When we initially discussed getting guinea pigs it was agreed that they would live outside.
We did lots of research, bought an appropriate hutch, and planned to wait until May to collect them, so it wouldn't be too cold for them.
But for various reasons the guinea pigs actually came home at the end of February, when we are still have snow storms, so obviously we hauled their huge outdoor hutch into the living room, and they have lived inside ever since.
And here is my dilemma.
I still believe that they should be outside a lot, and I want them to have the chance to be outside on a regular basis.
We have a huge run for lawn time, but sometimes there will be days when the weather is ok, but I still wouldn't want them to be on the lawn the entire day.
Their outdoor hutch is simply too big for me to move in and out on a regular basis.
Plus I really don't want a huge wooden hutch taking up half of my living room for the next 10 years.
And now I have been introduced to the beauty that is a C&C cage, I really want one of those in my living room instead!
But having the guinea pigs inside has made me realize I don't want them outside full time, because (particularly in the Winter) we will end up having minimal interaction with them. We won't be able to bring them inside to play, because the temperature differential will just be too great, and I am worried it will put too much stress on their system. But I am also realisic eough to know that the kids aren't going to be spending hours patting and playing with them when it is freezing cold outside.
So here is my plan.
Once all chances of frost are gone I move the outdoor hutch outside.
I get a C&C cage for inside.
The pigs then spend every day possible outside, in either their wooden hutch or run on the grass, and get bought back inside every night to their C&C cage.
Once Autumn arrives, they move permanently back inside.
I love the idea of leaving them out overnight in the Summer, but we have martens locally, and they are vicious and determined creatures, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to our pigs that I could have possibly avoided.
If you are still reading, thanks for sticking with me.
Does the above plan seem feasible, or are my poor guinea pigs going to have a nervous breakdown with endless moving house?
We are currently working on using a tube for all catching and transfers, and it seems to be going well and causing minimal stress.
Having said that i haven't tried to get them out of their large outdoor run yet, which I think may prove a little harder!
Your honest thoughts would be much appreciated, as I simply want to do the best for our pets.
We did lots of research, bought an appropriate hutch, and planned to wait until May to collect them, so it wouldn't be too cold for them.
But for various reasons the guinea pigs actually came home at the end of February, when we are still have snow storms, so obviously we hauled their huge outdoor hutch into the living room, and they have lived inside ever since.
And here is my dilemma.
I still believe that they should be outside a lot, and I want them to have the chance to be outside on a regular basis.
We have a huge run for lawn time, but sometimes there will be days when the weather is ok, but I still wouldn't want them to be on the lawn the entire day.
Their outdoor hutch is simply too big for me to move in and out on a regular basis.
Plus I really don't want a huge wooden hutch taking up half of my living room for the next 10 years.
And now I have been introduced to the beauty that is a C&C cage, I really want one of those in my living room instead!
But having the guinea pigs inside has made me realize I don't want them outside full time, because (particularly in the Winter) we will end up having minimal interaction with them. We won't be able to bring them inside to play, because the temperature differential will just be too great, and I am worried it will put too much stress on their system. But I am also realisic eough to know that the kids aren't going to be spending hours patting and playing with them when it is freezing cold outside.
So here is my plan.
Once all chances of frost are gone I move the outdoor hutch outside.
I get a C&C cage for inside.
The pigs then spend every day possible outside, in either their wooden hutch or run on the grass, and get bought back inside every night to their C&C cage.
Once Autumn arrives, they move permanently back inside.
I love the idea of leaving them out overnight in the Summer, but we have martens locally, and they are vicious and determined creatures, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to our pigs that I could have possibly avoided.
If you are still reading, thanks for sticking with me.
Does the above plan seem feasible, or are my poor guinea pigs going to have a nervous breakdown with endless moving house?
We are currently working on using a tube for all catching and transfers, and it seems to be going well and causing minimal stress.
Having said that i haven't tried to get them out of their large outdoor run yet, which I think may prove a little harder!
Your honest thoughts would be much appreciated, as I simply want to do the best for our pets.
