Exactly what temperatures can GPs handle?

[c9pilot]

We are happy owners of a mom and her 6-mo old baby, short-haired cuddly critters, rescued in February. They have a nice-sized 2-story C&C cage that is kept outside...okay, okay, before you lash me...they're not really outside - they're in the screened-in, tile-roofed lanai, which for us here on the Gulf coast of Florida, is a major room in the house. Probably the most-used room in the house except the kitchen (if you don't count sleeping). The parrots are out there, too.
We work at home so the piggies get lots of attention, and more when the boys come home from school, and if they get their homework done, they get "piggie time" with their veggies while watching Animal Planet. You get the idea - they're totally spoiled. They are far from the "typical" outside pig situation.
Because of the trees and orientation of the house, the only time the lanai gets direct sun is from about 5pm to 7pm when we have to run the shades down. But it is finally getting humid and we had to turn the a/c on this week, so my doting mother has been bringing them inside where they have about a 2ftx3ft run on the floor (using extra cube grids fastened with zip ties as a "fence") and we have to keep an eye on the dog.
But we do have to run errands when nobody can keep an eye on them. We have a small critter cage (12" x 24" or so) but I would not want them in there except for short periods (when it was cold at night, they spent the night in the cage in the laundry room). It would be a crummy way to spend the day, but cooler than outside!
Now, I read on one posting that the piggies need 65-75F. We keep the a/c at 80 (think about the power bill!) and we don't turn on the heater unless it drops below maybe 50.
Is there a real temperature range for our pets? (I do realize that I have to figure in the humidity "feels like" temperature.)
Has anybody made it this far down this lengthy thread with an answer?
Any advice, or are we doing okay?

[Justin]

I would hope that your nice pigs will benefit from your already paid a/c, everyday.

I turn on heater at 68. Human members freeze at 68. But I heard that pigs can handle a lot lower than that and heat is more problem. I turn on a/c at 83. But I turn on a nice fan (one that makes naturalistic wind) at 75 for the pigs. I see a noticeable difference at 75. Also I give them frozen water bottles.

BTW, I painted my roof with sunblock paint to reduce power bill. It works great!

[buttons]

I have mine inside. Which means they are usually around 23'C or so. At night it drops around 19'C though...

[c9pilot]

I suppose what I meant was, when do I HAVE to bring them in?

If they are outside, they get a nice big C&C with toys and nice bedding and everything.
If they are inside, they get adequate, but not nearly the cushy habitat as the one outside. If they are inside with nobody home, they are in a small cage. (Eventually, when the renovation is done, we'll have a room that they could use to stay inside, but we don't have inside doors right now.)

So I'd rather keep them out as long as they can handle it okay (excepting piggy time, of course).

(One of my neighbors used to keep a herd of cavies in her backyard - she's in construction and had the yard filled with lengths of 6" sewer pipe so they could free-range without osprey problems (the most common raptor around here).)

[Justin]

Please understand if we misunderstand you and be hysterical. Recently, there was a girl in the forum who thought outdoor was too freezing for her dog but acceptable for her pigs.

Anyway, I think what you are looking for will be easily noticed if you observe them. Based on my experience, it should be around 77~82.

[VoodooJoint]

Personally, I'm disinclined to help you house your animals outdoors. If you wouldn't live out there then why make small, defenseless, domesticated animals do it?

Dangers of Outdoor Housing
Summer is Coming. Should You House Your GP Outside?
Outdoor vs Indoor
UK GP housed outside dies of heatstroke
GPs stolen from outdoor cage
2 GPs in outdoor cage killed by dog (on Animal Precinct)
HAWK, drops guinea pig in someone's yard
Violent thugs batter family pets to death
Thread about people breaking into outdoor hutches and sheds
2 guinea pigs stolen from outdoor shed
Guinea pig attacked by rats in shed
Magpies attacking GPs in their outdoor hutches
4 GPs dead. Cause is a suspected mouse infestation in shed and garden
Ant infested yard and hutches
Warning for those keeping animals outside
Guinea pigs stolen from "Cavy Sanctuary"
GPs stolen from outdoor garden
More Guinea pigs die of heatstroke
Guinea Pig Killed by Cat
Guinea Pigs Being Attacked by Cat

[Justin]

Originally Posted by c9pilot

osprey problems (the most common raptor around here).)

Don't forget the other raptors, such as snakes. Pigs emit scent that snakes can detect from far away.

[Alusdra]

Well it sounds like this is more of a screened-in porch kind of deal, so I would be less (but not entirely not) worried about the predator aspect. However- I would be worried both about your pigs in the heat and bringing them back and forth from inside to outside. The porch sounds like a great place for your parrots- they love the humidity and temperatures of Florida.

