No one to help me in Pets at Home so where do I go for good advice I wonder.

[FABIsInTraining]

Yep, you guys!

It looks like it will rain for the forseeable so I need to winter proof life for my Guinea Pigs.

They have a five foot hutch with a snuggly bed and solid door and a massive run they currently can't use.

I am thinking I need something for keeping the hutch warm and dry and something for them to play in, indoors I guess.

[whispywhisp]

You can buy covers that go over hutches...Pets at Home sell them. They also sell collapsable metal hexagonal shaped runs for them which fold up when not in use and when opened out give the pigs plenty of room to run around in. I keep my guinea pigs indoors - I use the PAH nero cages....ideal and easy to keep clean.

[southeastastra]

my rabbit is sitting in the rain, though she's not very bright

[FABIsInTraining]

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Mine live in one of these (see pic top left of screen) bigger than the nero 4 and my gps love it - total cost only £36!

cavy cages

Have a look for a gp thread started by mildmanneredjannitor (I think?) for long posts by me on how I put it together etc

[FABIsInTraining]

I couldn't see it.

Not sure we can put them inside.

[whispywhisp]

LIW...where can I get the wooden hidey-house that is in the cage on your link?

[fruitspooksbatsintheeaves]

our guinea pigs live outside all year. They go out in their wire run on the grass in the day and in a rabbit hutch at night (not with the rabbit). They never go down the ramp to the lower bit of the hutch thou.

DS looks after them and in the cold weather he just puts alot more hay in their hutch and sometimes one of their plastic shelters and they cuddle up together to keep warm.
We have lots of water bottle so if the water freezes we can just fill another.
Our problem this year is going to be keeping the rabbit warm as he lost his mate in the summer.

[FABIsInTraining]

Can they go out in the run when the grass is wet though?

And how long can they be out for if they can?

They are only young, 6-12 and 12 months old.

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Try again

[FABIsInTraining]

We would have to have a cage with a roof as we have a cat....

Do you have that inside?

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Whispy - I have no idea! The site is American so an american shop would be a good start

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Fab - no problems with a cat - a set of the grids you can buy (find my post on MMJs thread) is a set of 24? So plenty left over to make a roof!

Look here cavy cages photo gallery

closed cages ie cages with roofs to stop cats

[Claire2301]

In winter we used to DIY it. We'd get thick plastic sheeting - slab of wood on the end (to weigh it down) with elastic bands stuck into the wood, and hang off the roof. Hooks on the cage legs where we'd attach the elastic band. Plus loads more hay. Popped a slab of wood 3 inches down at top of roof to make sleeping space cosier and added loads of paper to the gap between roof and ledge for insulation.

[fruitspooksbatsintheeaves]

ours do go out on wet days (they are out today)
although we don't put them out if it is really cold and wet or if it looks like it is going to rain really heavily all day.

[FABIsInTraining]

Dh is just putting them to bed now.

I got them out for about 15 minutes as they have been in all day.

They were ready for their tea. Was late as had to take DS2 to the emergency doctor. They tucked into parsley, cucumber, cabbage and cereal.

I am sure they shouted for me when I opened the patio door.