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Original poster

Guinea pigs inside or out?

53 replies

mahonia7 · 28/09/2007 16:48

I've recently bought my children guinea pigs. I did not realise how wonderful they are. I am absolutely besotted.

I bought them an outside hutch with run. However, I've been worried about them getting cold. I fill the sleeping area with straw and hay and they burrow down to keep warm. I was thinking of getting a pet hotwater bottle equivalent for the nights. I have also protected the hutch with carpet and waterproofing.

The problem is that I've bought a fantastic indoor cage for them. Time has gone by and they have now been in for about 4 hours and I'm concerned about putting them back in their inside hutch. The heating has not been on in the house all the time they have been in.

Do you think I should keep the piggies inside or out? I'd love them to stay in so we can all be with them more but I am worried they may smell a bit as the only place we could have them is the kitchen.

Sorry about the long post.

Best

OP posts:

Original poster

mahonia7 · 29/09/2007 09:59

Thanks very much. They had their first night in last night. We are now thinking along the lines that we'll put them out in their hutch in the summer. Do you think that will be ok?

The little piggies are are still hiding from us even when indoors... We've had them for two weeks and they are used to us picking them up and cuddling us but do not come out of bed to see us yet.

We've been giving them brocolli. Is there any other veg or fruit that is completely safe for them?

Best

OP posts:

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:02

ours live indoors.i clean them every 2-3 days but we have 3 in together so lots of poos.dont smell being in,only thing is im not keen on smell of hay!we have indoor rabbit too

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 29/09/2007 10:04

i want to move mine inside but i dont have room for an indoor cage

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:13

swap dc for piggies.put dc in shed and piggies in dc bedroom!

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 29/09/2007 10:14

lol.

also they arent allowed inside due to peters health issues.

wish i had a garage or outhouse which i could bar peter from and keep my piggies in there.

they are elderly though.

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:16

aaaww.how is he?

StrawberryMartini · 29/09/2007 10:22

I used to bring mine inside for the winter - I think they would have been fine outside. They can eat pretty much any vegetable - but apparently lettuce gives them diarrhoea and potatoes are bad for them.

I miss mine - especially Timmy... he had a bad leg when he was born and couldn't crawl to his mum to feed, so I had to pipette feed him puppy milk every two hours (including at night!). After a few days he was fine and could suckle from his mum. Two of his brothers died at birth and despite me giving mouth to mouth didn't revive . Had to give Timmy up as ds is allergic but fortunately my mum has taken them - I know she's going to keep them outside all winter the mean woman!

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:25

StrawberryMartini!
dont suppose you know anything about them fighting?we have 3 girls.2 have starred to fight with the other one-atleast it looks like it,they make kind of humming noise and look like theyre going to ponce.im not explaining well but do you think it may be worth taking her out and putting her in with the rabbit?

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:25

pounce not ponce

StrawberryMartini · 29/09/2007 10:28

Noooo don't put her with the rabbit - apparently rabbits are big mean guinea-pig bullies! I would just let them get on with it - they are just bickering and it makes their little lives more interesting. They are just working out a hierarchy.

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:30

ok!poor baby,i make sure they all get same attention.and theyve always been together.suppose theyre maybe playing!

StrawberryMartini · 29/09/2007 10:30

Loving the idea of a poncing guinea-pig. Maybe it would look like this

moljam · 29/09/2007 10:33

!!!

JulesJules · 29/09/2007 10:43

They love dandelion leaves. Ours were kept inside, hutch in utility room. They don't smell if you keep them clean. We let them run around in the house too which they loved. We didn't have a cat then We had a succession of them when I was little, Pansy, Polly, Pip, Ben, Sam...sigh. Have you seen the Charlie and Lola where she has the school guinea pig and it has babies? That happened to us, too.

Original poster

mahonia7 · 29/09/2007 10:50

The only place we can have the guinea pigs is the kitchen where the dishwasher and washing machine are.

The children continue to make loads of noise in the kitchen even though I've told them that it frightens the piggies.

I am now very worried about them as one of them has a runny tummy that may be due to stress as we've not changed her diet.

Do guinea pigs get used to the changes in noise etc? I am now worried that I've upset them by bringing them inside.

OP posts:

gordieracer · 29/09/2007 11:06

That humming noise is a mating noise. Even if groups of only females are together, they'll mount each other pretending to be males.
Its all about the pecking order and stuff. If you leave them together they'll be fine.
They tend to be on heat once every two weeks, usually for a day or two, and like humans, they'll probably syncronise, and all go a bit mad and randy at the same time.

bubblagirl · 29/09/2007 11:10

my little guinea pigs live indoors they are the only animal who's urine dont smell so perfect for indoors and very prone to cold so will be much safer to have them in doors

my little darlings love it they love there cuddles make lovely purring noises they are so lovely bathed them this morning and blow dried them they love it lol

bubblagirl · 29/09/2007 11:12

diarrhea in guinea pig could be somethin g there eating to much greens will upset there tummys there diet should consist mainly of pellets and hay and veg in small portions especially greens

noise is ok for guinea pigs they are very sociable animals and it wont affect them i would say its something they are eating

bubblagirl · 29/09/2007 11:17

broccoli storks should not be given to guinea pig tomatoes in small amount as can cause mouth ulcers mainly hay and pellets but they can have lettuce not ice burg mine love spinach you will need to give them vitamin c supplement as they lack in vit c so either slice of orangae or i put quarter of vit c dissolvable tab in there water

they can eat bell peppers ive had mine 3 weeks they are prone to mites as they live in the bedding so wouldn't hurt to bath them once a month in mite shampoo but if notice to much scratching then take straight to vets as it can be fatal if not treated

just take them out there beds and mine love to sit on my shoulder and be stroked or brushed and thet purr with delight it is so sweet

StUnTmAnTaLcY · 29/09/2007 13:08

woke up this am....realised i was mistaken[blush
...re-did my maths
Beanie was 8...not 13
I'M so

Threadworm · 29/09/2007 18:24

It's too late, Stuntman. I've already called the Guinness Book of Records. Expect a call from them and be ready to explain yourself!!

Still, 8 is pretty good going too.

Tamum · 29/09/2007 19:36

Oh blimey, ours love broccoli stalks They have managed so far but perhaps we'd better cut down. They also live almost exclusively on veg as they turn their little noses up at all makes of pellets. Sigh.

StUnTmAnTaLcY · 29/09/2007 20:31

,,,lol threadworm!

Threadworm · 30/09/2007 11:55

mahonia7 -- I think thaey can get used to noise. Ours are inside and we started off by being quiet around them and gradually returned to our usual cacophonic selves. They are v tame now. Were very shy indeed for a couple of weeks or more.

Original poster

mahonia7 · 30/09/2007 23:31

Thanks very much. The piggies do not like the washing machine going into a spin cycle at all and are still hiding from the noise but not so worried now.

I really love those little piggies...

OP posts:

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