Guinea pig on alfresco?

[MegLovesPiggies]

Hiya, I'm fairly new to this forum. I'm a member of a few other piggie forums which have been a great help to me, and I'm sure this one will be too! I have 6 guinea pigs, and they are kept outside. However, they aren't kept on the grass, as I've read about how bad it is. They are kept in 1 huge hutch, and then 1 pretty big one. My dad and I have plans to make a new one.

Where I live it is pretty common to have guinea pigs outside. Of course, if it gets too hot I bring them in the aircon indoors, and also they have a ceiling fan right above them.

However, my mum has been looking at all the thread on here recently, and she told me the other day that I can keep them inside if I want to now, because she likes the idea of C&C cages. However, I'm actually beginning to think maybe they should stay outside. Mainly because:

1. There is more of a breeze outside, and we don't often put the aircon on inside so the piggies probably wouldn't benefit much on the heat.

2. We actually spend more time outside than we do in. We just got a pool in and it's right next to the hutches, so of course my brother and I are outside a lot of the time. And plus my mum is big on gardening, and my dad spends a lot of time working with his bikes outside. So yeah, the guinea pigs aren't at the bottom of the garden, all by themselves.

3. My guinea pigs are definitely well looked after (Really not wishing to boast) I used to be an absolutely awful guinea pig owner, cleaning them out once a week, feeding them a rubbish diet, but once my routine changed a bit and I managed to free up a little bit of extra time to spend with them, and ever since them I've just been obsessed. Most things I do, if I'm sitting, I will have a guinea pig on my lap. I clean out there actualy bedroom 3 times a week, and sweep out their hutch and hose it off everyday. This takes about an hour, but it's worth it.

I'm sorry I've written so much, but I needed to explain my situation. What do you all think? I know a lot of your are completely against outdoor living, but for us it's probably how the guineas would get the most time spent on them. My mum has given me the option of keeping them inside now, and I'm sort of tempted to do it, but at the same time my piggies and I are happy with the way they are. What do you think I should do?

Also, please note, I'm definitely not trying to offend anyone with this post, I'm simply trying to weight up the pro's and con's of my situation. Thanks

[pigsforlife]

I would still bring them inside I think. Personally when it is really hot, or really cold in winter I spend a lot of time inside. We have a pool as well, and although we tend to go outside quite regularly for a swim, do things in the garden and pottering outside on the weekends, we do spend more time inside then out. People walk past their cage at all times of the day - coming home for work, getting food from the kitchen, cooking dinner, eating at the table, having a shower etc - just basic things but everyone stops and gives the pigs attention on their way past. That is something they wouldn't get outside.

Also pigs do struggle in the summer heat that we have here in Australia. I have seen a neighbours pig die from heatstroke when it was kept outside on a hot day. I did have my crew outside and someone was ALWAYS sick. Honestly, in that time frame they were outside I would have spent at least a thousand dollars on vet bills, if not more. Since coming inside we have had no illnesses (except for a couple of eye pokes from the hay).

Plus since coming inside I have seen things that my pigs have done (eg lazing about, popcorning) that they never did outside. They have been inside for, must be about 2 years now, and through that time we have become all so much more bonded with them.

[MegLovesPiggies]

Hiya, thanks for replying.

I see what you mean, but as I've said. We DO spend a lot of time outside the whole year round, and also my mum and dad both run their businesses from home, so we're forever having customer's children coming to look at the guinea pigs. Infact sometimes I wonder if the guinea pigs are getting annoyed with us keep taking them out all day!!

The heat here in Australia can certainly be difficult, my family still arent used to it after about 2 years . As I said, when it's hot enough for us to have the air con on we always bring the pigs in, and sometimes we even let them go for a little swim in a small tub.

Oooh, my piggies do plenty of lazing about!! The younger ones are very keen on popcorning too, especially when they hear the salad bag rustling .

I can see what you mean though, keeping guinea pigs inside is very beneficial.

[MegLovesPiggies]

Although, one thing that sort of makes me want to bring them inside is that we have quite a noisy garden. Do guinea pigs get effected by noise? Is it a legitimiate reason to bring them indoors do you think? Thank you

[Catayn]

They can be very scared by loud noises and I would really bring them inseide as soon as possible, since heat and cold might make them very sick.
As for the children who come to see them, I'm not sure that's good... They are not pets for kids to handle.
I don't let any visitors handle my guinea pigs or rabbits, ever! My best friends visit me almost everyday and I still don't let them carry my pets. They can look and maybe pet them, if I'm in a good mood. Maybe I'm overprotective, but I feel safer that way.
besides, with the piggies indoors, you can be closer friends with them and they will be safe from other possible predators, right?
I don't know, I just don't like keeping pets outside. When I lived in a house I didn't even let my cats go outside unsupervised.

[MegLovesPiggies]

Well, I can understand what you mean about the loud noises, but our house is quite loud too, especially with my brother's music!!

