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Original poster

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?

33 replies

SQLCat · 25/10/2019 21:24

Hello!
We have 2 guinea pigs that we adopted this time last year. They have quite a large 2 tier cage.
In the summer we put them out in an enclosure on the lawn and they would hang around and mow the grass. Now it’s too wet and they stare sadly out the window. I know they’d prefer to be out mowing and playing in their tunnel.
I am putting together a social c&c cage so they can hang out with the family more. Part of the problem is that the boys don’t actually like each other and will only tolerate each other outside of their main cage.

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Original poster
SQLCat · 25/10/2019 21:26

I also have a cat, but he doesn’t want to eat the pigs as he’d old, arthritic and has a bit of dementia.

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QuestionableMouse · 25/10/2019 21:31

Mine lived outside all of the time in a huge enclosure. I used to bed them very deeply in straw and put a few bales around the hutch. I also used to rig up a cover to go over the run and hutch to block out the wind and rain.

Not very helpful on your case though sorry.

If they're fighting in their hutch you probably need a bigger one!

Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 21:35

We have only very recently got our guinea pig babies, they are in a hutch with a built in run, via a ramp. We also have a cover that has zips so u can roll bits up for more fresh air. Would that help give them a bit more space? Was planning on getting a large indoor cage for really cold spells, but not sure if absolutely necessary....more that I want their cuteness inside!

Original poster
SQLCat · 25/10/2019 21:47

Thanks! I will look at outdoor hutches!
It’s a really big two tier cage, I don’t think they are fighting because of the space. They just don’t seem to like each other much.
My DH said he read they’d prefer to be with 3-4 female pigs.
Tough luck guys.

OP posts:
Original poster
SQLCat · 25/10/2019 21:49

Piggy below :)

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
OP posts:
Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 21:56

Not a chance I can leave mine outside, they love their comforts 😂 Ours have their cage in the living room and get put out for day time runs weather permitting, but at this time of year in Scotland it's just cuddles with mum most nights

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 21:56

They would definitely love to be with all the girls Grin. I am slightly dreading the weather getting worse and having to go out in the cold..
V cute piggy there

Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 21:56

Your wee one is so sweet looking

Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 21:58

Just joining in...

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 21:58

Aww look at that wee face Hotsummer Grin

Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 22:01

I know dancing! Can't get enough of them. Yours is mega cute too! I should have got piggies years ago Grin

Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 22:05

Hotsummer you won't ever not have them again I can assure you 😂 Been keeping them since my eldest was born 18 years ago and it's like an addiction, ( of course they are for the children ) my three rule the roost tho and are spoiled rotten, can't help it tho can you 😁

missmouse101 · 25/10/2019 22:06

Wish we had the room to keep our girls inside. Sad

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
Original poster
SQLCat · 25/10/2019 22:06

@Dancinghorses36 how do you cope with the peeing?
We love snuggling with them too but it’s like a wee ticking time bomb. Piggy 2 had a wonderful snuggle session and then peed all over DH.
The cat was horrified.
Lovely to see so many other piggies :)

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Ohyesiam · 25/10/2019 22:07

Last winter our Guineas ate their bedroom wall.

FaFoutis · 25/10/2019 22:09

Have you tried heat pads? The sort that you put in the microwave, they have a fleece cover.
I'm thinking of getting one for my small rabbit.

Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 22:34

wee ticking time bomb it so is! In the short time we've had ours, this is definitely a 'thing' when you bring them in Grin. Have vague plans of house training them...
Dancing I know you're right, such good pets (cats don't listen, we love u too).

Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 22:36

SQLcat aww they are beautiful 😊 I use fleeces for their cage so I usually just have a spare one washed and use that on my couch and lap when I'm reading, if I have all three of them on me tho I just shove a puppy pad on my lap under the fleece Grin

Steerpike902 · 25/10/2019 22:39

Any advice on taming the pigs? We've had ours a couple of months but they're still really scared. People say handle them, then others say don't handle them until they let you. So I really don't know.

Hotsummerplease · 25/10/2019 22:43

I'm obviously no expert, but surely handling regularly is the best way to go? Otherwise they'll never get used to you? Ours are only 2 months old and have been handled regularly since very young.

Original poster
SQLCat · 25/10/2019 22:48

Ooo handle them and give them something like parsley/mint/tomato as positive reinforcement.

I will get some puppy pads. I swear they are all bladder. So much pee!

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Suki2019 · 25/10/2019 23:25

Hi, male guineas need even more space than females and a shop bought two tier cage really won't be anywhere near big enough for them to be happy in unfortunately. Can you not make them a really big C&C cage to actually live in?

My two rescue girls have a 6x4 shed with access to a 3m sq covered area, with lots of entertainment for them, and the rest of the garden. They gad about all over the place during the day x

Dancinghorses36 · 25/10/2019 23:55

Steerpike, handle, handle, handle, honestly as much as you think they are timid they will respond to your cuddles and see that you aren't a threat, they are seen as prey in the wild so their first instinct is to stop dead then run! I'm taming our newest addition, and she was the most skitterish wee thing ever but she is now getting used to my voice every day and as SQLcat said, herbs and treats go down a bomb, mine love peppers and kale and all the herbs, don't give any onion based veg or citrus and no tomato leaves, tomatoes are fine tho in moderation as the acid can hurt their lips if fed too much, lettuce is ok but it's really full of water so just a wee bit now and again, carrots are ok again in moderation but they are very high in sugar, kale and spinach have a good vitamin C content, have a google and you will find out a load of information, I have a good few forums that I'm on and learned so much over the past 18 years 😂 I have to have a daily platter of herbs and veg, honestly they are fed better then we are 😂 Pic is of my new wee furbie being taught the ropes by the old dear, she is now 8 and still going strong 😊 I use her as mum for all of them and she does a great job!

What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
What do your guinea pigs do in the winter?
Weeksygirls · 26/10/2019 00:21

I read that Guinea pigs should be kept inside a shed in their cages in the winter or at least have a thermal cover over the cages. Boys dont generally get on and want to fight. We have now got our 3 boys in separate cages and in the conservatory for the winter. Apparently they are not supposed to have spinach very often as it causes bladder stones.

Dancinghorses36 · 26/10/2019 00:44

Weeksgira spinach is a good source of vitamin C and A, I did however forget to say that is meant to be given in moderation as well, thank you, keep to the lovey herbs and fresh greens and honestly just google if you are unsure

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