Outside cage.. tips?

[Cubby46]

hey everyone, im new to this site and havent been in here for a while, there are a few things i would like to discuss.. first of all.. my piggies are currently in an inside cage but i want to put them in an hug avary we have outside.. it looks like a shed but on one side its chicken wired across the top.. so it lets the sun in in the morning..

i need to know what i should put as the ground for them in there thats not messy, wont get them messy, easy to clean up and wont harm them.. i was thinking sand because it would be easy to turn over and get rid of yukkys off the top and they might enjoy it.. but i read it can be bad for them.. grass isnt really an option because this cage cannot be moved as it is in the ground and once the grass is eaten.. theirs just messy dirt.. or .. mud.. i really need to find something better... any ideas?

also im looking to get ideas on homemade stuff to keepo them occupied.. theres no extras in their cage at the ,moment and its boring them.. iwell i did have my dads old shorts hanging from their cage for a while .. they loved jumping up and getting it.. lol.. tunnels and stuff i dont know what to make them out of..

if anyone can be of assistance i would be so grateful!!

thankyou
Danielle.

[Foggycreek]

We do not recommend keeping guinea pigs outside. You can take them out and supervise them the whole time, but as for living arrangements, they really need to be inside only pets. There are several reasons for this--neglect, exposure, parasites, etc.

How large is your inside cage? Have you ever read www.guineapigcages.com ?

[Cubby46]

i understand your concern for them, but it is what is best for them.. i cannot have them inside anymore because it is not my house, the cage is very secure i will be buying a padlock.. rodent free.. not to mention its huge.. my inside cage is big, i never measure dit before but it takes two people to move it.. if that answers your question. but now that its summer here.. my parents wotn allow the guinea pigs inside anymore.. i promise you all i will take every precaution nessecary because i love my guinea pigs and if anything happened to them id hate myself..

i used to keep my guinea pigs in that outside avary a few years ago.. when there was grass in there... its all dirt now.. i never had any problems then at all.. i juts need to know what type of ground i should put down. i am fresh out of ideas.. straw is too messy as i figured out this winter.. and i have no idea what to do...

by the way their names are pork chops(porky) and bugzy. they are both males :P

[VoodooJoint]

Maybe you can move your room out to the aviary and allow the GPs to live in your room instead? They rely on you to take care of them and look after them and since they are so much more frail and vulnerable then you are it would be best for you to move out to the aviary--since you think it's adequate for living in--and leave the GPs inside.

The padlock and rodent-"freeness" should be more then adequate for your safety and since you don't eat grass you will never have to worry about the yucky dirt. I'm sure you will have no issue with insects or spiders and I'm certain the weather is probably always perfect and never rains where you live so you will never have to worry about it being too hot, cold or damp.

The fresh air will be good for you. Please be certain to post pictures once you have your bed in place.

[Cubby46]

thanks for the sarcasm it was great, look i wouldnt put them in there if i thought they would be in harms way.. you dont need to be sarcastic about it.. i came here to seek help and tips, not for the sarcastic comments.. if you dont want to help me figure this out thats fine all you had to do was say so.. there is no need for snarkyness.. obviously not everyone knows everything about everything! i was trying to do the right thing and ask about it before i do it, but if thats all your going to give me then fine i would like it if youd leave this for someone else to reply.

[VoodooJoint]

Why would you think I'm being snarky? You think the aviary is appropriate for living in, so, live in it. If you don't think it's adequate for human living then why would you think it's appropriate for small, domesticated animals to live in?

I am helping you figure it out. I'm telling you not to put the animals outside BUT if anyone does have to move out then it should be you. You are much better equipped to handle living out there then these small, fragile animals are.

As an administrator on this site I can tell you that you don't get to dictate who does and doesn't respond to you and I doubt you will get many people here that agree with your plans. Most of us are animal welfare advocates and we simply care too much about the well being of the creatures that rely on us to help you neglect them.

Here are some links to help you plan the outdoor cage in case you are still insisting on banishing these poor creatures outside. Maybe you can do better then these people

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

[Pennsylvania Pigger]

Hi Cubby. It's just not a good idea to keep them outside. They're indoor animals just like a hampster or chinchilla would be. They're incredibly sensitive to drafts and changes in humidity and temperature, all of which can kill them very quickly. There are a slew of other risks, too, as you'll see if you read the stories Voodoo linked to.

Here's a page on what to consider when choosing a location for your pigs: http://www.guineapigcages.com/location.htm.

[Cubby46]

look, a simple i dont agree and this is why would have been sufficient, but you chose to be mean about it.. neglect? my guinea pigs are in PERFECT 110% health, their cage is more than enough room, it gets cleaned 2-3 times a week, they are fed their normal dry feed and fruit and veg everyday, dry in the morning, fruit and veg in the afternoon, i handle them regularly and ive never caught so much as a sneeze out of eigther of them.

My family have had many guinea pigs before myne.. most of them were caged outside.. none of them were attacked my mice or rats, eaten by birds or any other creatures, never fell sick (bar ONE guinea pig whom had a very tiny amount of heat stroke through the 47 degree celcius heat summer, which they were taken INSIDE the house for fear of heat stroke).. and he recovered within a day.. nobody has ever tryed to steal my guinea pigs, and if they did they would have been out of luck seeing as my dog guards the house.. and the yard... i have never had any bad incedents to believe i should not house my guinea pigs in a secured shed/avary, with plenty of air, a small amount of sunlight, and plenty of space. This is why *I* didnt see anything wrong with housing them outside..

do u understand why now?

because in all of my experiences, they have been completely fine.. i live in QLD brisbane.. in a small suburb with neighbourhood watch.. i do not in ANY way condone or ever EVER want to see harm come to any animal... especially not the ones that i love so much..

BTW thankyou pensylvannia pigger... i will look at it now..

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

Everything is always okay until it isn't.

Why would you get pets if you keep them outdoors? What's the point?

[Cavebaby]

Perhaps you should rehome your piggies since you want to banish them outside. I refuse to believe that you have their best intrest at heart.