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Original poster

Guinea Pigs over winter

28 replies

SatsukiKusakabe · 11/06/2018 14:51

Hi - I’ve just recently got two lovely sows, and at the moment they are in a hutch just outside, they go into a run on the grass and come indoors for play and cuddles and seem very happy with this arrangement, but I am already worrying about winter!

I don’t know whether to bring them indoors (in an indoor cage) when it gets cold until Spring, or whether they can remain out in the day time and just come in at night - or is the transition a problem? Do you have to gradually adjust them to the change? My husband says his lived out all year round when he was a child but I’m not sure about the work required to keep the hutch properly insulated in that case.

If anyone could give me some advice as to what works best for them I would be most grateful.

OP posts:
BananaInVienna · 11/06/2018 14:54

I bring mine indoors, but that’s only after a nasty incident with the local fox last winter

MargoLovebutter · 11/06/2018 14:59

Guinea pigs don't like the damp, so as long as they are properly dry they'll be fine. You have to be really careful that their underbellies, which rub along the ground don't get wet as then they will get cold. The same applies if their cage is outside and they poo & wee on the bedding & it is a bit damp because the air is cold and damp.

I've always kept mine inside, just putting them outside during the day when the grass is dry.

Flicketyflack · 11/06/2018 15:02

Mine come in around October & then go out around April/May time. Large cage in the house & outdoors in day time when mild over Winter.

Summer months they have a hutch in our shed and outdoor run (same as Winter one Wink)

This is why they are nearly six years old now Smile

Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 11/06/2018 17:54

Thank you so it seems indoors over winter then will they be ok to go out again as soon as it’s warm. What kind of indoor cages are good? The ones in the pet store seem small compared to their hutch but we don’t have a lot of space indoors.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/06/2018 17:55

Ours have a PiggieShed outside but even with the insulation and protection, its a bit dark and dismal over winter.

Ours come indoors for Guy Fawkes (usually a week with the drawn out GF displays and Diwali)

Then we play it by ear and they come inside usually late Nov .

Last year ours stayed in all Winter (getting middle aged now) and it was really cold here.
I keep them in the small bedroom, there's no door on it and the radiator is off there. We have a 4'x2' and a C&C set up which is bigger
If mine were outside all year they'd just sit like blancmanges (in their own pooh )

In cold weather insulate the Pighouse with cardboard and that stuff you put behind radiators (out of toothy reach), lots of dry bedding daily .
They have Snugglepads and a little heater to take the chill off

When they're inside, they're really noisy little toads chatty . Ours are next to DH and I, they love to whitter at 3am . Breakfast demands at 6am.
Sharing the hay with the hall carpet , oh yes.

Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 11/06/2018 22:39

Thank you, it’s very useful to hear others’ routines. I’m taking it all in! I’ve had lots of other animals but this is my first time with guinea pigs. We were given a hutch so we took it to get us started, but want to do the right thing for them.

That’s so lovely 70isalimit - my husband already joked they were probably going to end up in our bedroom at some point Grin They are such little characters and I am so taken with them already.

OP posts:
Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 11/06/2018 22:40

I mean of course on paper we got them for the kids Wink

OP posts:
BetterEatCheese · 11/06/2018 22:45

Dp gave them central heating! They have a heat mat in the bedding area with a protected cable - all encased in metal and waterproof - which they sit on in the winter. It stays in there all year round. On particularly cold nights I cover their sleep pods with cardboard or old towels and wrap other stuff round the hutch under the plastic cover. Lots of hay too for them to nestle in to. They're happy enough

MargoLovebutter · 11/06/2018 23:26

Mine were for the children too! Wink. My DC are nearly grown up and I think we’re on our last pig —sniff—. She will be 8 - yes eight - in November. Her sister died 18 months ago and I thought she might be lonely- but clearly not. She’s completely deaf and her sight is not so good but she still loves her food, snuggling into the hay and burrowing into a blanket on our laps.

AnnieAnoniMouser · 11/06/2018 23:30

It’s impossible to say without seeing them...a photo would suffice.

MeyYael · 11/06/2018 23:32

Ours stayed mostly outside or in their cellar shed during the night when it was extremely cold. (It was still come down there but a bit warmer. And very dry!)

