What should I do for my piggies over winter?

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Amy1218

Amy1218

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My piggies live in a hutch outside, with a custom made surround around them (like a shed to protect from wind and rain) and they have towels and waterproof sheets put over the cage (inside the shed like thing) on a night to stop the draft etc.
They go in the run whenever possible.
However, i was in a different house last year and so brought them in into an indoor cage over winter so they didnt get cold. I cant do this at my new house as we really dont have the room. but... i really dont want them to get poorly, or cold. we have a garage but i dont want them being in darkness and have no air all the time, and I'm worried itll still be cold over winter in there for them.
Does anyone have any advice or tips please.
Many thanks,
Amy
 
Amy1218 said:
My piggies live in a hutch outside, with a custom made surround around them (like a shed to protect from wind and rain) and they have towels and waterproof sheets put over the cage (inside the shed like thing) on a night to stop the draft etc.
They go in the run whenever possible.
However, i was in a different house last year and so brought them in into an indoor cage over winter so they didnt get cold. I cant do this at my new house as we really dont have the room. but... i really dont want them to get poorly, or cold. we have a garage but i dont want them being in darkness and have no air all the time, and I'm worried itll still be cold over winter in there for them.
Does anyone have any advice or tips please.
Many thanks,
Amy
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Although my pigs now live in a shed in years gone by i had them housed outside & they were all fine. I had pieces of carpet at their hutch fronts, with a space for ventilation & plastic/tarpaulin over the top for when it rained/snowed. If your hutch is protected from draughts & dap & they hae plenty of bedding with lots of hay to burrow in they should be fine.
 
Hi Amy,
I'm in Yorkshire too and my piggies live in hutches in an unheated greenhouse in the winter. I've a max-min thermometer in there and the temperature has been as low as -7C!!
The piggies have been fine. I just make sure they have masses of hay to burrow in. They always feel lovely and warm. Keeping at least 2 together helps as they cuddle up and keep each other warm.
 
Niki said:
Ooh 3 Yorkshire folk :(|)
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Nnooooooooooooo :(|)

I used to put an opened up sleeping bag over mine overnight, and just leave it covering the hutch during the day. The hutch was in a very very sheltered position though. So give some thought to the positioning of your hutch. Also had a tarpaulin over them when it was rainy. x
 
Oh dear well to be honest, I would never keep any of my animals outdoors :{

Do you have a garage or a shed to keep them in?

If so, I would definitely keep them in there.

I think it is way too cold outside for them, especially if you are in grief about their warmth :).

But then again, that is just my opinion! :)
 
mine are out side at the mo but buying a cage to bring them in . what month would you bring them in
 
I've never had pigs outside during winter either, but I have researched into it a lot. Firstly - lots of hay for insulation inside the hutch, but you do need to check it's not all pee-soaked or whatever, because that's going to be no good and just really isn't nice. You could put blankets/sleeping bag/carpet on top of the hutch and maybe down the sides - but remember they still need room to breathe! I think a waterproof cover is an essential too really.

If you have a commercial hutch (or a hutch of a "normal" size) you can actually buy hutch covers, etc, so take a look at those.
 
You can buy snugglies from ebay and good pet shops. The piggies can climb into them.

may be worth a try. I am wondering too as I am going to have a similar problem.
 
I have the same worries too, being the North of Scotland we do get rather chilly in the winter! Our hutch has one of those waterproof covers over it just now, and am planning to use an old sleeping bag and bubble wrap to keep the heat in. I'm also going to buy one of those microwaveable heat pads to pop under their beds in the hutch and pile on the hay.

But I did buy an indoor cage too, just in case, as last winter we hit -18 and thats no joke!
x
 
larakitten said:
But I did buy an indoor cage too, just in case, as last winter we hit -18 and thats no joke!
x
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Good heavens I thought it was cold in October, I went camping near Inverness with my sister n it was -4. I took my piggies hutch indoors a few times but it usually is ok with tarp and blankets over it.

BTW any Yorkshire folk who are interested, I am organizing a meet up in Hull, it will probably be a saturday in the next few weeks, will make a thread about it soon.
 
Guinea pigs need to be kept at a rough temperature of 18-22 degrees C if I remember right...
If thats -18oC thats very dangerous for guinea pigs =|

Green houses can be very damp and get condensation on them which creates a high chance of fungal infections.

Garages/green houses arent suitable for the summer but I take it noones guinea pigs are in that situation.

But in my oppinion guinea pigs arent really outdoor animals...but again thats just my oppinion.
 
Garages are fine for guineapigs as long as you keep it the right temperature, and it is water-tight. My guineapigs have been living in my garage for over 6 years now, and we have a heater for the winter. Garages are fine.
 
Pipxxxx said:
Garages are fine for guineapigs as long as you keep it the right temperature, and it is water-tight. My guineapigs have been living in my garage for over 6 years now, and we have a heater for the winter. Garages are fine.
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i personally wouldnt house piggies in a garage but if i did i think the biggest thing is to make sure no cars are ever in there as i wouldnt want my GP's near fumes:...
 
i think one of the important things to think about is big changes in temperature it is not good for them to keep readjusting. Think how you would feel going from a warm and cosy house out to the hutch in the middle of winter, you would feel it more than if you had just been cold. Big changes in temperature can cause shock to the system. If you decide to bring them in keep them in. Cuddles in the cold are not the same as on your sofa in the warm - just something to think about as long as you have warm draught damp free hutch they should be fine
 
The heat pads are a great idea, my rabbit and guinea pig both have one even though they are indoors, it can still get chilly at night in winter even indoors. My rabbit is always laying across her, she loves it, the guinea pig isn't that bothered though lol. The heat pads gradually cool over a period of 10 hours I think.

Joy xx
 
My 2 guineas pigs stay outside till about mid-october than they go into the shed.....they have a snuggle safe on the cold nights....plus alot of hay/straw
 
It does get mighty chilly where we are, we're not anywhere near the coast which tends to be warmer. -18 in march this year, no joke. Thats very extreme for us! I'm going to watch the weather closely......the plan is to either move them into my shed if it starts getting ridiculous, or into the house. Not sure which yet as we sometimes have very mild winters too! Its a standard Aberdeenshire joke that we get 4 seasons in one day, and its true!

Just gotta watch, wait and see!

x
 
great thread, pondering the same thing with my bunnies.

We had them in the shed until we moved in june, they had a cat flap with 24/7 access to our (very secure) back yard. They spent most of the time in the yard, regardless of the weather.

But now they are in a double level, 4 ft hutch with a 6ft by 6ft run attached. grand dduring summer, but starting to think about winter protection for them.
 
buns can cope with cold, much better than piggies, my rabbits have a taurpaulin sheet over their hutch and run to keep rain out etc, they cope well, the piggies are in a shed with those heat pad things, but they never sit on them, it just makes me feel better knowing they have them.:)):))
 
some of mine are outside, and in the winter, they have a tarp over the front, and I put a cardboard box in side the sleeping side full of hay, inbetween the back of the box and the door they have a heat disc. Think that makes sence
 
May look into those heat pads. The guinea pigs are still in a shed, so are cosy enough at the minute. But want the whole gang cosy through the winter.
 
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