Outdoor pigs

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kt1

Why would you ever want piggies outside?
I think it's not suitable for a number of reasons

* They get less attention
* They don't learn noises that they would in the house
* They don't constantly know you are there
* They can hear a lot more 'scary' noises such as planes etc
* There's always the danger of foxes etc

And we don't get to admire their beautiful faces...
 
the points your making are what is usually thought but i know a few members and this is how there outdoor piggies are
Getting plenty of love and fresh air
Are happy outside as thats what is natural to them
Are calm as they don't have people walking back and forth past there cage/hutch
yes there are scary noises but what about when the kettle boils or you vacuum/clatter in the kitchen
and yes there are dangers but as many people clearly know here, my piggy was killed by my dog inside,so inside can be unsafe too.

I'm not saying you have it all wrong but inside isn't to much different,
i personally have mine inside as I'm not terribly the outdoors type(only on run days i will sit outside for a few hours) but many piggies live long, happy and fulfilling lives in hutches outside,
many members are going to get quite upset by this thread as they spend as much time and some of them more, than you or i would with our piggies,alot of people also feel guilty about having them outside which they shouldnt,and alot of people don't have a choice,if i had piggies when i was living at home mine would have been outdoors as my mum is allergic and i wouldn't have felt bad at all. xxxxxxx
 
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I can honestly say that I hadn't heard of keeping piggies outside before I joined the forum, however that is not saying it is wrong by any means. It's more of a culture thing.

I couldn't keep mine outdoors if I wanted to because in Kentucky the summer daily temp is anywhere between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (which breeds severe thunderstorms and the occasional tornado) and the winters are very cold.

I don't doubt that any piggies that are outdoors are any less pampered, loved or cared for than any one who keeps their's indoors. Piggies are very adaptable and things like loud noises don't faze them over time if exposed to, like wild animal noises.

Hope I didn't come off rude in any way, wasn't my intention. ;)
 
My piggies and buns for example are outside and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I live in Australia and the winters are not too bad....no snow where we are, anyway. Temperatures during the night can get down to 1 or two degrees Celsius but we cater for that with extra hay in the houses and thick blanket over half the hutch.

Piggies are buns are doing well out there and they are very much loved. We still go outside - even if it's cold and feed and cuddle them and they get their run on the grass (or concrete when it's wet).

As for the scary noises.....there are just as may inside the house then outside and the piggies and buns adapt very well.
As for foxes....if you have a secure hutch there is no problem. I do have neighbours with five cats that are frequently visiting and the pigs and buns have adapted to them well - they go into their houses if they had enough of the constant attention.

So I say, it's personal choice on where you keep your piggies. Both places, inside and outside have their pro and cons and it's up to the person who keeps them to decided what works for them. No right and wrongs here at all!
 
mine are outside and will be coming in in the winter . every one has different reasons for them having them out side or in side so its wrong for you to put it how you have about people keeping them outside that is your view guinea pigs are wild animals in south america and later settlers took them to america and australia . they are use to being outside .
 
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if they are born outside and that is where they are kept they are going to know no different
 
It's not the worst thing in the world if a guinea pig lives outdoors; it is preferable for them to live inside but it is not a huge deal if the pigs do live outdoors. It just needs to be done right, the time/effort/knowledge put in to make sure the situation is as safe as can be, and the majority of people whose pigs are in sheds or garages find they spend most of their time out there anyway.

Also remember that only 10-20 years ago it was very rare to hear of guinea pigs being kept indoors. It takes a long time for old-fashioned standards to die out, and of course if somone who has had guineas pigs for that long has got on fine with their pigs outside, then you're really not going to be able to do much about it. Until keeping piggies indoors has been a majority case for some time, the old-fashioned standards are still going to be in peoples minds.

The problem is with pigs who are just in hutches with no protection from the elements, they're not in a sheltered area and they are exposed to extreme cold/extreme heat. I agree that just having a pig in a hutch placed in any old place in the garden is not a good idea.

I never say never to piggies living outdoors - although I could not do it myself after always having my own lot indoors - but it has to be done properly and I advise indors wherever possible. If someone can't keep their piggies inside, I advise placing the hutch in a purpose-built shed, which is well-ventilated, gets natural light, is temperature- controlled (fans/air conditioning for summer, heating for winter), and can be secured with locks.
 
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I have some indoors and some out, if I didn't have any outside then I wouldn't be able to run a rescue! My outdoor piggies are happy and not exposed to the elements, in fact in many ways I think they're better off than my indoor piggies.

I have sick or pregnant pigs indoors, so I can keep a closer eye on them, but as Laura says - I spend most of my time in the shed and garden anyway!

Sophie
x
 
we live right beside two large usaf bases in the uk,RAF Mildenhall & Lakenheath,I can assure you that 'scary' aeroplane noises dont bother my lot at all,if you have ever heard an F-15 Strike Eagle going at full chat down a runway centreline then you know how loud they are,yet get a car horn go off on the road and most of them bolt back into the run.

