Animal Welfare: Outdoor Hutches in Britain

[ILovesMePiggies]

I've only been on this forum for a couple of days but this website has already changed my views on what the correct environment for keeping a happy and healthy guinea pig should be. I am now researching and finding the best options available to me to improve the conditions that my guinea pigs currently live in.
Like many British people my guinea pigs are keep outside in a hutch and because of this site I now see the error of my ways, but can you blame me for my ignorance when the people I trusted to educate me were they themselves naive. It is a common held British view that guinea pigs are outside animals, as such this is taught to children by parent and by charities and rehoming shelters. The hutch that I currently use for my two boys is upto and above RSPCA (the British equivalent to the ASPCA) standards. If you don't believe me look up the RSPCA requirements for guinea pig adoption.
All that I respectfully ask of this forums community at large is to not so brutally critise those that have been miss informed by an authority which they may believe to be greater than yours. Not to insist so blatantly that your way is right and state that there is no other way, just politely and gently inform that miss guided indiviual of the better ways available to keep guinea pigs. This is less intimdating and would feel less like a personal stab at the indiviual in question.
If you wish to change the British idea that outdoor hutches are perfectly adequate you must change the views of the educators not the educated because for some of the educated you maybe to late, remember you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Stop the blind from leading the blind and the cycle of ignorance will cease to exist.
I was lucky that I found this site before my views became too strong that no amount of education could alter them.
But I also consider myself lucky that other users of this site have not attacked a view that I believed up to the moment i found this site, that is taught by those we Brits trust to protect animals from cruelty in our homes, like some of the people that have openly stated that they keep thier guinea pigs outside have been. If that had happened to me I probably would not have come back to the site and would have been one of the lost souls wondering around ignorant of the better life my loved pets could have. Please think of that next time someone says they have an outdoor hutch that they use, your attempt at enlightening them maybe what brings them back to this site with it's infinite knowlegde and abundance of well informed advise, or it could be the hurtful comment that drives them away.
As with all things in this world it's your choice, so what's it gonna be?

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by ILovesMePiggies

Like many British people my guinea pigs are keep outside in a hutch and because of this site I now see the error of my ways, but can you blame me for my ignorance when the people I trusted to educate me were they themselves naive.

Ignorance and naivete is not a crime and we do not condone attacks on people because of ignorance.

However, if they are educated and they react by clapping their hands over their ears, sticking out their tongue, stamping their feet and chanting "I can't hear you, I can't hear you" then all bets are off.

It's one thing to be naive and completely another to be stubborn for the sake of convenience.

[SpacePig]

I think its a tough one in the UK, Ive kept my piggies indoors for the last 8/9 years, I only know ONE other person who used to have indoor pigs. Most of the people that hear I keep my piggies indoors, let alone in a cage that is big enough for them, look at me like I'm one of those mad women with cats hidden in their coats.

My partners little sister is off to college next year to study animal welfare, yet she insists on keeping her two pigs in a small, drafty cage with a dangerously steep ramp. Until recently they were given straw, no hay. I think we British are very stubborn and want to always be right. Therefore meaning that Guinea Pigs and Rabbits can be housed together in a hutch outside in the snow and fed on carrots, because "that's what pets at home said to do".

I'm hoping with websites like this that the way people think about piggy care will change. At least with my nagging the in-laws are considering bringing their pigs in for the winter.

oops long post, sorry

[Richjess]

Originally Posted by SpacePig

I think its a tough one in the UK...

My partners little sister is off to college next year to study animal welfare, yet she insists on keeping her two pigs in a small, drafty cage with a dangerously steep ramp. Until recently they were given straw, no hay. I think we British are very stubborn and want to always be right. Therefore meaning that Guinea Pigs and Rabbits can be housed together in a hutch outside in the snow and fed on carrots, because "that's what pets at home said to do".

