Dangers of Outdoor Housing

[thalestral]

This is not directed at those in circumstances out of their control where they are trying to make the best of things. This is for all of us who want to do the best for our piggies, why we are all here, and are in a position to do so

Comments

[4o5pastmidnight]

D: That's all so sad. My boys are mad at me for not taking them outside when I clean their cages, but it's been 100 for weeks now, and I'm afraid to let them out for even five minutes. Irving misses eating grass, and I let Henry try some last week, and he loves it. I'd be terrified to keep mine outside.

Also, when I was a little kid, my day care had guinea pigs, and my family was often asked to take them home for the weekend because we took really good care of them. The girl was always getting pregnant, and one time she was in a lot of distress while she was at our house. My mom called every vet in the city, and no one would see guinea pigs. Luckily, Sparkle made it, but her babies did not. They have a special place in a shoebox in my back yard, though. And luckily they took Fred, the boy, away from Sparkle so she wouldn't have babies anymore.

So sad. :\

[juushika]

Irving misses eating grass
When it's too hot or too wet (the most likely extreme, here), I cut grass and bring it in for the boys. I just use kitchen sheers, and cut whatever grass I can. They think it's the most wonderful thing every—all the munchy goodness without the climate changes and scary sounds of being outside.

[4o5pastmidnight]

Haha, I'm still kinda weary. They're doing major construction on our street, and I'm afraid the grass has bad stuff on it. The dust they've kicked up is literally EVERYWHERE.

[kikayume]

You could try your hand at growing some wheatgrass (which is catgrass they sell at Petsmart). Pigs LOVE it. Alternately, if you're lazy (like me... *cough* most Harris Teeters sell it already cut in the organic section for like $2.50. ;)

[hellowonderland]

Thank you for posting this. I get the feeling sometimes that people think guinea pigs are "designed" to live in the wild... but they just aren't.

[thhiiiefff]

I can't understand why people think guinea pigs are such wild things. It's like.. have they seen a guinea pig before? They have no legs! :P

And, pretty much, no survival skills.

[4o5pastmidnight]

Basic guinea pig survival skills:

If it's looming, RUN RUN RUN!!!!!

(My boys hate the act of picking them up; they freak out, and mentally they're going HAWK HAWK HAWK!)

[kikayume]

We jokingly refer to our pig's as "evolution's cul-de-sac". They're made to be adorable and a snack to everything else.

[fetteredwolf]

Great post!

[thalestral]

Thank you :D

[pacific12th]

rabbits have 5 million layers of hair, so housing them outside can work if you have the proper running area, and fully insulated hutch. of course the minute it gets hotter than 80 degrees or colder than 40 you end up having to bring them inside.

i didnt know people actually kept their guinea pigs out side...thanks for the info though.

[pacific12th]

oh and my piggie hates it outside when i do try to bring her out. it's too noisy i think!

[jumpinglegacy]

I just wanted to say that you should really just write a guinea pig book, because you know pretty much everything. Whenever I see your icon, I know that the information is reliable!

[thalestral]

Hee, thanks ^_^;; The bloke keeps telling me to write a book, at least it would make up for all the academic knowledge I've lost because the guinea pig info has crowded it out of my brain!