Outside pig help

[Gizzyrobertson]

Hi I just ordered a massive double storey outdoor hutch for my 2 guinea pigs and am looking for some advice, I'm putting it around the side of my house as that nearly completely cuts off all wind and bad draughts as the wind hits from the opposite side, I have 2 fleece beds and 2 fleece pillows, a massive double fleece house, a wooden house that can be made into various shapes and heights that they can nibble as well, I've got a few tunnels and food bowls, plus plenty of sawdust to cover the bottom of the cage (guinea friendly) I also bought a cage cover to keep them dry and cosy,
my questions are:
A, what do I do for water as the inside cage has a bottle that attaches through the bars but the hutch is wooden?
B, should I also put paper in the hutch on the floor or scrunch it up for them to hide in
C, where do I put hay as it's in a hay loft at present but like I said the outside hutch is wooden with nowhere to hang it?
D, I was going to fit my giant external run to the side so they can run about outside when they want as well but it has no roof so any ideas what I could use to stop anything from getting near them,
Were pretty new to the piggies so any help would be great thanks

 

[Siikibam]

I think most people who keep piggies outside just put the hay in piles on the floor (on top of bedding). So I’d say do the same. They like to burrow, sleep, eat and poo in it.

Have you put some kind of liner on the floors of the hutch? Like lino or something so it’s not ruined by pee etc?


Sawdust isn’t a good bedding for piggies, so perhaps consider using woodshavings or another type of bedding

Is there any type of grid on the front of the hutch? That’s where I would attach the water bottle. And Cardboard boxes are also a good hiding spot for them.

I would only let them into the run if you’re going to be sitting nearby. You could cover it with fleece or a duvet or something. And have things in there for them to hide in.

Are you planning to move them outside anytime soon? I don’t know where you’re located, but they’re not weather hardy unless acclimatised. If you can stand outside in a t-shirt and bare feet then it’s warm enough for them. But you have to gauge when the nights will also be warmer.

I’ll tag @Betsy as she keeps her piggies outside. Sorry everyone else I can’t remember off the top of my head!

 

[amy104]

All my hutches are lined with Lino with vetbed on top.
Each one has a huge litter tray filled with hay - potting trays a great if they fit your hutch as they have a high back but are low at the front so the piggies can get in and out easily.
Silver loft insulation is great under hutch covers to insulate from the cold.
Personally I wouldn't have mine out in a run yet, its too cold, but runs must be predator proof. You can supervise them of course but having had a bird of prey swoop down next to me after a bunny (thankfully it was in a secure run) I am well aware of the fact that I would not of been quick enough to save it even though I was stood right there.
You can make a nice insulated hide by slipping a smaller cardboard box inside a bigger one and pack the gap between with straw.
Snugglesafes are a must at this time of year, please note the original ones are mych more effective than the cheaper versions by places like B&M. Or if you have access to power then petnap flexiguard heat pads are fantastic.
Water bottles must be checked - you can stop the bottle freezing if you wrap in bubble wrap and an old sock, but this wont protect the spout so these need checking regularly.
As pointed out by Siikibam if your piggies have been indoors please do not put them outside yet.
If you do want to attach a secure run for permant use once its warmer I am a big fan of the runaround connections as the doors will allow you to shut off access for cleaning, next winter etc. I wouldn't use as long a tunnel for piggies as I do for rabbits though as they tend to hide in them which can be problematic if you need to access them.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

Please make sure that your hutches are doubly insulated against the cold and the wind.

Accustom your guinea pigs gradually to the outdoors. Treat any new and indoors piggies like tender plants and don't move them outside during frosty nights and cool days; especially not youngsters whose immune system is still under construction.
The same goes for introducing grass (too much on an unaccustomed tummy can cause diarrhea or bloat) and to lawn time. Just because the sun is nice on your skin doesn't mean that the ground is warm enough to sit on it for any length of time or that the wind/cloud may not suddenly make it a lot fresher.

Please bring your piggies indoors during storms, bad rain and during heat waves as hutches can kill (heat stroke).
Best get a foldable puppy or a panelled rabbit run with some plastic underlay for emergencies since weather extremes are becoming the new normal.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

Our full new owners information collection can be accessed via this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
It covers specifically all the areas in practical and easy to follow detail where we get the most questions, concerns, struggles and sources for accidents from new owners about. You should hopefully find it a very helpful resource in the coming weeks. You may also want to bookmark it. Unlike a book, we can constantly update and extend it.