However, I've never had a child come to our house and just go and get my guinea pigs. They have always asked first. I don't think guinea pigs should be kept purely for adults to look after, and children to look at. If you can trust your child then I think they should be allowed to hold the guinea pig, supervised of course. I had guinea pigs when I was younger, and I still am young, and if I hadn't had them when I younger then I probably wouldn't have them now. Therefore, I do let the children hold the guinea pigs. I make them sit down in a chair and pat one.

I know how you feel about keeping pets outside, I feel the same about my dogs.

I feel that I am close to my guinea pigs, they are certainly relaxed around me, and I give them plenty of attention. I think just because there is a fly screen between them and me doesn't mean that I'm not close to them.

However, you've brought up quite an important issue with predators, I've never seen anything that could harm the guinea pigs, because they are right by the back door, but it is something that's always been on my mind. Then again, if it was something big, the dogs would certainly let us know!!

[akstrohm]

ALL guinea pigs should be kept inside regardless of how much attention they get outside or how moderate your climate is. They are strictly indoor animals.

They do not handle temperature fluctuations well. They need a consistent temperature between 65 and 75 degrees F at all times. No climate can meet this.

Even if you don't think predators are an issue, they are. No matter where you live, you will have some natural predators (foxes, birds, dogs, cats, etc.). There have also been instances of people stealing or killing pigs kept outside, even in very safe neighborhoods and even in cages kept on porches or very close to the house. Even if a predator doesn't get to a pig, just having the predator there is very stressful.

I strongly encourage you to bring them inside immediately.

[Catayn]

Are the kids you mentioned, your kids? I thought you were talking about visitors' kids.
I'm sure you give them lots of attention, since you cared to ask about bringing them inside. But I still believe they would feel safer indoors.

[1frankie7]

"I know how you feel about keeping pets outside, I feel the same about my dogs."


You feel that way about the dogs, So what are the pigs? If your dogs don't deserve to live outside, then why do your pigs?

[ppqppq]

Your dogs may warn you of potential predators, but they could also injure the guinea pigs. Dogs are predators, and even if yours are friendly to your piggies, dogs discipline their own offspring by biting them. If they ever nipped your guinea pigs for any reason it could be fatal. Dogs and guinea pigs should not be unsupervised even for a few seconds and a cage could be broken by a dog.

[MegLovesPiggies]

I'm afraid I don't have time this morning to reply to every post But I can tell you one thing, my dogs would never hurt my guinea pigs. My german shepherd isn't interested in the guinea pigs at all, she has grown up with them and just pays them no attention whatsoever. My other dog wouldn't hurt a fly, the most his ever done to the guinea pigs is lick them. I know other people's dogs may do the guinea pigs some harm, but none of you have ever seen my dogs, therefore you can't judge whether or not they are a danger to my guinea pigs.

Frankie, my dogs are kept inside because there are neighbours to think about. Our dogs would go into the neighbour's garden and sniff around, the guinea pigs don't. The dogs would be unhappy if they were outside, where as my guinea pigs seem perfectly happy outside. They are relaxed, they squeek, they squeel, they lick, they popcorn and they eat out of my hands.

Catayn, I may have worded it wrong. These kids are my mum and dad's customers/ customer's kids.

I'm going to Bunnings this weekend to see if they sell C&C grids, just so I can get a rough guide of costs, and I can make a decision. I'm still inclined to think that they will get more space outside than we can give them in. We have plenty of room indoors for cages, but you can only make indoor cages to a certain size, then it seems as if you need to give them a whole room. (Which heaps of you do on here, and I think is fantastic.)

I don't know, I'm going to talk to my parents a bit more about it tonight.

[Aertyn]

Megs, Grids from Bunnings are $12.99 a pack (they recently DOUBLED in price). They'll be located in (or around) the 'Storage' aisle. The ones in my store are actually on the end part of the shelves they use, crammed into a corner and without a price tag :/ If you go to the next aisle over (in most stores) you'll see the pre-cut wire shelving, it's normally about $15-20 for once and I think it's a much better deal price wise than the grids now. You can also find metal grid type things in...the outdoor section I think. Been awhile since I've been there and looked at these things.

[akstrohm]

But I can tell you one thing, my dogs would never hurt my guinea pigs.

You have absolutely no way of guaranteeing this. Dogs who seem completely fine with the pigs can suddenly change. And dogs can unintentionally hurt them as well. What is play to a dog can kill a guinea pig. You don't want to take this chance.

[Paula]

But I can tell you one thing, my dogs would never hurt my guinea pigs...

Perhaps this is true of your dogs, sure. But what about other neighborhood dogs that may wander into your yard? What about cats? What about other animals they would otherwise be protected from by being housed inside?[/quote]

...my dogs are kept inside because there are neighbours to think about.

Why is it that concern for your neighbors is enough to motivate you to house some of your animals indoors while concern for the health and well-being of your guinea pigs isn't? Animals that live outside live significantly shorter lives than their counterparts indoors. They are subject to more illnesses, more likely to be attacked by a predator animal, and less likely to be taken to the vet at the first signs of illness because it's virtually impossible to keep as close an eye on them when they are housed outside as opposed to in.

