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Original poster

Where to keep guinea pigs

44 replies

fruitpastille · 07/12/2018 19:13

So we are very seriously thinking of adopting some rescue pigs. We've been told we must have a hutch 4ftx2ft. This is quite big! I thought they could go in our conservatory which is a good size but it is cold in there in winter despite radiators. It's also hot in summer but they could go outside then. Rescue lady said if it's too cold for humans to sleep there then it's too cold for pigs. Anyone got advice? It seems crazy that we have a 4 bed house but no room for small pets! I could fit them in the kitchen but I'd have to get rid of the armchair I have in the corner for relaxing...

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 07/12/2018 19:26

I had mine in the living room, in 2 cages joined together because the 100cm cage I was sold for 2 guinea pigs looked cruel once they were inside it...

brizzledrizzle · 07/12/2018 19:27

In the lounge: they are sociable little creatures and like the company.

Beamur · 07/12/2018 19:30

Mine live outside and have done for 4 years without mishap! I'd have thought the conservatory in the winter would be ideal, it's dry and draft free. I use these heated pads to keep mine warm overnight and on cold days, lots of hay, fleecy blankets.

Dragongirl10 · 07/12/2018 19:31

Op we have 2 guinea pigs and yes they do need that much space! but you can stack the space ie go up in layers, with ramps.

We invested in a 2 storey hutch as it took less floor space, look on pinterest there are loads of diy solutions.

Guinea pigs need no lower than 14 degrees and no higher than 24 degrees.
Ours go out daily on the lawn in summer and autumn (temp dependent) we have a large wire cage, and they mow the grass happily, and we move them each day.
I would put a clock with a temp guide in your conservatory and keep an eye on the temperatures.If it gets cold/or hot you will have to either heat/cool or place them somewhere else.......building your own hutch
to fit your space is your best bet...

Beamur · 07/12/2018 19:33

Saying that, I did have one indoors for a while and would happily do so again but my asthma prevents this. They do love company and will chatter and weeek when they see you.

Shadowboy · 07/12/2018 19:33

Ours lived outside for years!!! In the shed in winter and outside in the garden in summer. We use an Eglu for ours. They have the run of the shed floor in winter with the eglu to be shut in at night to protect from rats.

bertielab · 07/12/2018 19:34

Conservatory is ideal . You can get s plug radiator for cold nights or we have an overhead infra red lamp and hot water bottles. We avoid under 10 degrees. Girls are fine together. Bonded boys are fine together. We have between 5 and 10 at any one time they live outside all summer and inside all winter - we have an entire shed for them 😂 love our guinea pigs but I’ve owned them for over 30 years!

brizzledrizzle · 07/12/2018 19:34

We have a C&C cage for ours, it's 4x2 downstairs and 2x2 upstairs and they seem happy enough - they can run around quite fast and don't collide with each other. Our room is anything from 14-18; it's not often heated but they have plenty of hay.

Fairylea · 07/12/2018 19:35

We have a huge c and c cage in the kitchen / diner.

Fortheloveofscience · 07/12/2018 19:47

but you can stack the space ie go up in layers, with ramps.

We invested in a 2 storey hutch as it took less floor space, look on pinterest there are loads of diy solutions.

Just wanted to correct this - in fact the minimum space requirement all has to be on one storey. A loft can be useful for kitchens etc but it’s not a replacement for the space they need on a single level.

If you can put them outside in the summer then I would have thought the conservatory could be ok for the winter. You’d need to treat them as if they were outside so with a well-insulated hutch with plenty of bedding and pig-safe heat pads but there are people who keep pigs outside all year with appropriate precautions, and you’ll see them more in the conservatory than outside. If you want a c&c cage they’d have to come into the ‘real’ house though.

Original poster
fruitpastille · 07/12/2018 19:59

Yes, rescue said 4x2 all on a level and I have to send a photo to show them. She also said they are sometimes not keen on ramps? They have a pair of 3yo bonded boys who love cuddles! They will get plenty of company in the conservatory as it's basically a playroom/extra living room. I'm also wondering about making space on the landing outside kids rooms however it would be a pain for taking them outside and also cleaning out. Maybe with plenty of bedding the conservatory will be ok. I could put the heated clothes airer next to them?!

OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 07/12/2018 20:34

I could put the heated clothes airer next to them?!

not too close though because they can't sweat.

We have ours in the lounge in an alcove and have put an armchair next to one end of the cage (2x2) so they have a choice of being hidden away or out in the open; they seem to like that as it means they have a space to go where we can't see them (and can't reach to get them out either)

Frenchfancy · 07/12/2018 20:42

Our have been outside but under a covered terrace for years. There are Guinea pigs at our local zoo that are also kept outside year round.

