How about this idea?

[stef603]

I (read, my husband) want to have the piggers live outside during the summer. Maybe a compromise would be having them out when weather is great, but bringing them in when weather is objectionable? We are new to piggies and have a new house with both a greenhouse and a kids' playhouse. How would you feel about a GP 'summer house' made out of either of these. My kids have outgrown the playhouse. I do plan on using the greenhouse for its intended purpose, but could share some of it with the piggies. I'm envisioning a fully enclosed hutch in the playhouse or green house, and a covered, grassy run connected outdoors. When supervised, in good weather, we would let them in the run. Then, we could put the piggies to bed at night locking them securely in the playhouse/greenhouse. In damp, hot or cold weather, they'd come back into the house with us.

An alternative would be a very convincing argument I could give my husband who is of the 'they're just animals' school of thought.

[Percy's Mom]

I would never recommend full time living outdoors for guinea pigs. There are too many variables and dangers. Weather can change quickly. There are bugs, birds, predatory animals. Having an outdoor run that you can take them too when the weather is nice and you have time to supervise them is great, but their main living quarters should be indoors.

[crazywiggy]

No way, please don't do this.

Guinea pigs are physically unable to cope with extremes of temperature and heat, cold, damp and drafts can be FATAL! They could be hurt by a predator or people who get into your garden. Not to mention they have far more chance of picking up mites or illnesses.

The worst idea is the greenhouse - they are meant to become hot in warm or sunny weather. Have you ever heard the phrase "dogs die in hot cars"? That is exactly what would happen to guinea pigs in a greenhouse. The temperature would rise, the piggies would overheat and die.

Please reconsider....

[crazywiggy]

Sorry if my first reply sounded a bit abrupt - it wasn't meant to be. I was called away and had to wrap it up pretty quick.

Anyway, as I was saying....

The greenhouse traps heat, even when it isn't particularly hot outside. An animal would literally roast to death inside, with the extremes of temperature and little ventilation.

The playhouse would in theory be less risky as wood has insulating properties - but still not suitable for a guinea pig. In summer they can still get fairly hot (which is a big problem for a little animal who can't sweat) and they are freezing in winter. (I actually slept in one at a campsite last autumn and even fully clothed in a sleepting bag and duvet I was frezzing!).

I know you said about only letting the pigs stay out when the weather was good, but this is easier said than done. What happens if you're out when the weather suddenly changes - as it often does - leaving the guinea pigs at risk?

I think you would be much better off keeping them indoors, there is plenty of information on this site/forum about why keeping them outside is a bad idea. Two main arguments you might want to use on your husband are:

a) Keeping a guinea pig outside will cause suffering and probably kill it.

b) It is far more expensive. You would need an appropriate cage/hutch, in a suitable outbuilding which you would need to insulate thoroughly. You may even need to provide heating. It would need to be lockable, and totally secure. You would then need to provide insulation for the water bottle to prevent it freezing, more food and bedding etc. And despite all this, your piggies would fall ill or get parasites far more frequently which means lots of expensive vet trips.
Compare this to making a cheap c+c cage indoors, with a healthy pig who isn't getting sick all the time.

Oh, and finally, if the piggies are outside someone will need to go out there, whatever the weather to feed them, hold them, clean them out etc many times a day.

There are loads more reasons, but I'm sure you'll be able to find them. Good luck with your husband, hope you reach a happy conclusion!