Guinea Pig Advice!

[clareykb]

Hi, we are thinking of getting 2 GPs for our twins to be a first proper pet. Me and OH both grew up with loads of animals so are prepared for what this entails. The bit I am unsure about is indoor or outdoor housing. I had thought ( I think mainly because I am used to having rabbits which we had when I was a child) that they could live outside all year. However I keep reading very conflicting things online about this ranging from that they need to be indoors if it dips below 10 degrees C (we live in Newcastle, that is most of the year!) or that they are fine outside if you insulate the hutch properly.
I was thinking of getting a substantial and well-insulated hutch with a cover and run for outside and a cage for inside and keeping them outside most of the time but moving them in say November-Feb when it got properly cold but still taking them out to the run in the day. They could either go in the utility room (next to kitchen) or in the garage but that doesn't have natural light although we could keep a light on. My main worry I guess is that whilst we have lots of space outside we don't have as much inside. Any guinea pig gurus have any advice.

I think with only two (we used to have about fifteen) their combined body warmth would not be enough for our colder temperatures, they come from South America originally.
For outdoors, do consider a Wendy house if possible, it means the children can spend time with them in any weather and hang out tempting them with food etc so they can tame them more easily, hutches don't lend themselves to pet time except in good weather. An enclosure within a Wendy house or full run of Wendy house is brilliant way for little ones to share space with their pets.
If I was you I would be doing seasonal outside living (transition carefully in spring once they are used to indoor temps) like you said.

If their bedroom is dry and not draughty that makes a difference for those border line days, we used to literally fill it with bedding and they burrowed in and loved it. Just be wary of farm straw it can carry terrible mites as the hollow straw tubes are good vectors for tiny parasites.

I think your plan is a good one btw, day access to run will compensate for smaller indoor space well. It's just so refreshing to hear someone thinking carefully in advance about pet care plans. ☺️

Thanks, everyone! I'd like to think we are responsible. We have had dogs, hamsters, rabbits and mice before but they were all pre-kids. I want DTs (7) to have pets that they can learn to look after and interact with. I work from home so I'd be around to keep an eye on them...in fact maybe I should put them in the office... I'd get no work done!

Rats make much better pets for children , GPs are lovely but rats are way more interactive and love human companionship.

Mine live outdoors all year. Customised super insulated hutch! Plus extra bedding and heating pads at night when it's cold.
I did want to bring them inside during the winter months and did, for 2 years, but found it incompatible with my asthma.
GP's seem to be thriving though, they're old ladies now (nearly 6 years old).
I think bringing them inside definitely made them tamer too as you spend more time with them. I just wish I wasn't so allergic to mine. (Bought for my DD but they're mine by default). Love GP's. So cute and chatty.

Mine have been outside all year. We have an eglu and 2m run so they always have access to grass. One cold nights I stuff the door of the eglu and I think it’s quite well insulated. I don’t know if this would work through three weeks of snow however.

@Floralnomad

Rats make much better pets for children , GPs are lovely but rats are way more interactive and love human companionship.

Yeah my sister has rats and they are lovely, super friendly and love being handled, however, my MIL who does childcare for us is petrified of them so that's not the best option for just at the moment! Thanks everyone for your input. I have found a large hutch with a run and a cover and my friend has an indoor cake we can use for winter. Think I'll go with that!

We went with outdoor cage with a thermal cover thing we put over in the winter. However when it gets very cold, we bring them into the kitchen in an indoor cage.