WitcheryNights · 07/12/2018 20:51

I also had a C&C cage for my two with a ramp and they loved it, they were always running up and down it and popcorning! I had one like this: goo.gl/images/QB5RRN but it was longer and I had a wider ramp, (the width of one square). A tip for keeping their nails short is to place tile, rough side up at the top of the ramp. As they naturally walk on it, it wears their nails down so it saves you the job of trimming them! I really miss my two, they used to squeak so loudly when the fridge opened and one of mine lived until he was 8! They were kept in our front room 😊

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/12/2018 22:43

4'x2' is really minimal space for adults especially boars .

Have you seen the sizes of some 'Breeders Cages' though , they are inhumane . I know its a Mum+ babies so technically don't need tonnes of space , but they're stacked 5 high. What a grim life Sad

Conservatory sounds fine - in winter you can insulate .
C&C are better than a hutch though. You need to line the floor ( I use cardboard because I'm too tight fisted to buy the proper lining ) .
the grids I have are 14" squares and they've never attempted to jump out .
You can use cardboard or carpet to insulate the sides , lots of hay to snuggle . Snuggle pads ( solid plastic heat discs that you microwave)

My 2 piggies have a C&C in the small bedroom for winter. The radiator is off in that room, but there's no door . They are next to DH/me (so I hear them whittering at 3am) and DD is always in her room and scoops them up to cuddle.
Their cage is 70" x 42" . all one level, with a covered hay area. They have a tunnel, we give them cardboard boxes to explore .

We have a wooden playhouse for summer but these pigs are in 24/7 for winter because they're getting on a bit .

Guinea=pigs don't cope with damp, draughts or changes in temperature.
You need to protect them from direct sun, over heating, other animals.
Chemicals like sprays, detergents(if you use fleece)
Sudden noise (though they tend to ignore most house hold noise and use their finely tuned hearing for the fridge door)

They are wonderful little animals . I kept pigs as a child and my DD and I have kept pigs since she was 9yo (she's 16 now) .

We got DD boars from rescue (GP1 and GP2) and it just spiralled from there.
Try and find out their history . Most guinea-pigs end up in Rescue through no fault of their own (mostly allergies or 'Kids got bored' )
They might take a while to settle into a new house but you'll win them round with Food+Routine+Routine based round food.
If you're late feeding them , they'll tell you Grin

Only one of mine has been unsuitable as a childs pet , not a biter but a gnawer, though as an adult it didn't bother me , a child would say "It bit me...."

TheHobbitMum · 07/12/2018 22:44

Our girls love.in the living room and our boys live in the kitchen. We don't have hutches as they don't go outside (they have a run for warm weather). We have the ferplast 160 cages and they take it in turns to wander around downstairs :)

Ginandsonicscrewdriver · 07/12/2018 22:45

My two are in my living room. I had a two storey cage from pets at home initially but it was just too small. I had to teach them to use the ladder which was...fun

Daisymay2 · 07/12/2018 23:05

I had mine in the conservatory, the radiator was set fairly low.. We had a large hutch for them about 5feet by 2'6". We had a cardboard box on its side within the sleeping area and put extra hay in it if it was cold. If it was really cold we bought them into the lounge.
Our last pig was an anti social girl, who loved to go outside and would insist on going outside in the winter unless she heard rain on the roof. Only an hour in the middle of the day though! She lived to be 5 and a half.

MazDazzle · 07/12/2018 23:11

We live in NE Scotland and they are only inside from Nov - March. If it’s a bit chilly during this time we have heated pads which go in the microwave and keep them cosy.

In all honesty, I hate it when they’re inside. They seem to be more nervous too.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 07/12/2018 23:24

Ours are in bedrooms - the girls have the spare room and the boys are in my daughter's room. They are add noisy and demanding as any dog. Little balls of fluff with attitude. They are fantastic pets.

Original poster
fruitpastille · 07/12/2018 23:45

Been looking at the Ferplast cages. Getting excited now getting about what personality they have. There is a photo of the suggested pair on the website looking v cute Grin The children have been longing for a pet for ages too so hoping I can organise for Christmas!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/12/2018 23:49

It would be worth double checking if they'll let you have them so near to Christmas (before your DC get too excited)

One of the Rescues I got pigs from would only rehome in December if you were looking for a match for a bereaved piggie .

You can start your Virtual Wish List Shopping though Xmas Wink

Original poster
fruitpastille · 08/12/2018 08:11

I've been looking at zooplus for a cage. What else do I need? Ideas welcome!

OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 08/12/2018 08:46

witcherynights, we have that cage but upstairs is double that size so it's half the size of downstairs

Ginandsonicscrewdriver · 08/12/2018 15:53

I’d avoid ferplast, they’re just not big enough.