They had a good shed, heeps of straw, were dry and protected from wind. They were fine :) (and got to be pretty old... They were my sister's, btw.)

MeyYael · 11/06/2018 23:33

*still come down there

tobermory29 · 11/06/2018 23:37

I have kept guinea pigs for the last ten years. Their body temps are similar to ours, so if it's too cold for us it's too cold for them. I know lots of people keep guinea pigs outdoors, but they're not really equipped for winter temps outside. I can tell you want to do your best by them so outdoors in Summer and indoors in Winter would probably be fine if you can't have them indoors all year round. When indoors the rspca recommend minimum cage size of 120cm x 60cm. They are very social and thrive on attention and if they are indoors it is much easier to build a bond with them over time :-)

AnnieAnoniMouser · 11/06/2018 23:39

I really miss having GP’s 😕 but we can’t commit to 10 years here right now & I don’t want to be shipping them here & there.

Our last two used to come in late September and go out mid June. But with plenty of days out in the outdoor run on nice days.

We had their indoor home in the utility. It was about 650 by about 1200 and had a mezzanine floor at each end.

They came out to play pretty much every day, where they would chase about and popcorn! Then nap on a knee before supper and bedtime.

I really miss them.

EastMidsGPs · 12/06/2018 08:00

Our 2 sows come in when the mornings to feel damp as Sadie has had bronchitis in the past .. in a good year we get towards the end of October. They go out as soon as it is definitely spring and not damp.
They had to wait this year as first the Beast From the East and then what seemed like continuous rain kept them in until well into Spring.
Indoors they live in the utility room in a large purpose built (by DH) hutch. He lets them 'play out' in the room when he's home in the day.
Tbh they don't move much, sit on their blanket, or in their tunnel or inside a cardboard box.
We did have a drama last winter, Nessa who is still young and stupid, went missing somewhere in the utility room. It took a total dismantle of a floor to ceiling cupboard to locate her Hmm
DH's fault he was supposed to be supervising!

Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 12/06/2018 11:36

Yes we had wanted to get them earlier but waited until the weather had properly warmed up a bit.

I’ve been put with my tape measure and looking at possible locations. My youngest is starting school in September so I can have a reorganise then and some preschool toys can make room for some pigs I think.

I can see it would be easier having them indoors as they are not quite tame yet as it’s very early days and I’m having to sit next to their hutch chatting to them so they get to know me and dd, but their hutch is so roomy I don’t know how to replicate it inside just yet.

OP posts:
Helloflamingogo · 12/06/2018 12:21

Have a look at c and c cages - I’ve made mine myself. THe girls love it.

Guinea Pigs over winter
Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 12/06/2018 13:52

It is a commitment annie. We’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of years researching and waiting to make sure we had the time to look after them, and I still feel the responsibility of it - every plan has to take them into account now. I didn’t want to get any pets unless I felt I really wanted them too for that reason, everyone is so attached to them already though it’s been lovely and so glad we went for it. It’s so nice to think of the kids growing up with them. We are lucky in that we have some piggy experienced friends and family too to help if we ever need it.

I did look at c&c’s hello but found it a bit confusing, will go back though - where did you buy yours from? Is there a particular site?

OP posts:
Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 12/06/2018 13:55

They are two very lovely fluffy bundles helloflamingogo Grin

OP posts:
Helloflamingogo · 12/06/2018 19:54

You can buy them whole but I made mine from amazon grids and then correx sheeting. They jumped about like loons when I moved them in from their pet shop one.

Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 12/06/2018 19:58

Is it quite easy to do? Do you have to cut the correx or do you buy it it to fit? Sorry for being useless. Our constant topic of conversation at home at the moment is what to do with the pigs!

OP posts:
Original poster
SatsukiKusakabe · 12/06/2018 19:58

It sounds great. They have lots of
room in their hutch at the moment and seem to like going up and down the different levels.

OP posts:
Helloflamingogo · 12/06/2018 20:01

Cutting the correx is a bit of a pain, wait and I’ll see if can find the insttuctuons

Justfred · 12/06/2018 20:02

Mine live indoors all year. You get so much more enjoyment out of them as inside pets, I'd be lonely without mine inside now! Obviously they have a run as well but it's lovely to have them inside.