My personal opinion is a guinea pig is not designed to be kept in a hutch/cage all the time,they like to get out and about,having said that i have had indoor piggies before,they did however go outside daily.

al.
 
I believe that inside and outside can both be suitable. If outside, the guinea pigs should be warm/cool enough, and if inside, they should have access to fresh air on a daily basis. If I could keep my guinea pigs inside I would, but the fact is that there is simply not enough space. I love my piggies just as much as you do, and them living outside doesn't change that.
 
Thanks everybody & great points. Sorry if I upset anybody, now I completely understand where you're coming from:):):)p
 
Ah I see:)
Thank you all for replying, I didn't know why anybody would/could but it makes sense.
 
Mine are kept outside due to Husband and Son being allergic to them and thier bedding. Also if I kept them indoors I wouldn't have the space to keep so many (15 ). I have always kept guineas outside and do spend a lot of time with them. Probably not as much as I would if they were in but I still believe they get enough attention.
 
My group will live outside in a large hutch and run for the spring and summer and will then come into a large conservatory over the winter which is not heated but will not fluctuate as much as outside. My group is currently split in two due to Sausages babies who are inside but both groups get fresh grass twice a day and also fresh veg twice a day. The dust extracted hay that they aggravates my hay fever over the warmer months so I would not keep them inside all year.
 
I have some indoors and some outdoor, but the outdoor ones are brought in for colder months Mid Sept - May. My piggies seem to get used to noises wherever they are, and my outdoor ones are just outside the kitchen door, which is usually open, so they are still close to me.
I think OP made a potentially valid point when she said piggies out doors may not always get the same attention. Here on the forum we are all piggy geeks, and that is most likely not to be the case, but I do worry about piggies who are bought by some families in the summer, that they have correct cold weather protection and are given the same amount of attention. Hiking down the garden at 7 in the morning when it is wet and windy, freezing and icy, is not the same as doing it on a lovely warm morning. Let's face it, this is when the true committment comes out. Sadly, I think piggies can and do suffer in the winter, as we know. (My Toddy that came into rescue being a good example) xx
 
I am a little offended by this thread actually.

All my piggies are housed outside and always have done (Bar sick piggies), they receive all the love and attention that you would ever wish for.
They are all cosey and tucked in the winter and in the summer they can enjoy the delights of the sunshine/grass.
All hutches are sheltered and bolted.

As for noises, my house is far more noisey than outside. We are not near any train tracks or plane routes, the only noise they would hear is the birds singing and my voice!

You could say that inside piggies would be scared to go outside in the run and enjoy the grass, if they are not used to the noises etc?
As long as you are commited to your piggies and they receive all the love, attention, protection, health needs they could wish for, then I do not see why it is so bad.

Sorry to go, but so many people go on about how piggies living inside is so much better and they would never house them outside, sorry I disagree.
 
Missbonbon said:
I am a little offended by this thread actually.

All my piggies are housed outside and always have done (Bar sick piggies), they receive all the love and attention that you would ever wish for.
They are all cosey and tucked in the winter and in the summer they can enjoy the delights of the sunshine/grass.
All hutches are sheltered and bolted.

As for noises, my house is far more noisey than outside. We are not near any train tracks or plane routes, the only noise they would hear is the birds singing and my voice!

You could say that inside piggies would be scared to go outside in the run and enjoy the grass, if they are not used to the noises etc?
As long as you are commited to your piggies and they receive all the love, attention, protection, health needs they could wish for, then I do not see why it is so bad.

Sorry to go, but so many people go on about how piggies living inside is so much better and they would never house them outside, sorry I disagree.
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That's ok
Sorry that I offended you like I said in my latest posts, I now completely understand :)
 
Missbonbon said:
I am a little offended by this thread actually.

All my piggies are housed outside and always have done (Bar sick piggies), they receive all the love and attention that you would ever wish for.
They are all cosey and tucked in the winter and in the summer they can enjoy the delights of the sunshine/grass.
All hutches are sheltered and bolted.

As for noises, my house is far more noisey than outside. We are not near any train tracks or plane routes, the only noise they would hear is the birds singing and my voice!

You could say that inside piggies would be scared to go outside in the run and enjoy the grass, if they are not used to the noises etc?
As long as you are commited to your piggies and they receive all the love, attention, protection, health needs they could wish for, then I do not see why it is so bad.