In fairness to the RSPCA they do advise against draughty cages and say they should be fed hay and grass, the only issue where they would disagree with this site is keeping them indoors as a matter of course - it may help to show them that advice as people naturally respect the RSPCA's advice and it may improve the pigs life to some extent at least

[SpacePig]

That might be an idea, thanks. Ive given them a link to this website, but there not interested. They say its all well and good for me, yet its somehow different for them. At least with an RSPCA guide its a step in the right direction. The hutch they bought is new and cost quite a bit, so Ill wait a while before broaching the subject with them.

[Ly&Pigs]

Unfortunately, this isn't just a British problem. It often happens here in the US and other countries as well. The standards for cavy care are greatly changing and not everyone is keeping up with it. There are a lot of people around that world that believe in the old breeder standard of keeping them outdoors. It's been proven over time though that keeping them indoors improves health and longevity.

I have to agree with VJ in the aspect that if you don't know then it's one thing but if you know it's better to keep them indoors and then come up with "reasons" to try to justify keeping them outside, then it's fair game for others to counter their reasons and explain why keeping them outside is not a good idea. It's very unfortunate that some people aren't more willing to listen and do what's in their animal's best interests instead of their own best interests.

[ILovesMePiggies]

I would like to add that at this point in time that I am trying to find the best solution to the problems with the living arrangements my boys are kept in.
There is no easy or cheap way to get the C&C cages you reccomend, here in th UK. I've looked and for someone with my limited finances it's going to take awhile to get a cage together. The best I can do at the moment is move their hutch indoors, though this indoor area would not be in the house it would have to be one of the stone walled adjoining sheds.
It's unfortunate that at this time I live with my parents, I earn my own money but no were near enough to move out and support myself let alone my guinea pigs. My parent would never allow the guinea pigs in to the house because of my mother allergy to animal hair and her asthma.
Basically this post is meant to say I'm trying and doing the best I can currently to rectify the problems. A little help trying to resolve my problems would be very much appriecated. If anyone can think of anything that could help I would be very happy to listen to and heed your advice. Thank you.

[pigsforlife]

It is also quite common for guinea pigs to be kept outside here in Aus. Education is the key, and one-by-one people swap over. Especially once they realise how adorable guinea pigs really are (apart from other reasons) - you never really find out when they are outside.

[Cornish Cavies]

It is a difficult one, as far as I have seen all the rescues here keep the pigs in a outdoor hutch or equivalent.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Cornish Cavies

It is a difficult one, as far as I have seen all the rescues here keep the pigs in a outdoor hutch or equivalent.

But by changing one persons point of view can lead to changing many people's point of view. You get one person to change their ways and others see that and they change their ways and it slowly but surely changes.

[Cornish Cavies]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

But by changing one persons point of view can lead to changing many people's point of view. You get one person to change their ways and others see that and they change their ways and it slowly but surely changes.

Yes, if the rescues kept them indoors, or even a shed if they have too many, they can tell potential adoptees that indoors is best and explain their limited space means they keep them in a shed, it would be a good start. Where as if you go to a rescue and see them in hutches you would assume this is ok

[SpacePig]

I agree, I thinks its going to be a slow process, but just by posting a pic of my piggies on facebook I have two friends asking me how I built the cage, as they would like it for their rabbits.

ILoveMePiggies- Have you thought about adapting an outdoor run for inside? Have a look around garden centers for things that you might be able to use to make a pen. With your mums allergies do you think you could keep your pigs in your bedroom? I switched to fleece bedding as my boyfriend suffers terrible asthma attacks and its helped a lot.

[ILovesMePiggies]

SpacePig - I like the idea though there are a few things that would stop those solutions from working.
Asthma is caused by allergies, the most common being an allergy to dust mites. My mother is allergic to all of the allergens that can cause an asthmatic response these include: dust mites, animal hair, feathers and pollen. Her asthma is so severe that even a small amount of animal hair on a persons clothing causes her to breathe with a very obvious weeze involving all of the muslces in the torso and shoulders, any time spent in a hairy animals company causes a more severe attack were she herself is unable to get to her inhaler as she cannot breathe well enough to walk much more than a couple of metres.
Even if i could bring them inside I share a room with my sister and as such would need her to want my boys in the room, unfortunately she wouldn't want this, evil moo that she is .

