Guinea Pigs Living In Garage?

[MaddysCavys]

I have my guinea pigs in the house right now in a spare bedroom upstairs (Dedicated to the guinea pigs) I love having them up there, the room is neat, clean, & I like spending time in there (which means lots of time with the guinea pigs!)
But! My mom wants me to move them in the garage because they are "smelly" (which i dont think they are) & "She just doesn't want them in the house"
Our garage is cold & dark, & we have mice scattering around in there.

Can I have a few different opinions on what to do here? I try explaining to her how it's unhealthy, but I don't know.

Pros & Cons anyone? Any suggestions?

[Lauren326]

I have to admit, 4 of my piggies were living in my garage up until about 2 weeks ago because of the smell. However, I don't have any mice problems & I would leave the garage door open so they would get lots of light. Plus I would spend lots of time in there (at this time it was in the 70's outside). Now the temp has dropped so much I had to move them inside to a spare bedroom (which is also soley dedicated to piggies). The room stinks!!! Although this is also because I can't open up the windows b/c it is so cold. I know, probably not what you wanted to hear. But a con to tell your mom is that it is probably too cold in the garage for them (not sure where you live). They need to be in a place that is between 65-75 degrees. Another thing is that they need sunlight. My guess is the garage has no sunlight unless you open the garage door.

[MaddysCavys]

Yeah there is no sunlight, cause we don't EVER open the doors to it. & The window is open in the room so it doesn't.

[idramaxx0]

A healthy guinea pig cage should never smell worse than anything that could be neutralized with febreeze. How often do you change the cage? Where do you live? I'm from NY and were getting into the 30's and 40's at night. I wouldn't dare put my guinea pigs in my garage in that! Wild mice also spread disease and if they happen to want to steal a yummy treat from your piggies's cage your pigs will be likely to catch something.
My best suggestion is to clean the cage more often and invest in lots of febreeze! Keep it close to the door so as soon as your mom walks in she can sprits and bam! No more bad smell!

[idramaxx0]

A healthy guinea pig cage should never smell worse than anything that could be neutralized with febreeze.

I meant this as a joke, this is obviously not a legit fact. I can see some people around here asking where I got this information from

[MaddysCavys]

I clean the cage every 4 days. I use Fleece. & I though febreeze was bad for them?

[idramaxx0]

I don't mean directly in the cage, just around the room in general. Like by the door way. That's what I do. It goes no where near them but it neutralizes the odor by my door so when my mom walks in she doesn't smell it. Do you sweep up the poop daily?

[MaddysCavys]

Yup, I sweep the poop everyday.

[idramaxx0]

hmmm and you swear it doesn't smell? It's not that you're just use to the smell? That's really strange. Maybe try giving the pigs a bath? Piggies do get dirty and can sometime be a little smelly themselves.

[MaddysCavys]

I just gave them a bath like last week & they hate baths. . . & Yes, I could be used to the smell, but i could still smell it. & there is a hint of guinea pig but it's not like "Omigosh! It smells like gross rodents in here!"

[sdpiggylvr]

A garage is where you store tools and boxes of junk, not living creatures. Would you throw your sister out there? I doubt it--and a pet is just the same, a member of the family. A dark, cold place is no place for such an animal.

A garage is not only an unpleasant place but also a dangerous place if you park your cars inside. The fumes from the cars is unhealthy and can be lethal for animals who live in garages. It isn't safe.

Will your mom let you keep them anywhere in the house? Or does she just not want them in that particular room? Sit down with her and talk about her reasons for why she wants them to move out to the garage (besides that she thinks they smell and that she wants them to not live in the house). Listen to her reasons and see if you can remedy the situation together with a compromise you can both agree on. Did she agree to have them in the house when you initially got the guinea pigs? I hate to say it, but you shouldn't have gotten the pigs if the whole family didn't agree to provide for their every need, which includes indoor housing. Once you've heard her reasons, explain to her why the guinea pigs need to be in the house. Ask her if there is any way you can help her agree to the pigs staying in the house.

