Where has the squeak gone?

Status
Not open for further replies.
lizzie_71

lizzie_71

Joined
Oct 12, 2007
Messages
633
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I have recently (3 days ago) moved the guinea pigs from an indoor cage to an outside hutch. They weren't sure at first, but they seem happy enough now. The first day they didn't eat, but I went out this morning to find an empty hay rack, and empty food bowl and two guinea pigs queuing patiently for breakfast :)

But when they lived inside, they would squeak very loudly at feeding time, especially when they heard the fridge open. Now they haven't uttered a sound since they moved out :-\ They are eating (they demolished a carrot this afternoon) and seem OK otherwise.

Maybe it's just because they can't hear the fridge where they are now?
 
mine start as soon as they hear a bag rustle! thats from the kitchen to the shed I'm sure they will learn the noises in time. They are cleverer than we think
 
This isnt the best time of year to move them outside to be honest. The sudden change in temperature wont do them any good at all. Is there a particular reason you moved them outside? Generally, piggies that live outside will become less vocal and friendly as you will be spending less time with them. They get used to all the indoor noises :)
If they have to live outside, you will need to cover the hutch with a hugger or duvet/blankets and make sure they have extra bedding and loads of hay to snuggle into. Also, their bedding may need to be changed more often as wet bedding can freeze as can their water bottle.
 
They have been moved because they were setting off my asthma. I know it's not ideal, but when push comes to shove it's my health that's the most important.

They have loads of hay and straw, and a hutch cover to keep out the wind and rain. I'll be getting an insulated water bottle for them when it gets to frosty weather. They are actually more friendly now, in that they will let me pick them up without running away, which they have never done before (they are about 1).
 
Are you sure that it's the piggys setting your asthma off? I always find that at this time of year mine plays up I think its the change in the weather or th mould spores in the air (more likely mould spores) just a suggestion.
 
I found the dustier hay set me off a treat, wheezing, itchy runny eyes etc. Now I have tried a lot of different hays and by far the best is www,dustfreehay.co.uk I dont get any symptoms at all now :)
 
Could it be the time of year? Mine (all indoor) used to bellow at me, but have now taken to staring accusingly, or bar twanging (which always winds me up - I have visions of the vets bill when a tooth snaps!)
 
I haven't had asthma for about 15 years, and now I have piggies it is back. Not a coincidence I fear. Whether it's the piggies themselves or the bedding is unsure, but either way it's better to have them outside.
 
Very interesting article! I wish someone else would do the cleaning out for me, but my hubbie is an animal hater and the children are too small at the moment. I've trained the older child to do the hay racks though :)

Shampooing the piggies seems a bit extreme though, I can't imagine they'd submit to that too happily!

I'm thinking of getting some vetbed instead of woodshavings but money is a bit tight at the moment (well I just spent all that money on the hutch ::) ). They seem a bit more settled now, thank goodness.

Actually one good point is that the outside hutch is actually more accessible to the children, and my son (7) has now started putting his coat on before breakfast and feeding the guinea pigs himself. He never did that when they were inside!
 
Well I am glad they have settled :)
A lot of us shampoo our piggies, I do ;D It keeps their skin nice and healthy, about every 6 weeks for a long haired and probably 3 times a year for a short haired. If you ever want to give it a go, have a look at www.gorgeousguineas.com
Most of us use her shampoos, they are great ;)
 
Blimey I'd never thought of washing them! They are both short haired and I've had them for a year without shampooing them. Can't imagine they'd like it much, they certainly hate nail cutting time.
 
The squeak is back :D They squeaked when I popped out to check on them just now. They probably thought I was bringing food, but it's a bit early for tea time!

They are obviously cheering up, but I still think I need some fleece or a little bed for them at night. It's forecast to be -3 at the weekend :o
 
I cannot imagine having poor pigs outside in temperatures like that. Hutch covers and hay may keep out draughts but it certainly won't raise the temperature by 10 degrees. They also can't be brought inside for cuddles, either. Could you not provide them with a shed or some sort of other shelter and heat?
 
