My Ginepigs live outside what is the Best way to insulate their hutch for the coming winter in the UK?

Answer 1

Firstly ensure that they have plenty of hay so they can nest. Covering the hutch with bubble wrap is also a good idea as it traps any warm air that escapes from the hutch.
If your guinea pigs are in a hutch within an enclosure, then also cover the top with plastic and bubble wrap to keep the snow and ice off. Propping up the hutch may also be necessary- place it on four bricks like a table with a little ramp for the guinea pig to enter and exit.
Also make sure any food and water containers are wrapped up or kept out of the snow so that your guinea pig has plenty of things to eat. Check for any signs of damage to the hutch and then repair them now so that they don't cause problems. Check that locks and catches aren't rusty or broken.
Make sure as well that you clear the hutch often to avoid dirt build-up.
Also you noght want to consider moving the hutch to a covered place. I once had mine propped up in my conservatory on plastic sheeting, and then my guinea pig ha space to run around as well as being out of the cold. She was very reluctant to go back outside.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If you haven't got a shed. Put sacking over the hutch, you can also get perspex covers to put over the mesh. Have a look for special hutch insulation covers, or ask a pet shop. You will find that your pet shop may sell a different diet for your guinea pigs for the winter, it contains molasses, this diet helps to keep them warm during winter months, they love it because it's sweet, but they have to come off this food during summer months.

Answer 3

I professionally bred and showed Californian rabbits for many years and was the Eastern states Youth Rep for the ARBA. All our rabbits were raised in outdoor hutches that were built from wood with only the front door having 1" x 1' wire framed in wood. All bedding was of straw to help keep them warm. At night or on extremely windy days we had large canvas tarps that we had nailed to the roofs and we would pull them down and latch them underneath. The worst threat to them is not the cold but the drafts and once rabbits get a cold it can be a lifelong problem many times leading to pneumonia. Outdoors is actually healthier than indoors with all the chemicals we use inside and a sensitive nose, but take the proper precautions to keep your bunny dry and build or buy a good shelter.

Answer 4

sorry i missed the post above about the polystyrene

i insulated mine what i did was buy thin sheets of polystyrene and cut it to the wall sizes inside. Stuck it to the walls and then cut thin ply wood and covered it so it could be seen

hey presto a cavity walled guinea pig hutch
it was always roasty toasty in there

he lived for 8 years in it which i think is quite a long time for a guinea pig not sure if it was coz of the hutch tho

Answer 5

hi i use to breed these in large numbers and found damp conditions killed them.insulation should have been done when your hutch was purchased,the walls should be clad with 25mm polystyrene available fron builders merchants at about £10 per 8 x 4 foot sheet.and then covered with a thin ply,if the insulation was eaten it would block up the guinea pigs intestines so it must be covered.you could line the inner(not the floor)and cover the outer with an old carpet.
full marks to you for your animals welfare.

Answer 6

The best way too do that would be to bring them inside for the winter. You could bring the hutches in your house, or put them in a warm shed.
Most guinea pigs hate the cold so I would definitely advise you to bring them in. Make sure if you keep them in a shed that you cover them up with heavy blankets and lots and lots of warm hay.
Good Luck :)

Answer 7

I put my guinea pig hutch into our shed, when there is a bit of sunshine then i out him into his outdoor run for a bit of a run around. Lots of hay in his sleeping side and then he will be wam. I also use the special sawdust and this also keeps him warm

Answer 8

I think fassa has said it all, but I would like to add that we have a plastic animal transporter (cats) which we now use when we want to bring our pair of guinea pigs inside overnight during the worse of the weather. We line it with newspaper, sawdust add straw and hay a dish for food and attach the water bottle to the door.

Answer 9

You can get a hutch cover, theres a very nice company called scratch a newton who should help you out. http://www.scratchandnewton.com/main.asp

Answer 10

I don't think they should be outside in winter... they will die.