hannahs26
Junior Guinea Pig
I am hoping some of the experienced GP owners on here might be able to answer some question
s about outdoor run time. Bit of background for you: our two gorgeous rescued GPs have been with us as house GPs since September, and this spring is their first time outside in a run. I have a secure cage run, which I put hidies in when they are in it. I read lots about how you need to build up their time outside, so as not to upset their tummies. We didn't know whether they'd been on grass before they came to us, so we started giving them half an hour, then an hour, then built up to 2 hours, a week ago, having them outside on the grass over a week. The older of the pair developed sloppy poops one eve, after the 2 hour session, so I did what was advised, and cut out all fresh food for 48 hours, keeping them just on hay, pellets, and water. It seemed to clear up the problem, so I thought we'd start again giving small amounts of veg and grass, and build up to getting them back out on the grass again, as long as their tummies seemed normal. I now have some questions though:
When building up time outside on grass, does it matter if there are days when they don't go out, or should it be built up steadily everyday without gaps? If there are gaps in the days, perhaps due to bad weather, should the time building up be slower? For example, if they were to have a few days or a week without grass time, would you need to start all over with only small amounts of time outside again at first?
Once they're used to being outside for a few hours a day, should they go out every day, despite changes in weather? Should the run perhaps have a waterproof area which keeps the ground dry all the time, so they can have access every day?
If they have hidies and sheltered areas of their run, should they still be put out in rain and wind, or should they only be put outside in fine weather?
Thank you for your help :-)
s about outdoor run time. Bit of background for you: our two gorgeous rescued GPs have been with us as house GPs since September, and this spring is their first time outside in a run. I have a secure cage run, which I put hidies in when they are in it. I read lots about how you need to build up their time outside, so as not to upset their tummies. We didn't know whether they'd been on grass before they came to us, so we started giving them half an hour, then an hour, then built up to 2 hours, a week ago, having them outside on the grass over a week. The older of the pair developed sloppy poops one eve, after the 2 hour session, so I did what was advised, and cut out all fresh food for 48 hours, keeping them just on hay, pellets, and water. It seemed to clear up the problem, so I thought we'd start again giving small amounts of veg and grass, and build up to getting them back out on the grass again, as long as their tummies seemed normal. I now have some questions though:When building up time outside on grass, does it matter if there are days when they don't go out, or should it be built up steadily everyday without gaps? If there are gaps in the days, perhaps due to bad weather, should the time building up be slower? For example, if they were to have a few days or a week without grass time, would you need to start all over with only small amounts of time outside again at first?
Once they're used to being outside for a few hours a day, should they go out every day, despite changes in weather? Should the run perhaps have a waterproof area which keeps the ground dry all the time, so they can have access every day?
If they have hidies and sheltered areas of their run, should they still be put out in rain and wind, or should they only be put outside in fine weather?
Thank you for your help :-)
