Bringing loan boars in over winter?

[Andi]

Hi,

I have posted about my boars and their problems before. They came as a trio and fell out so i ended up with a pair and a lone. Then one developed severe health problems and sadly passed away so now i have two lone boars.

They currently dont get on but are still very young, and are living in seperate hutches and runs next to each other outside. which they seem quite happy to be doing and chatter away to each other.

Previously i have always kept my guineas outside year round bringing the hutches into the shed once winter arrived and keeping them warm with plenty of hay and insulating the hutches with bubble wrap and towels etc..

The problem i have this year is that they are both loan as i am trying to work out a good outcome for them both.

now if i put them in the shed in their separate hutches they wont have a friend to snuggle up to to keep warm and while i will do everything possible to keep them warm and make sure thehy get plenty of interaction with me and obviously will still be able to chatter to each other, I'm now wondering whether it would be a better idea to get two indoor set ups and bring them indoors over the winter where they will get a bit more attention than they would outside in the shed.

however if i bring them indoors then i would have to have one of them in my house and my mum the other in her house as i just dont have room for two large indoor spaces. my mum is fab with the piggies as she loves them as much as i do so one going to her isnt a problem.

so I'm after opinions on what people think would be better for them for this year, in the shed where they can stay in the same space but separated and still chatter and have some piggy conversation with each other....or indoors but in completely separate houses. Either way they will get a lot of love and care as usual.

opinions or solutions from anyone with a similar situation or just thoughts on whether one situation is better than the other.

I know its not ideal them being lone at all but thats just how it will have to be until the spring now unfortunately so i need to try and do best for them over the winter for now.

 

[lauraboara]

I am not sure I have a solution but just wanted to say that I understand the dilemma
I have 2 separated boars in a big side by side hutch outside which would not fit inside for the winter. So if I bring them in, they would not be side by side but it would be easier to manage the temp. Perhaps our boars should get together? Or have a lesson in making accommodation easier for their slaves?

One suggestion that I have read is that if they have to be apart inside, could they have side by side run time in afternoons/ evening so they could interact then?

 

[lauralucy]

if it was me i would put them in the shed so they can still chatter away to each other. there are lots of options to keep them warm outside, like microwavable heat pads, cosies, heater in the shed.

i would be worried if you seperated them over the winter they may not go back together at all.

could you get a double tier indoor cage so they can still chatter to each other?

 

[Andi]

oh no I'm sorry you have the same problem but I'm kind of glad its not just me with this dilemma! its wrecking my head trying to work out whats better for them, they like to make challenges for us dont they

The problem with one living in my house and the other living in my mums is that we live in different towns so would have to cart them back and forward to give them runtime alongside each other which would probably stress them a bit i think. tricky tricky isnt it. rolleyes

hopefully we can both figure out a solution!

 

[Andi]

if it was me i would put them in the shed so they can still chatter away to each other. there are lots of options to keep them warm outside, like microwavable heat pads, cosies, heater in the shed.

i would be worried if you seperated them over the winter they may not go back together at all.

could you get a double tier indoor cage so they can still chatter to each other?

hhhm yeah as theyre only currently able to see each other and chatter to each other which is all theyre happy to do, a double tier indoor hutch could be an option if i could find one that provides enough room for both.

but in that case it may be cheaper for me to put them in the shed next to each other and insulate them!