Outdoor Housing
Top tips for housing your guinea pigs outdoors
Guinea pigs can happily live indoors or outdoors. The trick to indoor housing is adapting their environment for the great outdoors. If you’re housing your guinea pigs outdoors, you'll need to put lots of thought into making sure they're safe and protected from predators and extreme weather.
Setting up an ideal home for your outdoor guinea pigs
As prey animals who are vulnerable to both predators and extremes of weather, there are quite a few things on your guinea pigs’ ideal outdoor home wish list that you’ll need to fulfil so your piggies feel safe, secure and happy.
Guinea pigs are vulnerable to all extremes of weather
Both very cold and very hot climates can be dangerous.
Keeping guinea pigs outside means they may encounter predators
Such as foxes, so their housing must be secure with good quality wire and bolts.
Certain garden chemicals
Such as pesticides, can be poisonous, so you need to ensure your guinea pigs are kept way from areas that could contain these chemicals.
Some common garden plants
Such as poppies, tulips and daffodils – are toxic to guinea pigs and other pets. If in doubt, keep your guinea pigs away from flower beds so they can’t nibble anything that might harm them.
To enable your guinea pigs to do all the things that come naturally, while staying safe, your outdoor set up will require:
A large predator-proof wooden hutch Wendy House or shed
Guinea pigs’ total space should be no less than 1.5 x 1m.
A separate sleeping area
Where they can retreat out of sight to get some peace and quiet, as well as somewhere to keep warm.
Plenty of enrichment items
To keep them occupied.
Housing that’s weatherproof
And draught-proof and sited somewhere out of direct sunlight.
Access to a run
That is no less then 1.5 x 1m.
Multiple hiding areas and tunnels
The more the better. As guinea pigs don’t feel safe in open spaces, they’ll hide under the only shelter available. That’s why it’s a good idea to provide a range of options for them to move between.
Consider access to different floors of your guinea pigs' housing
Guinea pigs have short legs and are not great climbers, so they may struggle in an enclosure with more than one level. If you do have a ramp, it's safer if it has sides which will prevent your guinea pigs from slipping off and injuring themselves.
Keep them cosy
In cold, wet weather, don’t put your guinea pigs in an outdoor run as they’ll easily get wet. Instead, bring them inside or pop them in an outdoor shed – all guinea pig-proofed of course! When it gets really cold give your guinea pigs plenty of extra bedding to help keep them nice and warm.
All guinea pigs enjoy outdoor grazing
Whether your guinea pigs are housed inside or outside, they need the opportunity to run around and explore. Guinea pigs also need to graze regularly – ideally for between four to six hours a day, weather permitting.
All guinea pigs deserve a safe, secure run
Woodgreen advises that guinea pigs who are confined to a hutch for long periods of time are more likely to suffer health conditions and potentially fight with their companions. However, their garden run needs to be secure, have a lid and be well-built to prevent predators and young children trying to climb in when you’re not able to supervise.
Do
Use small gauge, strong welded mesh.
The mesh should be nailed or heavy-duty stapled on to prevent your guinea pigs from forcing the mesh from the framework.
Make run lids that are strong enough
To withhold a predator or windblown items landing on them. Ideally, make the roof in three sections with a supporting beam to aid the strength and prevent dipping in the middle.
Use secure bolts placed on the doors
Not swivel latches. Predators and young children can easily open swivel latches or flimsy bolts.
Provide your guinea pigs with at least three hiding areas
Or tunnels within their run. They don’t feel safe grazing in open spaces and will often hide in one corner or under the only shelter if they don’t have several options to move between.
Don't
Use metal folding runs and A-frames
As these are not suitable for guinea pigs. Metal runs don’t often have a secure lid and are flimsy against predators and weather. A-frames often only have one door so rounding up the guinea pigs can be very tricky – and they’re rarely available in the required minimum size.
Use chicken wire
As it’s not suitable for animal housing. It’s too weak and easy for your piggies to damage and escape from.
Use cable ties tying run panels together as they won’t be secure
The hutch or run must be secured with suitable wood or screws.
Use plastic children’s playhouses
As they are not suitable for guinea pig housing.
Use chicken coops or plastic pods
As they are not suitable for guinea pigs – the housing area is often very small and can become damp and mouldy. They also provide very limited space if the run area is too wet.
Did you know?
Just like humans, guinea pigs are not able to make or store Vitamin C. Feeding good quality, grass-based guinea pig nuggets, which are high in fibre and Vitamin C and rich in nutrients, is the best way to ensure they’re getting everything they need, along with a small handful of leafy greens, such as dandelion, spinach, kale and broccoli. Avoid ‘muesli’-style food as these have been shown to cause digestive problems and dental disease.
Essentials for creating the perfect outdoor set-up for your guinea pigs
Wooden Wendy Houses or garden sheds make an ideal home for your outdoor guinea pigs as you can provide separate sleeping areas, exercise areas, a toilet area – and have lots of space to add plenty of enrichment items too.
A gnaw-proof ceramic bowl
Water bottles or bowls
Nest boxes, tunnels and hiding places
Guinea pig toys
Hay racks
Cosy and absorbent dust-free paper bedding
Lots and lots of tasty fresh meadow hay to tunnel in and munch on
Nutritious grass-based indoor guinea pig nuggets
Guinea-pig safe cleaning products
Did you know?
Unlike dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets, guinea pigs don’t require a yearly vaccination. This means that many are never taken to the vets for check-ups. That’s why it’s really important to give your small pets a weekly health check yourself. Prevention is better than cure – and spotting problems early can make all the difference to your guinea pigs enjoying a speedy recovery or becoming very ill.