[Hawise]

I'm from the UK too, and I encountered this problem many times. When I rescued my piggies, I was told they would be happier if I had a garden so that they could live in an outdoor hutch because this is what they need! I was resolute on keeping them inside though, and it's a pity I did not know this site at the time, otherwise I would have given them the link.

When people ask me why I don't leave my piggies outside, I ask them if they would like to leave their beloved cat or dog outisde all the time, then most of them understand my point. And needless to say that a guinea pig is nowhere near as "sturdy" as a dog or cat.

I will give you the example of my boyfriend's aunt. She has the heart in the right place and loves to rescue animals because she loves them. But she kept a guinea pig outside, with 3 rabbits . The little guy is dead now, again I wished I had known this website at the time!

It's unfortunately the same in France and many other European countries. But we just need to keep informing as many people as possible, and even if we can improve the life of only one piggy, then that'll be great!

[guineapiggies86]

there are canvas puppy runs easy to clean fairly cheap and great for asthmatics, on limited finances myself I saved to get my C&C cage its not the cubes that are expensive I find but the corpast stuff, so I have a £1fleeceand some news paper under mine, a hand held vac cleans up the daily poops and not having the sawdust and such really helps, plaus with the puppy runs some come with water battle holders and such.
look on amazon about £40
Portable Fabric Puppy and Pet Play Pen - Small: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
I use mine for a holiday run its just pops up and can store flat to.

[JD In Van]

Originally Posted by guineapiggies86

there are canvas puppy runs easy to clean fairly cheap and great for asthmatics, on limited finances myself I saved to get my C&C cage its not the cubes that are expensive I find but the corpast stuff, so I have a £1fleeceand some news paper under mine, a hand held vac cleans up the daily poops and not having the sawdust and such really helps, plaus with the puppy runs some come with water battle holders and such.
look on amazon about £40
Portable Fabric Puppy and Pet Play Pen - Small: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
I use mine for a holiday run its just pops up and can store flat to.

I love that pen. I would seriously consider getting one for when my piggies stay with my mom when I'm out of town, rather then having to fuss around with moving thier more perminent pen.

[ILovesMePiggies]

Thanks guineapiggies86, I've now sorted out the what to keep them in it's the proplem of my mothers asthma thats still there though. Animal hair sets her off just the same as dust does.
Hopefully I'll be moving out soon and my boys will be moving in with me, but til then their hutch will be moved into a shed out of the wind and rain, they have a double fleece snuggle sac each (think guinea pig sized sleeping bag ), and their hutch will be covered with bubble wrap to add some extra insulation if it gets really cold.

[guineapiggies86]

Well the pen I showed has a lid that would stop the hair flying round it has a black mesh roof, its fantastic! I have one in the living room full of toys for piggies and for camping, it has a pocket for their food, water bottle holder an little unzip door on the side, the bottom is attacked by velcro so its easy to pull off and clean, plus that's only the small one, it goes up to size X-large but the small one takes up a lot of room.

[ILovesMePiggies]

A mesh lid would not stop all of the hair from getting into the air and its the hair upon the animal it's self that sets of asthma too, trust me on that I've seen my mother unable to breathe after minutes with a dog, in well ventilated rooms and even outside, way too many times (other furry/hairy animals start coughing, choking and sneezing fits as well as the asthmatic response just as easily for her).
We only got guinea pigs as pets when we were little because my parents thought they could stay outside. Which is why when I wanted a new pet I a got guinea pigs again, shortly after that I found this site and also the grievous error I made in thinking they could be kept outside.