 

[Piggylove82]

I have my two pigs outside (a 6ft double storey hand-built to order hutch) and have a hay rack like this to keep some of the hay (at least) clean .

Then I also put a foraging pile too, made up of a couple of different types of hay and some of the foraging autumn/summer harvest mix you can buy sprinkled through it.

Mine have snuggle pads which I heat throughout the day. Their separate bedding area is meadow hay and snowflake wood shavings on all the floors in their hutch. My floors are made from heavy duty plastic so can't rot, walls are 20mm loglap all around, including the back of the hutch (which is rare with a lot of hutches) and I have removable acrylic windows fitted on all of the mesh doors with a hole for their water bottles to poke through. The hutch is well off the ground with 6 inch legs.

They have tunnels too and a few treat sticks hung for them to nibble at, and dishes with a few pellets in. The only fleece I have is their snugglepad covers because, well wood shavings and fleece are not a very practical combination, to say the least!

I agree about being very careful when you move them outside because of the current weather and temperature fluctuations we even have well into spring.

 

[Betsy]

I had outside piggies @Siikibam until we moved last October and they are now in the garage. When they were outside they had an insulated cover and a thermal cover. Lots and lots and more lots and more more lots of hay, hay, more hay and more more hay and more hay than that to keep them warm. Snugglesafes, fleecy snuggle sacks, fleecy tubes. Everything I could think of to keep them warm. They were acclimatised to the outside as well. You really shouldn't put piggies outside unless they are acclimatised to the cold as it is very stressful on their delicate little bodies.

 

[Gizzyrobertson]

I think most people who keep piggies outside just put the hay in piles on the floor (on top of bedding). So I’d say do the same. They like to burrow, sleep, eat and poo in it.

Have you put some kind of liner on the floors of the hutch? Like lino or something so it’s not ruined by pee etc?


Sawdust isn’t a good bedding for piggies, so perhaps consider using woodshavings or another type of bedding

Is there any type of grid on the front of the hutch? That’s where I would attach the water bottle. And Cardboard boxes are also a good hiding spot for them.

I would only let them into the run if you’re going to be sitting nearby. You could cover it with fleece or a duvet or something. And have things in there for them to hide in.

Are you planning to move the outside anytime soon? I don’t know where you’re located, but they’re not weather hardy unless acclimatised. If you can stand outside in a t-shirt and bare feet then it’s warm enough for them. But you have to gauge when the nights will also be warmer.

I’ll tag @Betsy as she keeps her piggies outside. Sorry everyone else I can’t remember off the top of my head!

Hi I've not got the

I think most people who keep piggies outside just put the hay in piles on the floor (on top of bedding). So I’d say do the same. They like to burrow, sleep, eat and poo in it.

Have you put some kind of liner on the floors of the hutch? Like lino or something so it’s not ruined by pee etc?


Sawdust isn’t a good bedding for piggies, so perhaps consider using woodshavings or another type of bedding

Is there any type of grid on the front of the hutch? That’s where I would attach the water bottle. And Cardboard boxes are also a good hiding spot for them.

I would only let them into the run if you’re going to be sitting nearby. You could cover it with fleece or a duvet or something. And have things in there for them to hide in.

Are you planning to move the outside anytime soon? I don’t know where you’re located, but they’re not weather hardy unless acclimatised. If you can stand outside in a t-shirt and bare feet then it’s warm enough for them. But you have to gauge when the nights will also be warmer.

I’ll tag @Betsy as she keeps her piggies outside. Sorry everyone else I can’t remember off the top of my head!

I think most people who keep piggies outside just put the hay in piles on the floor (on top of bedding). So I’d say do the same. They like to burrow, sleep, eat and poo in it.

Have you put some kind of liner on the floors of the hutch? Like lino or something so it’s not ruined by pee etc?


Sawdust isn’t a good bedding for piggies, so perhaps consider using woodshavings or another type of bedding

Is there any type of grid on the front of the hutch? That’s where I would attach the water bottle. And Cardboard boxes are also a good hiding spot for them.

I would only let them into the run if you’re going to be sitting nearby. You could cover it with fleece or a duvet or something. And have things in there for them to hide in.

Are you planning to move the outside anytime soon? I don’t know where you’re located, but they’re not weather hardy unless acclimatised. If you can stand outside in a t-shirt and bare feet then it’s warm enough for them. But you have to gauge when the nights will also be warmer.

I’ll tag @Betsy as she keeps her piggies outside. Sorry everyone else I can’t remember off the top of my head!

