Hello, I’m Pippin, and I’m a guinea pig. Today I’m going to discuss whether we are better kept Outside, or Inside, and things that should be considered. And I’ve invited Ronnie and Reggie to talk about it too. We’re in these letters.

We’re helping out our Mummy, Jemima Pett, who is doing the A2Z this year by putting together all the posts we’ve done here on George’s Guinea Pig World, to make a book on Guinea Pig Care from A to Z. You can see her posts here: jemimapett.com/blog/. We’re filling in the gaps this month.

What do we mean by outside?

You can’t let guinea pigs run around outside all the year round like animals in a field. In fact, even farm animals get brought into a barn during the worst of winter. So keeping pigs outside still means providing them with secure shelter, safe from the elements and predators, like foxes, cats, rats and nasty humans.

So I think outdoor pigs have hutches and maybe pens, in a shed or something like our summerhouse. They may be well insulated and warm, they may not be. When do outside sheds become indoors for guinea pigs? I think it depends on whether the space they are in is part of their carer/owners living space.

So shall we say, in these notes, outdoor pigs live separately from the rest of the household.

Our experience of outdoor living

Pippin. I don’t really remember living outdoors. I think when I first went into the rescue Victor (the Red) and I were in a cage or hutch in a building next to the main house, but a door came straight into us from the house. It wasn’t heated though. We weren’t there long, because Mummy expressed an interest, but could takes us for a few months, and Auntie Sophie sent us to a foster carer for a few months, and that was indoors.

Ronnie and Reggie: I can’t remember how we lived before we came to Mummy Anna at the rescue. It was too long ago. I think it was indoors or in a shed. When we came to the rescue we were sometimes indoors, and sometimes in one of the outside rooms. But they all connect, and there’s always people about to say hello to if we want to. And other piggies above us, below us, opposite us… Loads of other pigs to talk to. It was strange when we came here and there was only Pippin. And Mummy. Sometimes I miss all the chatter. I do too. But I like when Mummy talks to us. And cuddles us. Makes us feel important.

So we may not be the best people to talk about outdoors or indoors.

Indoors

People are always around. This could be difficult if they are noisy, but our mummy isn’t. She sees us several times a day, and gives us treats at regular times. We know where we are with her, and we know where she is unless she’s gone out. She doesn’t go out for more than the daylight part of the day. Mostly. Sometimes she goes out in the evening, but comes back again.

The temperature is about the right amount all the time. When it’s very hot Mummy makes it cooler or uses the blowy thing. If we run out of food or water she tops it up as soon as she sees.

Outdoors

People have to remember to come and see us. If it’s cold or wet some people might not bother. If it’s cold they will probably not sit with us and cuddle us. Some people say that younger people forget about us or think we’re boring because it’s more difficult to get to know them, and they don’t really spend time getting to know us.

They say outdoors is a better environment because it’s not over-heated and we get lots of fresh air. But our room isn’t over-heated, and the glass door is often open, even when it’s cold outside, so we get plenty of fresh air.

I think I prefer indoors. So do I. Me too.

We agree on indoors is best. If you have an attentive mummy who makes sure we get fresh air, exercise and fresh grass. And grass time when possible. Yes.

So that’s it from me, Pippin, and from Ronnie and Reggie. The main difference is probably how much time we spend with Mummy.

love

Pippin xxx