Protecting Them From The Cold

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Wookey78

Junior Guinea Pig
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hi
Now that winter is finally here I just wanted some tip for my outside piggies. We have no capacity to put their hutch inside a shed etc so wondering what everyone else does?
Currently I have a quilt and tarpaulin over their hutch and the normal waterproof cover.

I have a snuggle pad but can’t find the cover not sure what I could use to wrap it in until I order a replacement? Plus I have read some stories on here that has made me have doubts. I didn’t use it last year as they were babies and inside.

Thank you
 
What are your doubts about the snugglesafes? I have two and have used them for the past few years without any issues. Do you have a towel or spare fleece you could wrap it in?
 
Of it burning inside the hutch I guess.

Yes I have a towel what if they unravel it? I suppose I could tie two knots so it won’t come undone.
I just seen the gritters so think I might try it out! Thank you
 
Mine are never burning hot. I have two and put them both in together in the microwave for 7 mins. One on its own goes in my 900w microwave for 5 mins. I wouldn't class it as uncomfortably hot or so hot it would burn. My hutch has never been damaged from them either. You could always heat it up and test it with your hand/arm and only put it in when you are comfortable with the temperature, ie if you think it's too hot allow it to cool for a while
 
Thank you. I only have one so hope it’s enough for them. I have stacked their bed area with hay.
I feel a bit happier now thank you
 
Wookey78 said:
Thank you. I only have one so hope it’s enough for them. I have stacked their bed area with hay.
I feel a bit happier now thank you
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I have my piggies outdoors too. I got through twice as much hay in colder months, maybe even more. I have a few fleecy items too which are being used more now as I have an elderly piggy who likes them. I got my snugglesafes on Amazon on lightning deals (I think they come up fairly regularly) but then I have four piggies living together and even though they will share I think one might be too small for all of them :))
 
Thank you for replying. I am just going out now with their snuggle safe. It’s so cold tonight about 2 degrees I know it’s much colder further up the country.
 
I have mine outside too. I have 5 piggies. I have lots of snugglies and warm hideys and 5 snugglesafes between them which I pop in the microwave separately for 5 minutes in their covers as it says in the instructions. They are not too hot (with the covers on) and the piggies hop straight on them when they go in the hutch. I put 3 downstairs (down ramp?) in the hutch and 1 upstairs (up ramp?) in the sleeping bit. I generally put them under the hideys. Every night during this cold snap Tom (my 15 year old) and I have been putting as much hay as we can possibly fit in the hutch for them to snuggle into. By the morning it has been trampled down a bit but they can still snuggle in. I put down the cover and an old blanket too to keep the frost out. Tomorrow, as it is not going to be raining, is total hutch clean day (deep joy LOVE that job - NOT!). So depending on how cold it is I will either be cleaning out the hutch with them still in it when I do the bottom, I'll block of the ramp hole at the top and put them in the top and vice versa or I'll pop them in the run on the patio (NOT straight on the patio I hasten to add but on an old duvet so that their little feeties don't freeze) then it'll be straight back in the hutch. Hope these suggestions will help you to keep your piggies warm!
 
One of the big factors on the temperature I found was my heated blanket. I put it over the front of the hutch, it's plugged into an outdoor plug underneath the thermal cover and it just hangs along with another cover over the front. It makes such a huge difference to the temperature - as much as 10 degrees!
 
Thanks. Tonight I stacked their bedding area to the top but she I want back out a few hours later they just flattened it! They never seem to hide in it. I have just ordered another pad tonight so they have one each.
 
Oh I’ve not heard of a heated blanket. We don’t have an outside plug :(. I was thinking of getting fleece hideys for the sleeping area but then figured I would be washing them daily!
 
The heated blanket is just a heated bed blanket, you know domesticated one you put on a bed. I only have one socket outside so I can't manage both hutches. You actually don't need to wash the fleece hideys every day, it's surprising really.
 
Two of my boys are outside in fully insulated shed. We call it piggy mansion, it was built for two pairs, but my other pair boycotted their stay so are indoors...
Tonight we're going full power as temperatures will drop to -10. So heating is on, they have soft hidey house in the sleeping area and two snuggle safes inside. I've locked them in the first floor of the hutch and covered it with blanket to direct the heat from the heater towards the hutch rather than whole shed... I have wireless temperature meter in there so can keep eye on the temperature whilst in my bed. Makes it so much easier... :))
 
Oh right bet that keeps them toastie.
Ah that’s good to know thank you. I just had a look on amazon but couldn’t see any suitable. But will look elsewhere.
 
Wookey78 said:
Oh I’ve not heard of a heated blanket. We don’t have an outside plug :(. I was thinking of getting fleece hideys for the sleeping area but then figured I would be washing them daily!
Click to expand...
I buy soft hidey beds in home bargains etc, put lots of newspapers and hay, then snuggles safe and more hay. The mess never gets all the way to the fabric so no need to wash daily. Before you wash, add few stitches to keep the foam in place, otherwise you'll end up with unshaped bed once the foam moves...
 
Thank you I will go and get some from there. I was wondering about bringing them in at night then putting them back out during the day. Would that do more harm than good? I would need to persuade my hubby lol.
Will definitely be using some tips here than you.
 
i would not bring them into a heated house and then put outside,it is too much of a temperature change.amazon are selling snuggle safe heat pads at a good price.ive ordered two more.i place them with covers on under there lounging log hides .then stuff hay on top of pad,top and in lounging log hides.mine have all been fine.:)
 
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