Please do anything you can to keep them from going out into the garage.

By the way, guinea pigs rarely need baths so please do not make that a habit as it can be detrimental to their skin.

As for the "smell": Talk to your mom about what she smells. The hay? The poop? See what it is and decide if you can get rid of it. Please do not spray Febreeze in the cage area as that is most certainly unhealthy for sensitive guinea pig respiratory systems.

Good luck!

[Shurrim]

Hay can get smelly if they can pee on it. I have 2 boars and they are in living room. After 4-5 days I have to change fleece but I change the litter pan each 2 days, sweeping poop 2-3 times a day. I do spot cleaning with a clothe damped with vinegar. No smell.
Living in garage with mice and probably all the chemical stuff we usually keep there is very unhealthy. A sick pig cost a lot in vet bills and meds. Not counting the fleas or mites they can get and transfer to you when you pet them.
Without social interaction the pigs can become less eager to be pet or be nice with humans.
Is your mother complains about hay smell or pee/poop smell?
You can check for these carbonate sodium fridge things and maybe clip one on the outside of the cage. It helps greatly with smell. If the room has carpet you can spread some on it before vacuuming.
I know it's getting cold, but if you can open the window even just a bit for a little time if the pigs dont have the air on them.

[MaddysCavys]

She doesn't want them in the house. Period. No acceptions. My guinea pigs used to be at my dads house, then I HAD to move them to my moms for personal reasons. & Now she's saying she does not want them in the house. At my dads house they were in the garage, but that's because the garage had sunlight & We are ALWAYS in the garage, it's tiled & walls are painted, it was nice and organized, not used for a storage place or cars, So, it was a nice environment for them. I don't think my mom sees the difference in living conditions for a guinea pig between the 2. I'll sit her down to talk about it. & Hopefully we can agree to something indoors!(:
Thanks!

[MaddysCavys]

& I think she is complaining about the pee/poo smell. Pee on the Hay is probably contributing to the smell too. But it's ventilated. & What are the refridgerater things? I'd like to look into that, I am willing to do anything to keep them safe!

[MaddysCavys]

Oh & Also, in my moms garage we don't have any cars in there. So I'm not worried about car fumes, I'm worried about the mice, temperature, & me not spending time with them (because i HATE the garage & I'll be scared of the mice!)

[Electramoon]

I use Carefresh for bedding, you might also try something with chlorophyll in it, great odor neutralizer. Second, get a hay rack, then your piggles can't pee on it! Yay! Mice can also attack your pigs, and will if given the chance. And spray whatever you do use with a mix half water half white vinegar and let it dr before you put your pigs back on it. Also an awesome neutralizer!

[Shurrim]

I was talking about something like this : ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda - Fridge Fresh
It's natural and totally harmless to piggies.
You could sit with her, note down all her complaints and ask them few days to research and find solutions about it. She will then see you are serious about it. There are a lots of threads on this forum about problems like that. For sure there are solutions too

[ppqppq]

Mice can kill guinea pigs. I lost a rabbit many years ago to a mouse bite. The mice can easily enter the cages and bites become infected. The infection can become septic before you even know you had a problem, your pet is very ill or dead.
Mice make wonderful pets, but wild ones can kill your guinea pigs.
I have 12 guinea pigs in my bedroom and 2 daughters who are allergic. What works for us is to take 2 furnace filters and duct tape them to either side of a box fan. Makes a very cheap and effective air cleaner. Removes the allergens and dust as well as the smell.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Chlorophyll is toxic much like cedar.

The guinea pigs shouldn't be kept in the garage.

I use Carefresh for bedding, you might also try something with chlorophyll in it, great odor neutralizer. Second, get a hay rack, then your piggles can't pee on it! Yay! Mice can also attack your pigs, and will if given the chance. And spray whatever you do use with a mix half water half white vinegar and let it dr before you put your pigs back on it. Also an awesome neutralizer!

[MaddysCavys]

Thanks For EVERYTHING! I really think you all just saved my piggies! If you have any more ideas, please let me know! & What are furnace filters?