2uesday says
A good idea is to keep the guinea in a good size hutch and also have a covered outdoor run which has a hutch as part of the design. They like large cardboard tubes or something to hide in; if something frightens them like a loud noise. Make sure they are in a safe place in the garden away from possible predators.
Then keep the guinea pig mostly in the hutch i.e if you are not at home to keep an eye on it and at night but on warm days if the grass is dry put it in the outdoor run. Even if they are eating grass they need a supply of hay to keep their teeth healthy and always a supply of water and proper guinea pig food ( not rabbit food).
Once the weather is damp or cold move the hutch that the guinea lives in into a sheltered place like a cosy shed.
Theophanes says
I'm guessing the nay sayers to outdoor guinea pig enclosures have never been to a guinea pig friendly petting zoo... In any event, guinea pigs can go outside and an outdoor enclosure can be a great place to build a nice big habitat for them but there is a lot to think about before attempting this. First is they'll need an enclosure a lot like you'd give a rabbit that has at the very least a box to get away from direct sunlight, wind, rain, and to hide in if they feel threatened by something. Also it'll need to either be a grated bottom cage like a rabbit hutch, allowing droppings to land on the ground outside the cage, or it needs to be a portable cage that you can move around when they soil it. These work the best for outdoor habitats. Guinea pigs love the grass so I prefer the second option myself but that's really up to you and your piggy. Most guinea pigs aren't big on digging but they're all individuals and ones who do like to dig pose a risk of escape so a grated bottom cage would work better for them. Always keep your eye out for these sorts of things!
Also there are play pens, and rotating cage tubes (somewhat like hamster balls) you can look into but you have to supervise them with these so they won't get harassed or get into any accidents or roll away.
Things you have to consider before setting up an outdoor enclosure is the weather, predators, and parasites. All pens should have a top! Otherwise guinea pigs can be free lunch for hawks, other birds of prey, neighborhood cats, wildlife, and maybe even picked up by unsupervised children. I wouldn't recommend keeping your guinea pig outside at night... simply because that's when the clever and determined foxes, fisher cats, and other potentially dangerous things come out to eat. I also would caution you to consider the weather. Guinea pigs are pretty hardy but it's probably not good for them to be out in extreme cold or heat. And guinea pigs can get parasites, of particular interest are mites, ticks, and things like ringworm. There are preventatives and cures for all these but it's best to know them beforehand. Use common sense and you could end up with a great new environment for you and your piggy to play in.
UltraMagnus says
You can put your guinea pigs outdoor if your backyard or frontyard is safe. You must make sure that no cat from your neighbors goes to your yard, or it will snatch one of your guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are such gentle animals and won't fight back when attacked. My guinea pig Kevin died when my neighbor's cat took him and ran away with him. I only took him in our backyard to get some fresh air and enjoy the feeling of walking on grasses and a cat came out from nowhere and hit him. You can put your guinea pigs out though but you need to have a really good cage.
brittany dodds says
i wouldnt recomend it . not even if it has a guinea pig pen with a lid on because it can kill them if they are in the cold
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