Hi I just ordered a massive double storey outdoor hutch for my 2 guinea pigs and am looking for some advice, I'm putting it around the side of my house as that nearly completely cuts off all wind and bad draughts as the wind hits from the opposite side, I have 2 fleece beds and 2 fleece pillows, a massive double fleece house, a wooden house that can be made into various shapes and heights that they can nibble as well, I've got a few tunnels and food bowls, plus plenty of sawdust to cover the bottom of the cage (guinea friendly) I also bought a cage cover to keep them dry and cosy,
my questions are:
A, what do I do for water as the inside cage has a bottle that attaches through the bars but the hutch is wooden?
B, should I also put paper in the hutch on the floor or scrunch it up for them to hide in
C, where do I put hay as it's in a hay loft at present but like I said the outside hutch is wooden with nowhere to hang it?
D, I was going to fit my giant external run to the side so they can run about outside when they want as well but it has no roof so any ideas what I could use to stop anything from getting near them,
Were pretty new to the piggies so any help would be great thanks

Hi I don't actually get my hutch until Monday so I don't have anything for it yet, if I put lino on the floor am I better to have it going slightly up the sides or just flat? I actually meant wood shavings not sawdust, I just got mixed up trying to think of everything to ask, there is a grid on the front door but when I fit the wind and rain cover that's coming with the hutch from the pictures it looks like any doors are then covered to keep the wind out, not sure though until I get it, I was going to attach the metal run permanently to the side and have a slide door I could shut when it's cold and cover the roof of it with a mesh to keep predators out? Just an idea for more room for them, I live in Scotland and wasn't sure when to put them outside, we have a new baby coming in July and the room will be filled with stuff from then on so that's why I need to get them used to outside, I'm getting a 20x10 hut later in the year so they can go in there when that is done as it will have power and 6 windows, I'll put lots and lots of hay in for them like suggested over their beds etc, I won't be putting them out yet as I'm trying to set up as much of the things they will need as possible and get their hutch really well kitted out do that they will be happy, thanks for the help

 

[Gizzyrobertson]

I had outside piggies @Siikibam until we moved last October and they are now in the garage. When they were outside they had an insulated cover and a thermal cover. Lots and lots and more lots and more more lots of hay, hay, more hay and more more hay and more hay than that to keep them warm. Snugglesafes, fleecy snuggle sacks, fleecy tubes. Everything I could think of to keep them warm. They were acclimatised to the outside as well. You really shouldn't put piggies outside unless they are acclimatised to the cold as it is very stressful on their delicate little bodies.

How do I acclimatise them best to outside then? I want them to be cosy and happy

 

[Lady Kelly]

It depends where in the world you are but in the UK it is still far too cold to acclimatise them to the outdoors. I would be looking at late April at the earliest depending on what the weather is doing at that point

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I've not got the



Hi I don't actually get my hutch until Monday so I don't have anything for it yet, if I put lino on the floor am I better to have it going slightly up the sides or just flat? I actually meant wood shavings not sawdust, I just got mixed up trying to think of everything to ask, there is a grid on the front door but when I fit the wind and rain cover that's coming with the hutch from the pictures it looks like any doors are then covered to keep the wind out, not sure though until I get it, I was going to attach the metal run permanently to the side and have a slide door I could shut when it's cold and cover the roof of it with a mesh to keep predators out? Just an idea for more room for them, I live in Scotland and wasn't sure when to put them outside, we have a new baby coming in July and the room will be filled with stuff from then on so that's why I need to get them used to outside, I'm getting a 20x10 hut later in the year so they can go in there when that is done as it will have power and 6 windows, I'll put lots and lots of hay in for them like suggested over their beds etc, I won't be putting them out yet as I'm trying to set up as much of the things they will need as possible and get their hutch really well kitted out do that they will be happy, thanks for the help

Treat guinea pigs like tender plants - they don't do frosty nights.

 

[Betsy]

How do I acclimatise them best to outside then? I want them to be cosy and happy

Wait until the temperature is at least 15 degrees outside at night (usually around April/May time) and then put them out during the day (slowly increasing the time by half an hour a day until they are out all day) and bring them in at night. When they are used to the temperature day time (all day) then leave them out (obviously in the hutch) during the night. In August when the nights are drawing in this stimulates the winter under fur to grow (the insulating layer) WARNING: you may find they moult alot while this fur is growing in. They will still need all I have mentioned above to get them through the winter.

 

[Gizzyrobertson]

Thanks