useful.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54309

 

[Ralphisamadpig]

Mine stay outside- they have bubble wrap on the sides, i would suggest puttind huge mounds of hay in and using snugglesafe heat pads (cheaper on Vet UK than in pet shops) as long as you give them lots of stuff to snuggle up in they should be fine.
xx

 

[Becky92]

in my opinion piggys cant grow a winter coat like rabbits so therefore need to be out of drafts/cold winds so thats why a sheds so ideal because they are out of elements and * can use non waterproof covers like carpet/quilts

 

[Deadgirl]

Wish i could help but mine are indoor piggys as well i think i would just try to make the as warm as i could there are lots of things you can buy for them

 

[nutmeg]

in my opinion piggys cant grow a winter coat like rabbits so therefore need to be out of drafts/cold winds so thats why a sheds so ideal because they are out of elements and * can use non waterproof covers like carpet/quilts

This is a good point, if you can at least move guineas into a shed or outbuilding then you can use much better things eg. carpets, opened up sleeping bags, quilts etc., to cover them and keep them really warm. Even with a tapaulin over, if outside rain still seems to get to the covers underneath. Hutch huggers will keep out most of the wind and rain but I don't feel they give the warmth that is needed through a harsh winter.
I don't know if guinea pigs can grow a winter coat, can anyone answer this? They may become acclimatised, however, if there is a hard frost, I really believe they should be indoors. xx

 

[slackalice2k]

No gp's don't grow a winter coat, rabbits do but they have fur not hair.

My piggers are outdoors, on really bad nights they get moved into the shed, I had my hutches adapted and put them on casters so I can wheel them about depending on which direction the wind is, I can turn them so they're facing the wall, they have covers and I'm modifying an old tent to add an additional waterproof layer, and I've just spent a fortune on snugglesafes. Shhh don't tell the OH I told him I got them on 3 for 2. Thank god for my flexible friend.

I use cardboard boxes in their bedroom areas and stuff them full of hay, then sit the cardboard on top of the snugglesafes, because my pig were so suspicious of them that they stayed away.

My neighbours must think I'm a plonkie, I have empty Alcohol boxes stacked up in my front porch, I work in a bar so they're all kept aside for me.