Guinea pig hutch and being outdoors!

[Smokedsalmonbagel]

We got our 2 boy guinea pigs in October so are yet to venture outside. As much I love having them in the house I know they need to be outside and nibble the lawn.

We are really undecided about what hutch to get them, there is so much choice. I fancy one with a run attached so they can do as they please but not sure if one off the ground would be better.

We have foxes around and my friend warned me to make sure the cage is fox proof, is there any way of making sure of this? Should we bring them in at night?

Also is there any plants I should look out for in the garden that aren't safe for them? Is moss OK?

Look forward to hearing your advice. I'm sure the boys will love getting outside.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh, watching with interest

My boars are now 15 months old or so (were from a rescue) and have been indoors overnight all their lives.
We have an outdoor run that they used last summer, but I would like to relocate them outside, for the summer anyway.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

y pigs have their Pighouse (DCs old wooden playhouse) and they do indoor/outdoor in Winter. IIRC they came indoors for nights around Guy Fawkes (and I'm scanning the weather reports to see when I can get them out again. Love you dearly girlies but I need to vacuum the carpet without your cage there )

Raised off the ground is best, it gives them protection against damp, passing cats but you need to be careful when you open the door, they ain't the sharpest tools, they can fall out.

The two level hutches with a run- difficult to move if you want fresh grazing. Guineas sometimes struggle with ramps. And though the idea of giving them the freedom to choose, sometimes it's not suitable for them to go out if it;s been raining. So they'd risk damp bellies.

For an outdoor hutch, get the biggest you can. Position in a non draughty, out of direct sun area. If you can, near the house. Fix it securly so it won't tip over.
You can buy waterproof covers which will protect against winds, but make sure they're ventilated.

You can increase the protection with extra wire mesh , extra bolts and flymesh on the outside.

A moveable run so you can give them fresh grass (secured with tent pegs in the grass) and a shade Look on the Bunny Business site, they do nice , metal runs that can fold up.

Next week the overnight temps are 2-3c.
During the Easter holidays it;s predicted to be 7c overnight so I might put them out 24 hours then.
They'll have their small heater on low and a Snugglepad and a load of hay to keep them cosy .


Any change needs to be gradual. Maybe start putting them out in the day when it;s warm, but still bring them in at night until it gets warmer. Ours sleep in a 2'x4' cage at night (very judgily) though GP3 (neutered boar) and GP4+GP5 fared better than our two boars .
We put them in the Pighouse to give them runabout space -floor covered in equine bedding (chopped cardboardy stuff) and soft barley straw . Haybox full of hay daily. But the temperature in the night bedroom and the Pighouse had to be similar.

[PacificDogwood]

Ah, but, 70, your boars and the most pampered piggies on the planet
You have the best set up
I want a pig house...

[southeastastra]

my rabbits are in hutches that are on ground level but have runs attached. the cage and runs are on paving slabs so they can't dig out and nothing can get in.

my rabbits are happy in all weathers wouldn't guinea pigs be similar?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Pacfic I just have sows now since GP3 died ...... and they are so high maintainence compared to the boars (We got them last July)

The boars needed more space , I'll admit but the sows are so messy (we clean their night cage and day Pighouse daily. They pee for England)

south no , unlike rabbits who are far more weather tolerant, guineas are very vunerable to damp and draught. Those little long slung bellies and non furry feet don't cope as well.
And the people who say "guinea-pigs come from Peru, it's cold there"
Cold yes. But it's the damp weather that gets them.
And the furthest South my pigs had been was Kent. Domestic hogs are a world apart from their wild Peruvian cousins .

[PacificDogwood]

Ah yes, sorry, I should've remember that you now have girls.
You are still the best GP mum ever

[Smokedsalmonbagel]

Thank you that is fab, a lot to think about!

We have just put up a run for them but was a bit chilly again this weekend. I certainly wouldn't leave them alone in it though as there are loads of cats about, including ours.

I'm now thinking a 2 story cage raised off the ground. I will have another look.

70 I love the idea of a piggie hot pad!

[FernieB]

Smoked - my GPs are all year round indoor pigs. If you're happy with them inside why don't you keep them there and save the expense of a hutch and all the fox worries? I put mine out in their run during the day when it's warm and dry so they have plenty of grass time. If you invest in a large secure run and stick a few hidey houses inside, they'll be happy. I am home all day so it is easier for me to move them in if necessary, but even if I'm only home in the evening, they enjoy just a couple of hours grass time then and they're fine.

My boys did start off as outdoor piggies but were brought in for their first winter and then never went out again. We prefer having them close at hand. It makes cleaning out etc easier. Their original hutch is now in the shed being used to store plant pots and seeds!

[clippityclop]

I'm out for half the day so feel reluctant to put our girls in a hutch outside full time at the moment especially while the weather is so changeable. They have a lovely Bunny Business fold up run with optional floor which we use indoors at the moment but can be used outdoors on grass when it's dry underfoot. It comes with a mesh cover with a large shaded area, also thinking about little houses to go in it. To be honest if they were outside they wouldn't have as much contact with us which I think they'd miss, and sulk!