A summer home?

[sophieandhoney]

I am about to set the 140 Ferplast cage from Pets At Home for my trio and as ever with piggies I am wondering.............

It gets REALLY hot in my house in the summer, we have double glazing and full sun on the front of the house all day (when it's hot obviously).

The obvious answer is to open the windows and draw the curtains etc but Mum doesn't like leaving the window open all day and I worry when i am at work that little pigs are roasting.

would it be worth having a hutch(secure fox proof etc) in the shady bit of the garden for them? to go in during the day or possibly as a holiday home during say August and July?


thanks

xx

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I keep mine inside all year around, but I used to put the last pair I had outside in a hutch in the summer months, usually after the end of April to middle May until about September/October depending on how cold it was at night. I used to only put them in the hutch in the day then bring them in at night until I felt the nights were warm enough (June/July/August).

As they will be in a cage whilst indoors, I suggest you move the cage to a room in the house that's the coolest, out of direct sunlight. Downstairs will probably be cooler than upstairs & when the temperature is hot, open windows in the room as soon as you are in the house. Also put in ice blocks under the bedding or a chinchilla tile that you can pop in the fridge at night & put in their cage during the day & replace regularly. Hope that helps

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Health+%2526+Hygiene.12/Cooling+Tile.669.html

 

[cheshire_mum]

How about having a fan to circular the air in the room, just dont have it aimed on the cage?

 

[sophieandhoney]

Yeah I can and do loads to try and keep the room cool, but I wondered if it was a good idea to have a hutch for them instead.

cheers for the ideas

 

[cheshire_mum]

I'm putting my new boys in a hutch whilst the weather is mild and bring them in in the winter.

 

[Abi_nurse]

I think a hutch is a great idea, i have everyone in for the the winter, but my boars (and Saffy probably) will be going out in hutches for the summer. And the herd go out in the day for the summer time (and in for the night).

x.

 

[hayls<3]

How about cooling pads?

http://www.overstock.com/Pet-Suppli...l-K9-Cool-Pad/6099582/product.html?cid=133635

These are the smallest i've seen but leaving them at one side of the cage so the piggies could go on if they need to cool off? Or putting a small bottle of water half full in the freezer and then when frozen leaving in the cage wrapped in a fleece would be a cheap alternative. xx