Will this do for the winter ?

[GuineaPigs-4-eva]

Hi
Well today me and my mum thought we would clear the piggie shed and move the hutches out and give the shed a clean over , But we thought without the hutches their they have so much more room to play we havent put the hutches back and my mum reackons they will be alright through the summer .. They have them plastic houses to sleep in and have plenty of hay etc will they be alright without their hutches ? I sure when it come to the winter i will to put the hutches back in for them or will i ? what do you guys think i should do ? leave the hutches out for the summer and put them back in for the winter or keep them out of the shed all year round ?

Hope this makes sense ? I might try to get some pigture sof the new setup if i have time tommrow

 

[sharonS]

It makes sense to me, it sounds as if they will have a great time popcorning around in all that space. Could you try heat lamps perhaps, like they use for farm animals in the colder weather. Fixing them up using a wooden bar across at the far end of the shed. Maybe someone else has a different way of heating their sheds, but if I kept piggies out doors over winter I would consider doing something like this. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[luluhound]

heat lamps sound like a brill idea, i use the heat pads that * put in micro, never though of over heat lamps.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

If your hutches get the piggies up off the floor then they are a good idea in the winter. Cold air falls, and the floor is always the coldest place in any room despite heating of any kind. It is much much warmer lifted off the floor and out of the cold draughts.

The heating idea is good in principle, but I would seriously recommend insulation for the shed then because most of the heat provided would leave through the average shed roof and walls. Heat pads in with the piggies and a cover over their hutch gives direct heat to the piggies and more insulation to keep the heat in the hutch with them.

Can you tell I used to be a science teacher! Your piggies will be very happy running round on the floor in the summer though, nice and cool, plenty of space - happy piggies!

 

[GuineaPigs-4-eva]

Thanks guys , i think when it come to the winter i WILL put the hutches back becuse like you said the floor is always the coldest place so haveing the hutch their inthe winter will give them somewhere to go when it cold but for now and the rest of the summer they dont have the hutches