When It Rains...

[RubberDuck]

This is possibly a very silly question, but I'm a new guinea pig owner and a bit over cautious

I've been putting the guinea pigs (about 11 weeks old) out in the run every day after they've had a chance to eat some breakfast, but I'm not really sure what to do when it rains. At the moment, I've been diving out at the first sight of rain and putting them back in their hutch (which is a bit traumatic as they hate being picked up and of course you have to do it quickly before you both get soaked).

This can be very annoying when the rain only lasts five minutes!

I don't like yoyoing them back in and out and I am cautious about letting them get too wet or even putting them out on wet grass. That said, they do have an indoor area on the run, which I've lined with fleece and towel. Plus they have a couple of snuggle sacks in there. Do I need to keep bringing them back to the hutch, or would they have enough common sense to stay inside and regulate themselves? If the weather forecast is predicted to be rainy on and off all day should I not bother putting them out at all? It seems a bit mean when they love grazing on the grass, but I don't want them ill either.

I'm probably overthinking this!

 

[PopcornPigs]

Maybe just put them in the indoor run when it's a rainy day/predicted rain on and off as they can catch a chill from the rain/wet grass. Perhaps just pick some grass for them and scatter it in the indoor run for them to find on these days so they still get their grass!

 

[PiggyGuru]

I think they will have the common sense to seek cover
Or if you're still concerned you could put some sort of cover over part of the run. A tarp or something would work.

 

[claremw92]

my lot have a run attatched to the hutch which i never close off...
and if it rains all my 6 put them selfs to bed... |)
x

 

[RubberDuck]

Oh that's good - so does sound like I'm being a bit overprotective then Obviously, if it's a really heavy rain day, I wouldn't put them out. But today they've been in and out 3 times already! They've been looking rather miffed when I take them out

 

[iluvguineapigs]

i'm not so sure about babiesbut my 6monthold and 3yearold piggies go in the run sometimes when its starts to rain. I put a waterproof cover over the run and they dont seem to mind. In fact they just investigate about what is above them!