Piggies moving inside !

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Claire K

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I'm so excited as my piggies are moving inside from the end of this month. With the weather already turning, I thought I would get them in before it gets to bad.

I just wanted to ask a few questions re keeping piggies inside:

1. They currently live in a hutch with Newspaper and hay base and mezazorb in their toileting corners. is it best to keep their indoor cage the same so that the transition from one to the other is not too different?

2. If not, what would other suggestions be?

3. I have already started bringing them in and putting them into their run so that they can get used to the change of scenery, get used to new noises etc but they seem very wary. Is this normal and is it just a case of going through the settling in process with them again as I did when I first got them in order to get them used to their new home?

4. What other things do people put in their indoor homes to make them more cozy for their piggies?

5. What sort of temperature should I be looking at maintaining in the piggies room as I dont want it to be too hot / cold !

6. Is there anything else that I should be thinking about when having indoor piggies?

7. What sort of time of year would it be warm enough to put them back outside (probably wont come to this as once their in here, I have a feeling they will be here to stay but thought I would check)

Many Thanks for your help.

Claire xx
 
Hi Claire,

My two girls are in a nero4 cage. I put newspaper on the bottom and then profleece. I have a hay rack and also a hanging container which I stuff with timothy hay. They like to play with this by pulling it around. I am awaiting a couple of hammocks which I ordered from Emily a member of this forum. I have provided them with two houses as they dont like to share! The plastic houses which most of these cages come with are a recipe for disaster as usually the bossy pig guards the entrance and doesn't let the other in! Mine are indoors all the time and only go out in their hutch on nice warm summer days, even then they come in for the night! (yes I know...spoilt rotten!) I will only put them back out for days when the temperature change from indoors to outdoors is similar. Guinea pigs cannot handle fluctuations in temperature, so if you do decide to put them outside wait until the days/nights are much warmer...Hope this helps
 
oooh Just seen that you mention yours are a bit wary.. this is very normal but it doesn't take long for them to get used to household noises and any other pets you may have. My two were terrified when I brought them home, but literally within a few weeks they were quite at home. Months on they even wheek at the dog for food! Going to the fridge is a nightmare as every time it is opened they start wheeking like made for veg. How clever that they associate the noise of it opening is followed by a bowl of either fresh veg or salad....Good luck and let us know how you get on
 
I am switching to fleece with an underlay of newspaper and cheap towels from Ikea and a toilet area.

The temperatures are about the same as you'd feel comfortable. You may get a bit of itching at first, as they get used to the drier indoors air. A nice, rehydrating/skin soothing bath will help.

Please avoid drafts and be careful when you put them outside on the lawn; the ground should be warm and dry to your hand, as they will be less hardy with the switch and can pick up a URI from being on cold, damp grass.
 
Hi Claire,

As Vicky said it will be fine but make sure that the grass is dry to the touch and not damp, as they will have become used to being inside.
 
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