My piggies have come in now for the winter. It was -4 this morning.

[ItalianLady]

What do I do about giving them exercise when the grass is wet and cold and I have a cat who probably won't go for them but I won't take the risk?

i just put newspaper down and out the top of their cage over them to stop them going far, they dont have loads of space but they also dont have anywhere to hide and lie down, i also have cats, the kitten is sometimes useful as she chases them from outside the cage top and that keeps them well exercised!

I am stressing about my gp's too. I have 4 in 2 cages, and simply have nowhere for them inside. They are technically outside but in an area where they are backed on 2 sides by the house, and the other 2 side there is a fence and shed, plus lean-to roof so it's sheltered from wind/rain (snow) etc. Their hutches have old winter duvets over them at night (13.5 tog ) and bedrooms stuffed with hay.

I keep checking and they seem warm, but I'm still fretting. Any other suggestions?

i have put min in the dcs playhouse. They are dry at least though still bloomin cold.

Would they fit in your shed?
Make sure their bedding is totally dry and that no drafts can get to them.
Give them loads of hay to snuggle up in.
You can buy waterproof windproof covers for hutches that would help a lot.
We have moved ours into the garage (no cars in there)and the one whose buddy dies recently has had to come inside as he has no one to snuggle up with now.

I've heard a lot of stories about GPs thriving even when there's snow on the ground just outside their cage.

GPs I look after now are in a shed, I will feel ok about it as long as their water is liquid each early morning. Would be such an awful shock to their systems if they did have to come live indoors. It's -4 tonite which is the coldest we expect it to get.

I'm also fretting about ours who have been brought indoors for winter.

They are allowed to run around the floor twice a day for a while but it's not the same as being outside. They are getting very tetchy with one another, even though they are usually good friends.

I wish someone would invent a Spaghetti Junction type network of washable tubes (wide as large plumbing pipes) that they could run around in to provide some "life enrichment". Something that was easy to assemble and take apart and wash. There's a definite gap in the market.

We were given a system of wire grids squares which click together with connectors on the corners. We make a "run" and put it over an off cut of vinyl floor covering from b&q. It has to be wiped down and cleaned every night as it does get very messy but it lets them run around. I will look for it and link it.

this

Oh that's a very good idea Dexterrocks. I'll make a note of that!

We couldn't find any at our local B and Q but the wickes site had something similar. Search it under cube shelving I think. Its 14.99 too. Also, we fastened it with cable ties which made it bendy and easier to lift off when cleaning underneath.

We love having them in the kitchen. We'll miss their little noises when they go back out again...