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Original poster

Please make sure your guinea pigs are warm

40 replies

silver73 · 01/12/2010 16:08

Guinea pigs really don't do well in the cold. It is a popular myth that they are hardy but they can get cold very easily and can get respiratory problems.

If you cannot bring them in then please make sure they have plenty of bedding and make sure that the bedding is not damp. In addition, their cage will need to be protected from the weather.

Another worry is their water bottles freezing up.

news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9240000/newsid_9245300/9245344.stm?ls

For water bottles

www.the-rabbit-hutch-shop.com/rabbit-hutch-water-bottle-insulator-bottle-snug.html

For hutches

www.the-rabbit-hutch-shop.com/hutch-hugger-rabbit-hutch-cover-94-l-x-49-d-x-49-t.html

www.amazon.co.uk/Snugglesafe-Microwaveable-Heat-Pad-Cover/dp/B001A36EUG/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1291218852&sr=8-14

OP posts:
Goingspare · 01/12/2010 19:47

Good post. Ours have lived in the garage until this year, and I spent hours last winter packing hay round the pigs and down the backs of the hutches, covering the hutches with heavy blankets, picking out all the damp hay every night.

They stayed well all winter, but we've now brought them indoors (didn't think we had room, wish we'd tried it before) because one of them was very ill in the autumn (he has since died) and had to come in, so the other two came too. They are getting on a bit now, and I even before one of them started to fade, I was concerned that they might find it harder than ever this year.

I know it's not possible for everyone, but it's better for all of us now; the pigs are warm, they watch lots of telly and get loads of attention, and I don't have to worry about them or go out in the cold myself to look after them.

PonceyMcPonce · 01/12/2010 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iMum · 01/12/2010 19:50

My rabbit is having a ball bounding around the house at will!

LauraNorder · 01/12/2010 19:51

We've brought ours in too! Now living it up in the spare room Grin

nameymcnamechange · 01/12/2010 19:55

I am just taking a 5 minute break from cleaning mine out - in the house - its a messy job but they don't smell AT ALL, do they? Little darlings.

There is no way I could leave them out in the cold all alone with no chance of going in the run. They have been in since 12th November Xmas Smile. At least in the house they get to see us all day, and have loads of little treats. Current fave = fine green beans. They had a grape each this morning too!

Original poster
silver73 · 01/12/2010 22:09

We have four house pigs that we clean out every other day - they are such beautiful little creatures and the whole family absolutely adore them.

I do worry about the reputation they have of being hardy and the fact that some people may not even think about then getting cold etc.

I'd love to see a scheme whereby you had to prove that you know how to look after the pet you want to own before you are able to buy it. You get this with rescues. We had an inspection fron a guinea pig rescue to check where our pigs were going to live and numerous questions about how to look after them.

I know someone that adopted a tortoise and had to do written exams before was allowed to take it home.

OP posts:
CheeryCherry · 01/12/2010 22:15

Good post! Ours are happily being spoiled rotten in the utility room! They are handier to treat - will need a New Yr diet! Xmas Grin

SlartyBartFast · 01/12/2010 22:57

cani give them porridge?

anyone done that?

and rabbits too?

TmiEdward · 01/12/2010 23:02

Silver, when you say "house pigs" do you mean they are house-trained? Do they roam or stay in an indoor pen?

I had a friend with a litter tray trained rabbit, but never heard of this with piggies.

Goingspare · 01/12/2010 23:14

Guinea pigs can eat oats - but I think they are more fattening than nutritious, so in moderation. I don't know about rabbits.

SlartyBartFast · 01/12/2010 23:16

oh thanks, Smile
will warm them up nicely for breakfast i was thinking

SlartyBartFast · 02/12/2010 12:24

they didnt seem to like the porridge, and of course it is cold now.

clayre · 02/12/2010 12:26

mines are nice and cosy next to me in the livingroom with not a care in the world!

Killermouse · 02/12/2010 12:30

Mine have moved from the porch into the utility room,and the boys have set up a run in the study...only prob we have now is the shouting every time the fridge door opens,can see very overweight piggies come spring if dh keeps feeding them every time they squeak!

Summersoon · 03/12/2010 08:55

Ours lives in the kitchen permanently and so is fed too much quite a bit. I have noticed though that, in the cold weather, he seems to want to eat even more - every time I come into the kitchen, he seems to be chewing on something, even if it is just hay.

bruffin · 03/12/2010 09:02

One of ours died a couple of months ago. The other one is now living in a cat litter tray in the dining room, doesn't seem that bothered about roaming around too much. We would normally put him out in the run during the day.
In the past we have put the hutch in the garage at this time of year.

seeker · 03/12/2010 09:11

Ours are lovely and warm. That's because theya re in the living room!

ariane5 · 03/12/2010 09:15

oh dear my poor g pig was FROZEN outside ive had to give her loads of bedding,newspaper etc and tons of food and thaw out her water bottle. ive covered the hutch with some plastic sheeting so hopefully itll keep some warmth in. poor little thing she was shivering Sad

Original poster
silver73 · 03/12/2010 17:55

Ariane5

If your pig is on her own she will get even colder as she will not have another piggie to cuddle up to to get warm.

Could you bring her in? Pigs should not be kept on their own as they are sociable creatures but if you can only have one pig she can get the company she needs from the family indoors.

OP posts:
BarbaraWindsor · 03/12/2010 17:59

Ariane, bring her in. They must NEVER be keot outside if they are alone. at least bring the hutch into a shed or conservatory or something, pleeeeease do this tonight, she will be so miserably cold.

Plastic sheet will do almost nothing, a big thick blanket or sleeping bag under the sheeting might help a bit, but just please bring her in Sad

Original poster
silver73 · 03/12/2010 18:04

Completely agree with Baraba Windsor - cold can kill pigs. Pigs don't smell and can go in a cardboard box for a while in an emergency.

OP posts:
BarbaraWindsor · 03/12/2010 18:07

Silver may I ask your advice please, it's off topic but...we had ours on fleece for a while earlier this year, but I was still giving them hay to eat and keep warm in. Of course th hay got into the fleece and bunged up the washing machine, so I had to stop.

Is there a way around this? They seemed so happy on fleece and it was easy peasy apart from the hay issue.

thanks.

ariane5 · 04/12/2010 09:02

everybody had told me they fight if kept together as i had considered getting her a friend, she is nearly 3 now would she be too old to now have a companion or would it be ok??

i have had to put her by the back door as unfortunately we are all horrendously allergic to her (had no idea till we had had her a week and then it was too late) but she is lovely, i suppose at least its inside and she can hear us so its some sort of company for her.

Original poster
silver73 · 04/12/2010 11:34

I'm so happy so is inside now. It is boys that fight. We had two girls (3 years old) and wanted to have two rescue pigs. The gp rescue came over to check out our facilities and explained that there will be upsets but to ignore it and go out as the pigs will work out who is the alpha pig and humans getting involved is a bit no-no.

In reality our two pigs and the two new pigs just walked around the cage making lots of noises and there were a few face offs (without teeth) and then they just carried on as normal. The four of them get on really well and they should do as they are herd animals.

She would love a friend and they really do not do well on their own especially if they are not indoors and part of a family.

You could get a rescue pig and the gp rescue will help you with everything. Are you near Kent?

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 04/12/2010 11:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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