Raising/housing

Question
What are some things I can do to keep my outdoor guinea pigs warm in the winter and cool in the summer?

Also,  I have three separate pens outside adequate for keeping guinea pigs.  How would you suggest I separate the guinea pigs for breeding and which pen should contain which guinea pigs?  For example, should one pen be for females and one breeding male, one for all males, and one for giving birth?

Answer
Hi Sara.  To keep them cool in the summer you can try freezing water bottles and putting one of those in there each day that way they can lean up against the bottles if they get hot.  The down side is you need lots of water bottles (atleast 2 per cage because as one is freezing one will be in use).  As far as the winter goes, keep them covered so their aren't many drafts, put lots of hay in there they can lay in that helps a little as well.  I can't really think of a source of heat you can offer them that is safe.  As far as breeding and separating your guinea pigs go, I would have the 1 boar with the female(s) you want to breed in one cage, have a empty cage ready where you can move him to after you are sure she is pregnant, one other cage for your other males.  When the sow gets pregnant, as long as their are no more than 3 females in that cage, you should probably move the male out and keep her in there.  You want to stress the female as little as possible when she's pregnant and moving cages can be source of stress.  Also, the babies are going to need to keep warm if she delivers in the winter and the other guinea pigs in the pen can help in that department.
Anngela