Guinea Pig Hutches, Bedding and Creepy Crawlies

[HoolaCoola]

We have 2 guinea pigs who live both inside and out. The hutch we bought sits directly on the floor which means when it rains in gets soaking in there (even a hutch with legs would be exposed at the front). We use sawdust on the floor but not sure if this is the best thing or not? Even with newspapers/cardboard we would have the same issue. How do people keep the rain out and the piggies dry? Also the hutch is full of woodlice and other creepy crawlies. I obviously cant prevent them getting in there. Are the guinea pigs going to be ok? I really dont want them indoors permanently. Any ideas welcome. Thanks

Raise off the ground and get a rain cover you can get clear ones with ventilation holes although obviously not for hot days. You can get spray to repel the insects to spray in the hutch which won’t harm the guinea pigs

Personally I think guinea pigs should be kept indoors. Google c and c cages. You can make them any size and shape you like.

I feel sorry for the piggies living outside with a hutch on the floor and full of bugs

kaveecage.co.uk/

We have 4 in a huge cage in our kitchen / diner from here.

I can't believe you would even have to ask if this is acceptable.

Would you like to live in a wet floored room covered in insects?

Did you do any research?

A cage on the floor outside, open to the elements isn't only too cold/hot/wet it's open to fox attack.

Please either mount your cage on brackets on a wall and get a cover if you really think it's acceptable to treat pets this way (keep them outside). But preferably bring them inside permanently and if you can't or won't then you should rehome them to someone who cares about guinea pigs.

Yes, I did research. Everyone I know keeps their guinea pigs outside. Pets at Home told me the hutch i bought was the most popular. I believed fresh air was better than being indoors all the time. I am asking for other peoples opinions as I want to do the right thing

A plastic cage cover with ventilation holes will help. If the hutch is a pets at home one they will sell a cover for it, have a look on their website if you know the name of the hutch.

That should also sort out any woodlice etc

Guinea pigs shouldn’t be kept in sawdust, it can irritate their eyes and airways.

Outdoor hutches should be warm and dry, a hutch shouldn’t be on the floor, if it doesn’t have lets put it on a few bricks to raise it up, what sort of cover are you using on the hutch? Guinea pigs are also prone to respiratory issues if they live in damp conditions, generally they shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures below 15c.

How big is the floor space on the hutch? Two guinea pis need at least 120x60cm on one level.

My Mum uses washable fleece blanket cut to size for the base of her cage. She then handwashes them, they dry super quick.

Right. So i was told to use sawdust in their inside cage but this is incorrect? So what do i use instead? Just hay? The hutch has no bottom so i cant raise it. I have put it on lino and then waterproof sheet before putting the bedding in so it is not directly on the floor. It is covered at the top and sides but rain gets in the front

Most hutches have an enclosed side and a more open side. I used to line the enclosed side with newspaper then fill it with plenty of hay so they would be warm and dry when sleeping. The more open side I would lay down wood shavings (definitely not sawdust, but I expect when you said sawdust you probably meant wood shavings anyway, as that's what everywhere sells) but in bad weather it can get a bit damp if the rain blows in. As others said, you can use a rain cover on wet days to try to prevent that, or just replace any wet bedding with dry. Try to place the hutch in a sheltered area and off the floor. A lot of hutches sold in this country aren't really suitable for guinea pigs, which are more sensitive to extreme temperatures than rabbits. I ended up keeping mine inside in an indoor cage all year round in the end as it was just easier tbh.

Pets at home don’t care about animals, they just care about profit.

Guinea pigs should be kept inside, and if you do keep them outside during the warmer months as some do they need a huge hutch, elevated off the ground, with an attached run, much larger than any you can buy at pets at home.

Ideally they should be kept indoors, in a large c and c cage as I linked to earlier upthread. Don’t use sawdust. People use it because it’s cheap but it can cause respiratory issues. I use newspaper to cover the base of my c and c cage and then use fleece liners on top of that. They need lots of fresh hay everyday and green veg as well as pellets and other veg etc as they can’t make their own vitamin c well.

@HoolaCoola

Right. So i was told to use sawdust in their inside cage but this is incorrect? So what do i use instead? Just hay? The hutch has no bottom so i cant raise it. I have put it on lino and then waterproof sheet before putting the bedding in so it is not directly on the floor. It is covered at the top and sides but rain gets in the front

For an outdoor hutch carefresh pet bedding is good, or hay over an obsorbent surface.

They must be freezing at night having to lay on the floor outside. If rain is getting in why haven’t you bought a waterproof cover?

To live outside they need something like this as an absolute minimum. The hutch you have needs changing as soon as possible, you can often buy good hutches second hand.

homeandroost.co.uk/product/5ft-chartwell-single-luxury-guinea-pig-hutch/?attribute_pa_hr-type=no-cover&attribute_pa_hr-type1=no-run&gclid=CjwKCAjwlrqHBhByEiwAnLmYUL7_9kWvEjdBJeoDSrF999hM5xbQnmQWyAwlbiuZ9l4603-BNROFvBoCc7gQAvD_BwE

Our guinea pigs have an Eglu hutch with attached 2m run which they are outside in during the warmer weather. The hutch is lined with newspaper and filled with fresh hay daily. We move the hutch and run every day so they have access to fresh grass. When we're in the garden, they run freely.

During colder months they live inside an insulated playhouse in a large plastic and wire hutch. That's also lined with newspaper and topped with hay. At night, it's covered with additional insulation.

Your poor piggies. Get them a proper hutch ASAP, I have the one hoopla linked and it’s good for the summer.

I always kept Guinean pigs as a child and always used sawdust they all lives to be six or seven! Also I did keep them indoors but I had friends who had them outside all year round and they were ok. Op do you have a shed or something you can put the hutch in?

Definitely don't leave their hutch in the ground. That is really bad for them. They shouldn't be outdoors in winter unless in a heated shed. I would ditch the hutch. If you look at c&c cages you could build your own indoor setup to suit you. They are fab company to have indoors. If you absolutely can't have them indoors, do you have a shed they could live in. If you can't do anything other than leave them as they are please contact a rescue who will rehome them for you. Please don't leave them where they are whatever you do