Advice please:I'm pet-sitting guinea pigs - is it warm enough for them to go out on the grass today?

[pannetone]

Well, that's it really - I am in the South East - it's cloudy and about 11 degrees - much cooler than yesterday - when they enjoyed a good graze outside. If they can go out, how long for? Can they over-feed on grass anway?! TIA

Hi-
I'm in the S.East too. (Essex)

My pigs are out in their pig house, I'm debating if I should put them out because it is pretty breezy today.
Have they got shelter? Something to sit on?

I'm planning to let them have an hour or so but I'll put their plastic shade on their run and give them a box or two and a towel.They love a chance to kick their heels up

Maybe let them out and keep an eye on them.If they aren't happy they'll hide away.

I don't think they can over-feed on grass. It's their natural food.Just look out for poisonous weeds (we've got buttercups for the first time ever).

Can i ask a guinea pig question too,please.
We have got rabbits, but dd3 wants guinea pigs we bought her a lovely hutch for her birthday with a ramp down onto grass.
We spoke to a local breeder and are collecting 2 sisters next weekend.
They told us that they would be fine living outside as long as they were tucked up at night and in bad weather,should I not leave them to go up and down ramp as they choose ?

I would definately lock piggies in the hutch at night mainly for their own protection.
Cats,foxes, wild mink/ferrets/stoats , I suppose even rats. They could access a GP house if they got in the ramp.

My 2 boys slept out in their pighouse last night for the first time since winter (IIRC they were in for Guy Fawkes then in overnight since early December) They were out in their shed (which is my DC wooden playhouse, so enclosed and has a part wood/part screen door) every day though with hot water bottles and loads of hay.

The hay does insulate them as well as being food.

Oh another thing to bear in mind heronsfly - GP and rabbits don't make good cage mates.

Rabbit food isn't suitable for GPs (they need Vit C in their pellets) and their veg rich diet isn't good for rabbits.

And a bunny can kill or injure a GP with a kick.

That's one of the reasons you have to make sure GPs are really secure outside.They are pretty rubbish at self defence and if they are wounded or ill, they'll hide it to make themselves less vunerable.

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I've just put my hogs out in their run with their waterproof cover as a windbreak, a towel and a shelter.Lots of popcorning activity going on

Thanks for advice. The pigs had an hour in their makeshift run - I put in their plastic dome for shelter.

Thank you from me too, they are not going in with the rabbit, and we have got a wooden play house so thats a good idea for the winter.

Have you got your sister guinea-pigs yet heronsfly??

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