Should guinea pigs be kept inside in the winter

Should long haired guinea pigs be brought inside in the winter?

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Alfientoby

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If two long haired guinea pigs live in a hutch outside with a hutch cover do they need bringing inside in the winter?
Thanks
Leah
 
Ideally they should be kept out of the wind and cold (remember the uk hit -14 last year)

Mine are in a shed which will be draught proofed and insulated before it gets too cold - i would never leave them out in a hutch with just a cover though.

Hope this helps x
 
ideally yes but its not always possible, if they are staying outside try and put the hutch somewhere as covered as possible and wrap the hutch in insulation and balnkets and then cover with a waterproof cover and have snugglepads for use at night x
 
Best option would be indoors for the winter. They only have hair. Not warm fuzzy fur like rabbits. Guinea pigs can freeze to death

But if it isn't possible to bring them indoors then as long as they are in a draft proof area, insulated, lots of hay to snuggle, waterproof cover etc they should be ok outside
 
Personally, I wouldn't leave my piggies outside in the winter time. I know its not always possible for a guinea pig to live indoors but they're are most comfortable in room temperature (21 degrees celcius)
 
Problem is that the temperature can drop so suddenly, in the middle of the night, so i would always try and home inside through the Winter because of that.
 
THANKS GUYS!
but I still need more votes to get my mum to let me bring them inside!
Tell your friends and KEEEEEEEEP voting
Leah
X8)
 
She gets terrible hay fever so it took alot of persuading to get the piggies but the piggies are my life there isn't a day where I don't cuddle them and love them. But I really need to bring them inside soon but if I get 50 votes for inside then she says that they can be brought in.
Does anyone have a cage for sale?
Thanks again everyone for your help
Leah
xx>>>
 
I wouldn't like to be outside all the time in winter, brrrrr. I am sure your mum wouldn't either.:))
 
My long haired Bertie is in a small room off the living room which houses my washing machine, last year I just carried his cage in and put it in the living room when it was really cold. The girls are in an outside hutch which has a waterproof cover, a duvet on top of that and is housed in one of those walk in greenhouses to keep off the rain. I have already advised hubby that when it is really cold they are sleeping in the back porch which is nice and warm and we shall have to squeeze past the cage!rolleyes
 
Guinea pigs have not evolved with the adaptations that European rabbits have to contend with the British winters (our pets rabbits are derived from them).

Rabbits have furred feet, furred ears and a dense undercoat that insulates them from the cold. Guinea pigs have none of these adaptations and therefore feel the cold to a far higher degree.

Whenever possible it is preferable that they are housed inside, as I run a rescue it is part of the adoption agreement and I will not home any pig to live outside through the winter. (guess what I'm voting for ;) )

Suzy x
 
Alfientoby said:
She gets terrible hay fever so it took alot of persuading to get the piggies but the piggies are my life there isn't a day where I don't cuddle them and love them. But I really need to bring them inside soon but if I get 50 votes for inside then she says that they can be brought in.
Does anyone have a cage for sale?
Thanks again everyone for your help
Leah
xx>>>
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Tell her that hayfever is no excuse! I suffer terrible hayfever - but it doesn't stop me keeping piggies - if the over the counter stuff is no good, there is stronger medication available on prescription - and it can be combined with nasal spray and eye drops if it's not enough on its own!

On the odd days my hayfever still surfaces, I just grin and bear it with a load of tissues - not pleasant but I wouldn't be without the piggies!

Perfectly possible to have hayfever AND pigs IMO


(you can also experiment with different types of hay - some more allergenic than others)
 
My boys have always lived indoors, after losing Reggie today to pneumonia I don't think I'll ever put mine outside again x
 
My piggies now live in a shed, which makes me far happier, but I have had several that have lived outside and were fine. In my opinion, they can be okay living outside, but it takes a lot more effort and the hutch must be kept totally dry. I used to put a rabbit tent, packed with hay and barley straw, in the sleeping box - then I folded an old pillow around the top and sides and packed any spaces with scrunched up balls of newspaper - it kept them pretty toasty, with snugglesafes and a cover. I'm not saying that it's the absolute best option, but it can be done.
 
Thanks everyone for voting I can't believe how many votes I have. But keeeeeep voting.
My piggies and I are very grateful
Thank you
Leahxoxo
 
Definitely inside. Our are purely inside piggies and I couldn't sleep at night if I knew thy were outside.
 
Suzygpr said:
I will not home any pig to live outside through the winter.
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What about piggies with their own heated insulated shed, would you let them go to a new home with that set up?
 
I keep mine outdoors until it starts to get frosty at night, then they come in.

Scoffer lives indoors all the time now, as he is elderly.

I also have really bad hayfever, but I just make sure I wash my hands and avoid putting them near my face after I handle the hay.
 
Suzygpr said:
I'm very happy to home adult piggies to a well insulated, heated shed. :)

Suzy x
Click to expand...

That's good to know, Mrs THM is now talking about adopting more piggies and bunnies now we've got the space! :{
 
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