My girls are outside, can you bring them in over winter - in the house with heating on etc - then put them back out again later? Or once you bring them in do they get used to warm and need to stay in? Any advice appreciated!
Planning ahead for winter
- Thread starter Trish&Ewan
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Pepperdog
Adult Guinea Pig
I have done this successfully this year, although later than I was expecting due to the weather.
I had hoped to get them outside over the end of april but it was just too cold at night still, and may too. I had lined the bedroom area with cardboard and vet bed on the walls to make it even warmer so they had somewhere to snuggle up if they found it chillier but removed it all bar the cardboard as its still raining and not exactly hot out there and they went out in june.
What I did was turn off the radiator in their room back in march and leave the door open - my flat is chilly anyway. That kept the temp down in their room as I noticed with the radiator on and the door closed it was actually quite warm in the room even with the heating off. It was finding a time when I let the dog out last thing at night and wasnt standing there in a t-shirt shivering, that was the indication to me that it was warmer at night. No evidence of over night frost in the morning as well.
Once you put them out they need to stay out so doing it at the right time is important so you dont subject them to fluctuating temperatures, and as soon as mine went out, it has done nothing but rain rolleyes
I had hoped to get them outside over the end of april but it was just too cold at night still, and may too. I had lined the bedroom area with cardboard and vet bed on the walls to make it even warmer so they had somewhere to snuggle up if they found it chillier but removed it all bar the cardboard as its still raining and not exactly hot out there and they went out in june.
What I did was turn off the radiator in their room back in march and leave the door open - my flat is chilly anyway. That kept the temp down in their room as I noticed with the radiator on and the door closed it was actually quite warm in the room even with the heating off. It was finding a time when I let the dog out last thing at night and wasnt standing there in a t-shirt shivering, that was the indication to me that it was warmer at night. No evidence of over night frost in the morning as well.
Once you put them out they need to stay out so doing it at the right time is important so you dont subject them to fluctuating temperatures, and as soon as mine went out, it has done nothing but rain rolleyes
Yeah we have got option of putting them in garage rather than in house, just thinking of really bad snow and frost. Suppose we could use back room and open window? Worried they will get used to warm and putting them back out would be bad for them. OH has allergies they really affect his breathing so less they are in better for him really.
lauraboara
Adult Guinea Pig
I brought my piggies inside last autumn - and they have never made it back outside! i have asthma so hay in the house is not ideal but I love having them inside to watch them and chat to them and I appreciate not standing in the rain when feeding them, cleaning etc. What is the garage option like - does it have windows?
Yeah there is a window, not that they would be able to see out and lots of junk in there I would need to clean out too, but could do it, might get cold in there when its frosty though. I kept pet rats for years in house my OH was in a right tangle had inhalers, nasal sprays, piriton he says he just can't go through it again. Maybe I should move him into garage ha ha!
I have insulation in my shed, I'm looking at double skinning over the insulation and painting to make the shed nice and bright inside. The door is open all day so they get plenty of fresh air. I'm also looking at putting a radiator in to keep the place nice and warm on the really cold winters nights.
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