guinea pigs out in the dark

[nappyzone]

normally they go in the hutch for lock down at nightfall - its pitch black outside and i went to lock them in and there nowhere to be seen - should i go out with my torch (its raining) or will they survive the night? am a tadge worried about them - also as in an outdoor hutch - any tips as to when i should take winter measures and what measures to take (thats is if they survive the night!!).

Do you have any other animals that get into the garden? We have foxes sometimes, so outside is a definite no-no.

bollocks - not sure maybe a hedgehog - its very enclosed but i suppose a rat or a cat could lurk - little monsters! cannot find a ruddy torch!!!!!!!!!!!! out i go!

get their fave food out!......mine used to llurrvveee peppers!!

Definitely go and find them! Guinea pigs are a bit rubbish at staying warm. They won't like being out in the cold and wet. We put underfloor heating in our hutches - special pet warmer pads - dead good, on low all winter.

Good luck nappyzone, we are all behind you

Perhaps if we all hold out a carrot together...her little piggy piggy piggy, here little piggy....

ok so dh is out at squash and we have no sodding torches in the house that have batteries in them - grrrrrrrrrrrr, ive been out and no sign - im thinking they are down side of house were timber and old kids junk is as this is where they normally hide. Just seen neighbour lurking on front who said he thoughthe heard a noise and wondered what it was so now im scared of monster in the garden. Have put the garden floodlight on and a bowl of carrots to help them find there way back and will go back out when he returns to check.... oh come on charlie and lola dont have mummy worrying !!!

Call dh on his mobile and tell him to bring torch bateries home with him - or buy a new torch at a petrol station!

just tried to do that - gone to answerphone - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

ours will do just about anything for hay
hope you find them

PANIC OVER!!!!!!! they are in - just dismantling ball blaster and i spotted the cheeky imps dancing round the lawn in the floodlight - chased them a bit with a mop then went back in and observed them at the patio - one went in and up the ramp for carrot bait so lingered until the other did then battened down the hatch - phew!!!!!!! strict 6pm curfew now to be enforced! thanks for the support!

yay!

broc spears - direct me to these heater pads - will i need dh to rig up some leccy i take it?

Phew!
At Ease Corporal Jones!

Yay! Pigs safe again for the night
My pig just runs and hides in a corner when we let him run free in our garden.
Can they purr like cats? Mine kinda vibrates in a purr like fashion when stroking him. Does he like it or is it him shaking with fear?

Im glad you found them

Me thinks when the clocks go back you will need to bring forward the curfew

i am so releived but am now searching wildly for a cold weather solution as it was a a bit parky out there. Do those covers from pets at home do the biz for winter - dont want them freezing to death. Does anyone heres survive over winter without elec underheating? They are raised of floor in a double decker (well triple actually) floored hutch with door open most the day to open run which is also mostly left open for them to roam the garden iyswim.

Nappyzone - We used something called Snuggers & Co, but I can't seem to find them online so maybe not in business any more. If you google pet heating pads you'll find all sorts. Microwavable ones, hot water ones, electric ones.

Of course, the alternative is to get lots more Guinea Pigs - they like to huddle together in a crowd to share warmth

We use to let ours run loose in garden all day when they only had hay to eat, we put tomatoes and other tasties in the cage to get them back inside before sunset.
Never had trouble with cats, BUT, ours were killed a few years ago just after we moved house. Unknown predator, but I think it was owls (we moved to a rural area), and we failed to get them in a few nights.
They can overwinter fine outside if they have each other, hay to nest in, and most important, a dry draught-free area of hutch (which must be solid floor off the ground). Draughts or being damp are the biggest danger.