Guinea Pig Lifespan Outdoors
Guinea pigs live for around four to eight years so their care is a long term commitment.
Guinea pig lifespan outdoors. A well cared for guinea pig will have much more opportunity of living a long healthy life but longevity is also affected by their genes. Males are known as boars and females are called sows. Did you know that guinea pigs enjoy temperatures similar to humans. One of the more common questions people ask is can my guinea pigs live outside through the winter winters in the uk can be quite cold wet and windy at.
Guinea pigs were apparently domesticated more than 3 000 years ago in peru coinciding with humans transition from a nomadic to an agricultural lifestyle. In the wild they live outside all the time but they are native to south america a much drier and warmer climate than the uk. Make sure the hutch is raised off the ground and that the roof is sloped. No natural population of this species exists in the wild.
In comparison the life expectancy of a guinea pig is 4 8 years. The guinea pig lifecycle. Unlike some other pets they like the same temperatures as us. Guinea pigs need company of their own kind and can be kept in same sex groups or in pairs.
Guinea pigs will grow to an average size of 10 12inch 25 30cm being a bit lager and more robust than their smaller cousins the guinea pig can be expected to outlive a hamster who should live to around 2 3 years old. If the weather feels cold to you then it will feel cold to your guinea. Guinea pigs are traditionally thought of as good first pets for children but it should always be an adult that takes responsibility to ensure they are properly handled and cared for. Take a look at our top 10 ways to keep your pocket pets warm in cold conditions.
Typically guinea pigs live for 5 6 years but some may live longer. Cold weather is extremely dangerous for guinea pigs. Use a hutch cover to keep your guinea pigs dry. Keeping your guinea pig warm in winter at a glance.
So can guinea pigs live outside in the uk. However some guinea pigs don t live that long whereas others make it to a much riper old age. If you house your guinea pigs outdoors you will need to make sure they don t become too cold during the cooler months of the year. Guinea pigs are similar to humans when it comes to the ideal temperature.
Most breeds of guinea pig have the same hardiness and generally decent health. The average lifespan of a guinea pig is around 4 8 years. However the average lifespan for a texel is known to be about the same as the average lifespan of a guinea pig of another breed averaging from four to seven years with eight at the outside.