Outside Guinea Pigs

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

I was just wondering if any of the members have guineas that permanently live outside? Our girls are out in a purpose built area, we have the option of putting them into a shed as and when the weather dictates it, but they will mostly stay outside, (in the house is not an option currently) their hutch is a double height, we have a large tarpaulin that we cover them with if it rains and they are quite sheltered by our house so no urgent need to move them in just making sure I have all the info I need going forward.
If they are permanently outside how do you make sure they are warm enough through the winter months?
What do you do about giving them exercise if it's wet?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have a 6ft 2 storey hutch that they live in outside permanently. If we get a particularly bad cold spell it gets moved into the garage. I have the insulating cover as well as the weatherproof cover for them. In the colder months they have snugglesafes every night and sometimes during the day. I easily get through twice as much hay in the winter and I also give them fleece cosies and tunnels for extra warmth

 

[Lady Kelly]

In terms of exercise they have to make do with just the hutch in colder months as the ground is too cold for them regardless of whether it's wet or dry out

 

[Sparklepetal]

Our piggies are outside for most of the year. The hutch comes into our unheated conservatory in the coldest months. I was mostly worried that wet and cold together would make for sad piggies. Under the waterproof cover, I have insulated the hutch with foil bubble wrap - you can get a "radiator" kit with a piece of bubble wrap big enough to go round the hutch and metallic sticky tape to stick the edges down. It's quite a bit cheaper than a custom hutch insulator. Other than that, lots of hay and fleece cosies and snugglesafes!

For exercise in winter we put a C&C run in the unheated conservatory so they can come out for a scamper about during the warmest part of the day for a short while. This is also a chance for the children to climb in the run and give cuddles, they must act as a giant snugglesafe for the pigs!

 

[Betsy]

I have mine outside permanently and they have an insulated cover on the hutch and on top of that a thermal cover with a rain proof front. In the colder months of winter they have a snugglesafe each, fleece cosies, lots and lots and more lots of hay and I put a blanket over the front to keep the frost out.

As the nights draw in this stimulates the growth of the insulating winter fur and you will find that your piggies will moult A LOT as it is coming through.

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

Thank you for replies, I'll have a good look at insulating things, I thought I'd start getting the odd thing now so we're prepared. I know I can get a fitted cover for our hutch but I need to see if we can get an insulated one too.

 

[Betsy]

Thank you for replies, I'll have a good look at insulating things, I thought I'd start getting the odd thing now so we're prepared. I know I can get a fitted cover for our hutch but I need to see if we can get an insulated one too.

Have a look at Scratch and Newton for hutch covers.