Sorry to go, but so many people go on about how piggies living inside is so much better and they would never house them outside, sorry I disagree.
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Fair point about indoor piggies sometimes being scared outside. Two of my indoor girls, when I put them in the run on the grass, thinking it is a treat, are absolutely mortified and sit hunched up in a corner. We are also on the flight path for Liverpool airport, and the outdoor piggies have soon got used to Ryanair and Easyjet flying over us. xx
 
Same as Sophie. My piggies 54 of them are outside in secure runs and houses in summer ,and back inside in winter. We spend lots of time with them and they know when to expect a visit and a brush and comb and foot and tooth inspection and ,even better ,a cuddle and a big bag of fresh grass to add to their diet of hay redigrass vegetables gertie guinea etc. They are all different characters and it is lovely to see them all getting on together and going about their little lives as naturally as possible. Neutered boys and girls run together,unneutered boys are running together,a bit of bossiness now and then but no fights possibly because they have all been together since they were babies. Love them all, they rule my life!
 
sorry if i upset anyone but can i ask kindly that a mod closes this thread please?
It is causing people to be upset and offended like i originally predicted.
there is no right or wrong way to look after your piggies providing you love and care for them safely which i believe most members here do!
eventually we will end up saying bad things about inside and out just trying to prove our points,i think this thread is not necessary and is indeed not a help at all in this forum x
 
I've met equally happy outdoor and indoor piggies too.
My girls live indoors, but we do have an outside hutch and run that I bought when I went on holiday and they had to stay at my mum's house - she has cats so they had to stay in the garden as the c&c wouldn't have kept them safe. It was summer so they were fine, actually they really enjoyed it after about 24 hours adjustment.
Now we just use it as a day shelter while we are at work when the weather is good. They can play in a secure run and sleep / hide in the hutch until we come home and bring them in again.
If we had to move somewhere where we weren't allowed pets indoors I think I could be ok with them living outside... I'd probably buy a shed and turn it into a girly pig den! ;)

My friend's piggies live outside and always have, and I must say they are rather robust little fellows!
 
As a rule-of-thumb I am against keeping guinea pigs outside. It's my experience that you get more enjoyment from keeping your pets inside than outside as, for the majority of the time, if they are outside they are out of sight/mind while inside they're in the thick of it: screaming at you when it's veggie time, popcorning and running around their cage when you walk by. I find it more fulfilling and I feel like I have a better relationship with the pigs.

If I'm speaking to a new owner, I will push indoor housing (which is what a C&C cage is directed toward.)

I don't buy one level of the "Well, guinea pigs are wild animals so they're use to being outside" argument. Guinea pigs, whether we like it or not, are over bred, flimsy, weak representatives of what a Guinea Pig use to be. Our pet guinea pigs are nothing like their wild ancestors. Their immune system is weaker, they're the wrong colour to suitably hide from predators and half of them are so ditzy they're more likely to try and make friends with the jaws of an open fox as opposed to high-non-tailing it out of there.

As for temperatures: guinea pigs do not cope well with cold temperatures and the temperatures of piggies housed outdoors aren't always monitored; the maximum/minimum temperatures aren't recorded so it's unlikely that an outdoor houser will know exactly what temperatures a piggie has experienced there.

Pigs are brought into our lives to be enjoyed. I don't think any animal should be housed apart from the family and that the idea of rabbits and guinea pigs being housed outside is an old-fashioned one which shouldn't have a place in todays society when we know so much more about their care and information is so freely available online.

In saying that; I have seen some amazing - and I mean impressive - set ups where guinea pigs are housed apart from the main house in heated huts where thermometers are used to monitor temperature lows and air purifiers are ever humming in the background. I think that owners who go to these kind of lengths (heated housing over a hutch) to keep their piggies warm and happy are in a league of their own with their dedication to their piggies.

A variation was a hut where the pigs ran on the floor of the hut which was covered in hay which was basically their floor; they also had a hutch in the background that they could hide in. I liked this set up; it was like a cute piggie farm.
 
I have a min-max thermometer in my shed, a heater and a fan... they are better looked after than I am (as my house has no heating at the moment!).

My outdoor pigs are long-lived and healthy... any sick or pregnant pigs come inside into the maternity / recovery area!

Sophie
x
 
I have had people here,men usually telling us they want to move in as our animals get better treatment than they do at their homes,our sheds are also heated,we have fans for the hot weather also and i can assure anyone that mine and any rescue pigs that are with us are far from out of sight and out of mind,rescue pigs generally need handling several times of day due to the circumstances they came from,i.e having not been handled so we can place them for rehoming asap.

al.
 
sophiew, it sounds like your pigs have a great set up!

The temperature in my flat changes a lot so I tend to have my pigs follow me (much to my flatmates annoyance since floortime-pens take up half the living room to give them enough exercise) so I can tell what temperature it is.

Our heaters keep damned blowing up and the landlord keeps "forgetting" to fix them... but that's another thread.
 
mine are not bothered by noise i was mowing lawn and they never ran and hid or nothing just happy eating and tonight we had thunder and rain i went and covered them up with plastic and they were just there carrying on has nothing was happening lol
 
lindsecm said:
I can honestly say that I hadn't heard of keeping piggies outside before I joined the forum
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I had never actually heard of keeping piggies INDOORS until I joined here!
My two are outside and I work full time/have a toddler and still am spending around 2 hours a day with them.
They have a nice house with a run attached which they have free run of from around 6am until 11pm most days and they are happy piggies.

I'm already planning an extention and a c&c for them to have extra playtime in but this will also be outdoors!
 
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