What size cage for travel/ holiday/ temp place before hutch arrives?

[Lisa_Ann]

Hi,

I think I have found my perfect two boy piggies. Getting everything ready and have ordered what looks to be a well made hutch 5ft x 2ft. It could take 4-5 weeks to be delivered though, and I really want to have my piggies home with us before.

I am thinking of buying an indoor cage as well (for back up for really frosty winter nights) and also if and when we do travel to stay with family for one or two nights.

Three questions really, do you think it would be ok to use the cage for a couple of weeks before the hutch arrives or would that be confusing for them just when they have settled in?

Would a 80cm cage be ok for two growing boy gps for one or two nights when we go away? I know 100cm is recommend for permanent living indoors.

Can you transport gps in a cage and should I also buy a special box for transporting them.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Rachel WD]

I'm sure if it was just for a day or two they would be ok in it. My old cage (which was too small but was sold as being ok for 2 piggies from P@H) would just fit on the back seat of my car so I left the boys in it when travelling to my parents. I just put a towel over it so it was nice and dark and quiet for them and took their water bottle out in case it leaked.

The only problem I could see would be the timing of the piggies going outside. You really want to put them out at the beginning of summer so they can aclimatise and be ready for winter. It may be too cold by the time you come to putting them outside.

 

[Doeylicious]

I agree with Rachel, it won't be long before my lot come in for the winter, they don't come into the house but Mum and I move the hutches into our conservatory so they still have the space they are used to, but it's warmer for them. It's also a bit easier for me to clean them out when its peeing down with rain lol.

Do you have a shed or anywhere you can move their hutch to in winter? I would personally be loathe to put two boys in anything under the size hutch you are getting, as having had my two boys only a couple of weeks in a 4ft hutch, it really wasn't quite big enough, tonight they moved into a 5ft one and for the first time ever both are sleeping in the sleepy bit!

When is your hutch due to arrive? I seem to remember you are local to Surrey or more specifically Bobtails, I may be able to lend you an indoor cage for a few weeks until I need it back for Dodge's recovery (he is having the snip soon and will need it to recuperate in). Are your boys coming from Bobtails or somewhere else?

If you ever need boarding when you go away for longer than a few nights, drop me a pm ;-) (sorry mods!)

 

[Lisa_Ann]

Hi, thanks.

I think we have come up a possible solution and am going to buy a temporary second hand hutch to keep outside until the proper 5ft arrives.

We were advised by the rescue centres that it is ok to keep gps outside providing they are near a wall for shelter, have a good weatherproof hutch, insulating cover and lots and lots of hay!

I am also looking into building a shelter type canopy over the hutch to protect from direct rain to the roof. Need to look into this though so the rain drains off adequately and it is securely fixed for all elements.

Do you think that for a couple of nights when we are visiting parents etc, that the boars might be too coupes up in a 80cm cage? It would fit in th car then so has a double use.

Welcome all advice!

(The guinea pigs I saw yesterday are from a lovely local breeder, not sure if most people on this site are anti-breeding - I am pro-rescue but exhausted my search. The boys are gorgeous and I took to two of them in particular. She is really helpful and provides lifetime advice).

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Going to a good breeder is 100 times better than most pet shops, so I think if you couldn't find rescue pigs then why not.

Hopefully they'd be ok in an 80cm cage when going to your parents, etc. but since they are boys rolleyes if they do start to get a bit aggressive during those days when they're in the 80cm cage, maybe you could buy a folding playpen for them to use aswell, cos that'd fit in the car easily, and they're quite cheap (check zooplus.co.uk). Even if they could use it for a couple of hours or something if they got a bit annoyed at being in the smaller cage.

Oh and that hutch sounds really good, I'm sure they'll be nice and cosy. You can also get microwavable heat pads for about £20 on zooplus, called snugglesafe heat pads. That might be an idea for using at night during the winter, they're meant to stay warm all night. I've never used them but I'm going to get them this winter.

 

[Lisa_Ann]

Going to a good breeder is 100 times better than most pet shops, so I think if you couldn't find rescue pigs then why not.

Hopefully they'd be ok in an 80cm cage when going to your parents, etc. but since they are boys rolleyes if they do start to get a bit aggressive during those days when they're in the 80cm cage, maybe you could buy a folding playpen for them to use aswell, cos that'd fit in the car easily, and they're quite cheap (check zooplus.co.uk). Even if they could use it for a couple of hours or something if they got a bit annoyed at being in the smaller cage.

Oh and that hutch sounds really good, I'm sure they'll be nice and cosy. You can also get microwavable heat pads for about £20 on zooplus, called snugglesafe heat pads. That might be an idea for using at night during the winter, they're meant to stay warm all night. I've never used them but I'm going to get them this winter.

Great idea about the playpen, good for indoors on cold days too no doubt.
Thanks!

 

[Doeylicious]

They will probably be fine outside - my last lot of guineas always used to be outside! I just always get worried after the evil snowy winters we have had the last two years, brrr, hope we don't get any more of the horrible stuff this year I dislike snow!

Would be interested to know the breeder, if you don't mind me asking, my last two boys came from a breeder who also takes in more specialist guineas people can't care for i.e. long haired, Swiss etc. I myself am not anti-breeders, like most things there are good and bad, and similarly have not had a lot of luck with rescues myself of late so am likely to return to her in future. I agree with CiaraPatricia, better than a pet shop! I don't know if you can pm yet, if you can't I will give you my email address!

 

[Lisa_Ann]

She is based in horsham. Has some lovely babies. I see so many need to be rescued and new homes. I am having a good think about this. Hutch isn't here for a few weeks which is a shame as didn't knw that when ordered it!