But your pigs evolved up on the mountains so they cannot tolerate the same temperatures. It would be best to keep them inside with you, even if not entirely ideal (at least when it is too hot or cold). In addition, bringing them from your cool house outdoors over and over is not good- the varying temperatures and humidities will make it even harder for them to cope. (Like when you go outside from being in A/C versus having been outside all day and night).

The cavy cages link here has the USDA requirements- which are for research, so basically the bare minimum to keep them and not foul research (aka- too stressed to eat and act normally). That link says 60-85. I feel your pain with the expense of heating/cooling- our thermostat is set similarly. Which is better environmentally, too. For getting too cold, though- there were some posts this winter on ideas to keep the pigs comfy when you have the house set to 50.

[c9pilot]

Alusdra - thank you for your posting. That's exactly what I was looking for. That will give me some good guidelines to go by.
I had forgotten about the in-out a/c aspect. We minimize use of a/c more for "green" reasons than $$$ but both factor in. We selected this neighborhood because we get a sea breeze and its generally 5 degrees cooler than the surrounding areas to the east. Since we're frugal about our settings, it's not a shock to step inside or outside (yet), at least for people. The piggies are in and out all day long, so I need to keep an eye on that as it gets hotter and more humid.

>>>clip---If you wouldn't live out there then why make small, defenseless, domesticated animals do it?---clip<<<<
Is it really helpful to trot out this tired quote? People are people and animals are animals. Each living being has different needs and all I am trying to do is determine the needs of my small furry friends.
If you had read my post, you would understand that I DO "live out there" much of the day, but I'll tell you, building codes do require concrete block walls and 150+mph windows so there is a certain amount of "in" that I live in, too. This house is designed for indoor-outdoor living flow and the lanai is just another great room with a dining and living area and enough room for pets to be able to stretch out.
I've had parrots for over 15 years, so I know a lot about them. They need to come inside if it drops below freezing, so I bring them in if forecasts are below 40. I've had cavies for 15 weeks, so I'm trying to get a little help from the "experts".

Why am I really coming to you? Because my mom is staying with us and dotes on the poor piggies all day and night. But she's over 80 and is "freezing" when the temps drop below 70 and "burning" when the temps go above 80. Of course that means that my poor kids are supposed to put on long pants and jackets when she's cold and the pigs need to come inside when she's hot. I just want to put her mind at ease that the pigs are fine unless it's over 85.
They love their outside cage so I just hate bringing them in if it's not necessary (other than piggie time of course). It really surprised me how easily they took to the ramp and how they come running over to the side every time I talk to them.

Anyway, I think I'm good to go now. Looks like they're getting their morning veggies from grandma.

Lisa

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Alusdra

Well it sounds like this is more of a screened-in porch kind of deal, so I would be less (but not entirely not) worried about the predator aspect.

You are forgetting about one predator that will not be stopped by a screened lanai, humans. One of the links I posted was is about GPs being stolen out of a screened in porch and several are about humans harming or stealing the animals.

Originally Posted by c9pilot

>>>clip---If you wouldn't live out there then why make small, defenseless, domesticated animals do it?---clip<<<<
Is it really helpful to trot out this tired quote?

I guess it's not helpful if people don't listen to it. There is such a thing as a "tired quote" when it comes to animal welfare? That's news to me. If the "quote" or info has been around long enough to become "tired" then maybe, just maybe it's also been around long enough to be a valid point.

[auburnmare5]

I have Coco at about 60 degrees. When it is reall cold in the dead of winter, it may be as low as 55. He i skept in the cellar so it doe snot stay as warm as the rest of the house. But for when he is outside, I keep him out at 65-no less. When it is hot out, I have him in the shade, and a wet towel, and a tile. And water o fcourse!

[c9pilot]

clip>>>You are forgetting about one predator that will not be stopped by a screened lanai, humans. <<<clip

This is true, but I do believe that all the arguments against keeping animals are not cumulative. Anyone considering keeping them "outside" (my situation not fitting the stereotypical "outside" scenario) should assess their own risk. I would consider my theft risk to be near zero. Even if I thought theft was a real threat in my neighborhood, there are many, many more things of value in my front yard, backyard, and lanai that someone would walk away with. (On a lighter note, the only theft this year in our neighborhood was the beer out of an outside fridge, and we're all pretty sure their neighbors were "borrowing" them.) And at our house thieves would have to contend with the bull-type dog and the "watch-parrots" that put up quite a commotion when anybody is even in the backyard next door.

clip>>>There is such a thing as a "tired quote" when it comes to animal welfare?<<<clip

Why, I certainly think so. One starts coming across as shrill & hyper-emotional rather than smart & rational.
When I read an over-used quote in nearly any forum, I just roll my eyes and move on to a more logical response. I'm on a Real Estate forum and there are a few whose response to practically everything is "Your home is NOT an investment". Whether you agree or not agree, think it's just not that simple, it is rarely helpful to the OP.

Can we agree to disagree?