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Original poster

Will I have frozen guinea pigs?

75 replies

golgi · 16/12/2009 18:41

I am looking after the school guinea pigs for the holidays and am therefore under pressure to make sure that they don't end up as guinea-pig-icicles!
They are in a cage, covered with a rug, in a shed, with plenty of hay and there are two of them. Is there any more I need to do short of bringing them indoors to live in the kitchen? (obviously not an ideal solution)
Please feel free to say "don't be silly, they are covered in fur"

OP posts:
bertiebear · 16/12/2009 18:54

It depends where they normally live. If they are used to being inside it would be a bit cruel to put them in the shed I think... Mine lived permanently in the shed and lived to a ripe old age

SleighGirl · 16/12/2009 18:57

If they are used to outdoor they should be fine

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 16/12/2009 18:58

I agree if used to being outdoors they should be fine if they are weak wimped indoor ones im not so sure. Mine have always lived outdoors and are ard as nails.

pagwatch · 16/12/2009 19:01

well even if they do freeze it is the season of cocktails and parties. they would make fabulous drink coolers. What a conversation piece!

SparklyGothKat · 16/12/2009 19:05

I moved my rabbits into the shed 2 days ago, they have a piece of carpet, and an old duvet over the cage and loads of hay, they normally live in a cage and run in the garden but we move them when the weather turns back.

Flightattendant · 16/12/2009 19:13

Where are they usually kept?

silver73 · 16/12/2009 21:21

If they are kept indoors at school they will have to stay indoors. The school should have made this clear and I'm concerned that you have agreed to have the pigs without the information you need. They should be showing children how to care for animals responsibly.

If you can't keep them indoors then make sure you find someone that will be able to keep them indoors over the holiday. To put indoor pigs out now is cruel and if something happens to them over the holiday difficult questions will be asked and the school may end up in trouble with the RSPCA. I know my daughter would report the matter. In fact she managed to persuade her teacher not to get school gps because she thinks it is cruel.

Pagwatch your comment makes me sick to my stomach even if it is in jest. There are so many little gps that are not given enough protection from the elements in winter that end up dying during the night and are found frozen in the morning. Making light of it is inappropriate

And before I'm jumped on and told I have no sense of humour - yes I do but I have a complete sense of humour failure when it comes to animals dying.

frakkinaroundthechristmastree · 16/12/2009 21:24

Our guinea pig lives in the utility room at night and is out during the day. As it snowed he didn't go out today.

It depends how warm your shed is and what temperature they're used to.

SleighGirl · 16/12/2009 21:25

they really can't cope with drafts and even if they have hay it needs to be contained in a smallish area to keep them snuggly.

pagwatch · 16/12/2009 22:27

laughing at the real death of a guinea pig ould be grim. Laughing at a hypothetical death of a pet so well loved that the owner
is on MN getting advice is maybe not so.

But being sick to your stomach about a lame joke is a bit of an effort surely

SantasBigboots · 16/12/2009 22:31

Brought my two in on Monday. Was a bit as I was worried about them smelling etc. But they don't and they are so happy! DS's love having them inside, they have already become more sociable and are getting lots of cuddles and play time

RubysReturn · 16/12/2009 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
golgi · 16/12/2009 22:44

They're outtie pigs. Live in a shed at school.

I've had pigs before, and they've always lived in the shed - was just a bit more concerned because they're not mine if you see what I mean!

When I say they are "school pigs" I mean the school that I teach at rather than the one that my children go to. So the school are not lending them out to people who are completely ignorant.

Just thought I'd ask, is all!

OP posts:
silver73 · 16/12/2009 22:45

Pagwitch people that can make "lame" jokes about animal cruelty need to have a word with themselves. There are too many people out there that don't look after their gps as they should. They are lovely little creatures that deserve to be treated with respect.

RubysReturn · 16/12/2009 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
golgi · 16/12/2009 23:09

Just had a look on Metcheck, says it will be down to -4 tonight.

Pigs are in kitchen (in a cage, not free range).

Will kick them out again in the morning.

OP posts:
RubysReturn · 16/12/2009 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
golgi · 16/12/2009 23:11

My son wanted to do that, but changed his mind when I pointed out that his bed would be full of poo-nuggets by the morning.

OP posts:
RubysReturn · 16/12/2009 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flightattendant · 17/12/2009 06:33

It's not the poo I'd mind but the wee.

plus ds2 would crush them they'd go down the side etc etc

I thought Paggy was being harmless if rather dark

I adore my piggies but did stifle a giggle.

Btw sounds fine, Golgi. I'm glad they're not being rehomed every weekend...some schools still do that afaik.

Mine are in conservatory with lots of hay, they stay out in summer on the patio but come about september when things are damp, they come in.
I may knit them tiny jackets.

TheFoosa · 17/12/2009 08:22

yes, pagwatch, yabu

surely gp's wouldn't fit in the glass? mice would be a better option

Original poster
golgi · 17/12/2009 11:03

Pah - well it wasn't that cold in the end anyway, as the water falling from the sky is still rain.

At least I had company while making the breakfast.

I didn't think the frozen pigs joke was unreasonable either. It was only a hypothetical frozen pig.

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 17/12/2009 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fennel · 17/12/2009 11:08

Ours are outside for 8 months of the year but we bring them in in this weather, they just don't seem happy outdoors. And we live in a mild bit of the UK. I wish they were happy outside as they have to live in our living room indoors, we don't have a utility room, and we already have hamsters, snails and cats there, it's like a zoo.

I laughed at the gp drink cooler joke, it doesn't mean I'd laugh if it actually happened.

sowhatis · 17/12/2009 11:08

lol @ frozen pigs - this was clearly said in jest.

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