I agree with you DSL, even a cheaply made car port type thing (but smaller) with corrugated plastic roofing or tarpaulin?
Snugglesafe make a gel waterbottle type heat pad which you pop in the microwave and put in their hutch, It retains it`s heat and they can snuggle against it for warmth.
 
I don't understand why we can't bring them in for cuddles? That's what I've been doing, bringing them in for a bit of attention, then popping them back out. I'm tempted by one of those heat pads, and I've kept the indoor cage in case it's really snowy in winter.

The shed is full of lawnmowers and garden furniture, not sure that's a great place for them, but I guess I could ask dh if he'd move some stuff for me. Sheds are men's territory!

I've had guinea pigs living outside before, and all my friends who I know with piggies have them outside and just cover the hutch in winter. I don't see the issue really - they have a nice warm hutch, plenty of hay, and each other to cuddle.

Anyway I didn't actually come on here to justify my decision to move the piggies outside, it was done for my health, and in my opinion my health comes first. I've made every effort for their comfort, spending money I can ill afford, when the easy option would have been to give them to a shelter, and goodness knows where they would have ended up then.
 
It's the drafts, damp and temperature fluctuations that cause problems more than anything. In the majority of piggy literature you'll see it's common knowledge that they cannot cope with big changes in temperature which is what happens if you bring them in, cuddle them, and put them back out again. Think about it - 0 degrees C to 20 degrees C to 0 degrees C in the winter. It is not great for their immunity and you could well end up with pigs with URIs as I did when I did the same 10 years ago.

Please don't find out the hard way.
 
No one is having a go at you or anything, we are just trying to advise :)
If you OH could clear out the shed, that would be the perfect solution. Better for them and you as when you clean them out, you are not out in a blizzard doing it! As DSL says, extreme temperature fluctuations are dangerous for them, so it is either inside or outside really, not both ;)
 
piggles cope better in colder weather then in warm. they can get really ill if they are too hot! my piggles are going out side soon but they will come back in when it snows. my piggles have always lived outside and my oldest one lived to 8 bless his little socks. he was a charctor (sp?)
 
Lizzie71 said:
Blimey I'd never thought of washing them! They are both short haired and I've had them for a year without shampooing them. Can't imagine they'd like it much, they certainly hate nail cutting time.
Click to expand...
You know, mine hated nail-clipping time, too, but Cornelia has learned that I'm not going to hurt her so she no longer nips at me :laugh:
 
I agree with DFS-you cant take them inside as temperature fluctuations can kill.
Also, a shed or a garage(if its well ventilated andd doesnt have a car in it) keeps them out of snow, rain, or wind and hopefully is a biut warmer. Even better if its heated O0
 
kat_ie said:
piggles cope better in colder weather then in warm. they can get really ill if they are too hot! my piggles are going out side soon but they will come back in when it snows. my piggles have always lived outside and my oldest one lived to 8 bless his little socks. he was a charctor (sp?)
Click to expand...

This is luck - do you have experience with both indoors AND outdoors that you're stating this? When my pigs were outside on a similar diet and care years ago to what mine are on now they were nowhere near as healthy. They had respiratory infections in the winter despite being in an outbuilding with all the care in the world. They are WARM BLOODED animals just like us. If it's cold, they get cold, it's simple. They don't have winter clothes and central heating if they're stuck out in the garden. In the summer I've heard of more outdoor pigs die from heatstroke from being left outside than those inside in the summer.

I would urge you to go and sit outside in just a sweatshirt in the dead of winter and see if you "do better" than you would in your living room.
 
What about bringing them inside for cuddles if they live outside in a heated shed? Is that still OK?
 
monalipschitz said:
What about bringing them inside for cuddles if they live outside in a heated shed? Is that still OK?
Click to expand...

If the temperature in the shed is the same as inside then there should be no problem with that - just remember to keep them warm when you're walking them to the house.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top