[.Munchkin.]

Animals that live outside live significantly shorter lives than their counterparts indoors.

"This isn't directly to Paula."
I've heard this many times and usually pops up during indoor vs. outdoors discussions. Where is this statistic coming from? Or is it just based on assuming outdoor guinea pigs "are subject to more illnesses, more likely to be attacked by a predator animal, and less likely to be taken to the vet at the first signs of illness because it's virtually impossible to keep as close an eye on them when they are housed outside as opposed to in."
Just wondering...

[MegLovesPiggies]

I'm sorry everyone, but I don't believe in getting into petty arguments on the internet about things that to be quite honest, are completely up to me.

My guinea pigs are my responsibility, and I know they are safe, happy and healthy.

Paula, are you saying that my guinea pigs are unhealthy? I can assure you; they are not. We have regular visits to a local exotics pet who has been recommended to me by many trusted guinea pig owners in my local area.

I don't want to fall out with any of you, as I know you are only worried about the wellbeing of my guinea pigs. However, once again, I can assure you that they are healthy, have plenty of room and are safe.

[Ly&Pigs]

"This isn't directly to Paula."
I've heard this many times and usually pops up during indoor vs. outdoors discussions. Where is this statistic coming from? Or is it just based on assuming outdoor guinea pigs "are subject to more illnesses, more likely to be attacked by a predator animal, and less likely to be taken to the vet at the first signs of illness because it's virtually impossible to keep as close an eye on them when they are housed outside as opposed to in."
Just wondering...

It comes from owners who have had these things happen to their pigs while the pigs were living outdoors. So, in other words, documented cases. It's not being assumed, it's not being made up.

Guinea pigs who live outdoors year round are exposed to frequent temperature fluctuations that can cause illnesses, some even heat or cold related. Being outside in a cool/cold breeze can bring about things like URI's. If it gets too cold the pigs can get hypothermia or if it's too hot they can suffer heat strokes. Parasites can be more of a problem for outside pigs such as fleas and ticks. It's also harder to monitor them for subtle changes if they are outside.

I've seen many a case between this forum, gl and the pigloo where pigs' cages have been broken into by a variety of predators to include humans where the pigs were either killed or stolen. It's much easier for many predators to get to outdoor housed cavies than indoor housed cavies.

I'm sorry everyone, but I don't believe in getting into petty arguments on the internet about things that to be quite honest, are completely up to me.

I don't see any petty arguments going on here on this thread. People are giving you valid reasons as to why your pigs should be indoor pigs year round. Yes, in the end it is your decision but you should put their needs above your own and do what is in their best interests and not your own. If you were expecting members to pat you on the back and tell you it's ok to keep cavies outside, it's very doubtful that it will happen. The majority of the members believe in indoor housing, including myself.

[pigsforlife]

I think you have been given the choice to bring your pets inside and I think you should jump at that opportunity and do it, just personally. You will seriously never look back.

The final decision is most definitely up to you, but I urge you to make the right decision because the final fact is that guinea pigs do a lot better in a environment with consistent temperatures, and away from any possible predators. Plus it is soo much easier to monitor any signs of changes and therefore jump on any illnesses before they get nasty.

I would not rule out predators. In the last house I was at, I was about 15 minutes out of the CBD surrounded in houses & suburbs. Yet, I saw about 3 snakes -- and they were all decent sizes too.

[MegLovesPiggies]

You have made some fair points.

But I'm still confident that my guinea pigs are safe, happy and healthy. My dogs would never hurt them, the guinea pigs are so confident around my dogs that they sometimes lick their noses. Also, if I brought them in the dogs would still be inside.

My neighbours all have fenced gardens. My family has had guinea pigs for 40 years, we've never had one die unexpectedly.

Also, you all talk as though my guinea pigs are left in the garden with no human contact whatsoever. There is always someone here, and the guinea pigs don't go longer than 20 minutes without someone walking past the hutch, talking to them, or holding them. I don't think they'd get any more attention if they were housed inside.

LY&pigs, of course I wasn't expecting people to pat me on the back for housing my guinea pigs outside, I do what is convenient and best for my family and my guinea pigs. I don't do things to get people's approval who I don't know, and have never met.

[1frankie7]

"Also, you all talk as though my guinea pigs are left in the garden with no human contact whatsoever."


I am sure they meant that, outdoor guinea pigs, Just don't get as much human contact, and walking past the hutch does not neccesarily count as contact.



"My dogs would never hurt them, the guinea pigs are so confident around my dogs that they sometimes lick their noses. "

If your hutch is so "safe" then why do your dogs have access to it??




Also, I have a relative who lives in AU, and according to her It is VERY hot(especially when compaired to the U.S or Canada), though I have to ask since you don't seem too worried about the temp, What tempature is the usuall? Does it fluctuate? is it a steady temp all year round?



Please, Your guinea pigs need to be indoors.