Should I put my indoor pigs out in the garden in winter?

[Nicjones99]

Hi there, I've got 2 lovely female guinea pigs aged about 2 years old. I'm pleased to say they are currently healthy and happy and I want it to stay that way! My piggies live indoors all year round but I put them out in their garden run every day that it's not raining (or sometimes with a cover if it's not too cold). My question is: should I stop putting them out in the garden in autumn/winter? I know that guinea pigs are sensitive to temperature changes and I don't want to make them ill. I can give them floor time inside (which they love!) but it does make a lot of mess + I always have to supervise them to make sure they don't nibble on anything they shouldn't. Any advice welcome please! What do other people with indoor pigs do?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Indoor piggies need to stay indoors during autumn and winter. They should not be exposed to sudden changes in temperature so putting them outside now would not be good for them. Plus the ground is now too cold and damp for them to be on it.

 

[Nicjones99]

Okay, thanks - I'll keep them in from now on. Just out of interest, how cold is too cold? i.e. how do I know when it's time to stop putting them out? Is it the bare feet rule (i.e. if it's too cold for me to stand out in bare feet, it's too cold for them)?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Okay, thanks - I'll keep them in from now on. Just out of interest, how cold is too cold? i.e. how do I know when it's time to stop putting them out? Is it the bare feet rule (i.e. if it's too cold for me to stand out in bare feet, it's too cold for them)?

Yes the bare feet rule but also under 15 degrees is too cold.
Its not been suitable for lawn time here for several weeks now and I’m in a rather mild area - it was 20 degrees here over the weekend and yesterday but the ground is now too damp (even if it hasn’t rained)

 

[Nicjones99]

Okay, I've been putting mine out in the afternoons if it feels warm and the grass is dry but I'll stop doing that now until spring. Thanks for your advice - glad I posted before it was too late.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

My piggies are indoors and would be very upset if I put them outside
Plus it would make them very ill sadly x

 

[Swissgreys]

For floor time indoors we always used a pen made up of C7C grids.
It folds down flat when not in use and can be arranged to fit whatever space you have available.
We put down a waterproof layer to protect the floor underneath and covered that with a towel and a fleece blanket.
If you used a pen then they could have floor time without supervision.