C&C in a shed

[Coconut]

After a conversation over whether a C&C would be appropriate housing I thought I'd come on here and see what everyone else thinks. The shed in question is made out of bricks/ wood and is pretty typical of the average shed. It is pretty small and would have a heater throughout the day but not the night and the cage would have fleece as the bedding, with plenty of fleecy toys and hay.

Now I was of the personal opinion that regardless of the amount of hay, fleece, etc unless the shed was heavily insulated and had a heat source throughout the day and night (which it won't) it'd be too cold during an English winter, especially if it snows. And that a hutch would be a better alternative as obviously they are more blocked off and have the added bonus of having a lot more component ready made to help keep them warm or such things as duvet can easily be put over them to keep them warmer. I know from personal experience C&C aren't brilliant at retaining heat and the days when it's got cold in my room due to the board coming out of place the piggie cage gets just as cold as my room and though they are lovely the hay and fleece bits don't bring enough to stop the cold. I also went and stood in my dad's shed (made out of well structured bricks) for 10 mins in a cardi to see how cold it was and I was freezing.

I dn't mind if people don't agree with me as I'm more interested in the welfare of the pigs but was wondering what anyone else thinks? Thanks .

 

[Rachel WD]

Only if the shed was the same temperature as inside your house. Otherwise you are right in that a hutch is better for insulating.

 

[Coconut]

Only if the shed was the same temperature as inside your house. Otherwise you are right in that a hutch is better for insulating.

Thank you, that's what I had thought.

Anyone else?

 

[gogoguineas]

Absolutely, it would need to be heated over night, 24/7 in winter, i just dont think it would provide the warmth and security that a hutch would inside

 

[4piggiepigs]

Ive heard people use an oil filled radiator day and night in sheds for piggies, i prefer mine indoors tho, i had out door piggies years ago and they are better off and more interesting and fun indoors but then considering all the stuff i make for mine i may be a bit obsessive

 

[Coconut]

Ive heard people use an oil filled radiator day and night in sheds for piggies, i prefer mine indoors tho, i had out door piggies years ago and they are better off and more interesting and fun indoors but then considering all the stuff i make for mine i may be a bit obsessive

Lol same I love having mine inside and don't know if I could imagine having them outside. Unfortunately for this person is is largely down to her mother who doesn't want them inside and dosn't want the heater on during the night in case a fire starts, both fair in the respect that it's her house so her rules though. And it's doesn't count as obsessive if the products are amazing .

 

[Coconut]

Absolutely, it would need to be heated over night, 24/7 in winter, i just dont think it would provide the warmth and security that a hutch would inside

Thank you, my biggest worry is currently she isn't allowed to have the heater in at night which would mean for a good while they'll be in a cage without heating. And that's why I suggested a hutch over a C&C.

 

[BellasMummy]

If I was gonna have my pigs outside they would be in a very well insulated hutch. I don't see the point of having them in a C&C in a shed.

 

[sophieandhoney]

I stood in the conservatory just now - to check the back door was locked, it was incase you were worried. any how it was bloody FREEZING out there. Admittedly it is a glass structure but it is heated all day and I wouldn't put the trio out there, (have considered it). Without heat 24/7 I would seriously worry about the cold in a C and C

I wonder if she could get a hutch and have a c and c attachment? shut them up in a well inslutated hutch at night, have them "out" and heated during the day?

otherwise it would be snugglesafes a go go!

xx

 

[ghostbusterbunny]

If they're inside at the moment I'd say it's too late to move the pigs outside - if you're overwintering inside piggies outdoors it needs to be started at the end of summer to get them used to the dropping temperatures.

My piggies live in an open pen in a shed with bedding boxes that they can go in. It has an oil filled heater and we're getting a tubular heater put at the other side of the shed, but even then it's not 'warm' - but my piggies are outdoor piggies all year round so to them it keeps them comfortable and happy.

If they are being moved outside this late in the year then she needs to be incredibly careful and will need to make sure that these piggies are very well insulated. This is a very unwise thing to because by now these piggies will have been used to being in a heated house - to move a piggy from what is possibly a 22-25C house outside where it is getting down to around freezing now in some parts is not good for these pigs at all.

The shed will need insulating, the hutch will need insulating and they will need a heater. The chances of these pigs getting ill will be massively increased and she will need to do everything from snuggle safes/heat pods to blankets over the hutches to help these pigs acclimatise to the sudden change.

 

[BossHogg]

As I've said previously, my piggies are out in all weathers in their own shed, the hutches are insulated as is the shed itself and there is a tubular heater above the door to keep the chill off and lighting so I can go in at any time of day or night to check on them.

 

[squeek]

My boys live in a shed all year round. The shed is insulated and i have an oil filled radiator. The radiator is only switched on when the temp drops below the setting i have it on as it turns on and off itself. I find my shed is normally around 14/15oC, if you insulate your shed really well then the radiator wont be on that much as the shed retains the heat. My boys are also in hutches but they are not insulated, if i feel its going to be really cold that the temp will drop right down due to not being able to retain enough heat due to minus conditions outside i have bought some snuggle heat pads for them to huddle round.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Hi

Mine are all in a C&C in a wooden heated shed with a wall mounted oil heater. The temp in there is usually 14oC all winter. I have two oldies and recently put in snugglesafes for them....kind of makes me feel better and they love them! But they are all warm as toast and very happy. they do all have hideys to snuggle in as well as and when they want and lots and lots of hay. I just let them decide what they want to do.

The main thing is that they need heating on at night if in a C&C, without that then it has to be insulated hutches I think.

x

 

[liquorice allsorts]

my other worry with such an open plan caging in a shed is that a rat might get in and harm the piggies, less likely with a closed in hutch, but i guss it depends on how secure the shed is x

 

[Coconut]

She hasn't spoke to me in a couple of days but the latest news is I don't think they have to be in the shed anymore so no worries about being cold in a C&C which is great , I have a feeling I played a part in this decision but I don't know .

 

[Guinea Slave]

my other worry with such an open plan caging in a shed is that a rat might get in and harm the piggies, less likely with a closed in hutch, but i guss it depends on how secure the shed is x

If the shed is in good condition then it is probably more secure than a hutch. I have a purpose built mesh door for the summer and there's no way anything is getting there!

In fact many years ago when I was a kid (too long ago to say!) somehow a rat got into my guineas hutch...we never did figure out how. The two guineas (very large boars) killed it! The tail of the rat was missing and to this day I don't know if the rat was sick anyway and had been injured or the guineas ate the tail :o

 

[Coconut]

If the shed is in good condition then it is probably more secure than a hutch. I have a purpose built mesh door for the summer and there's no way anything is getting there!

In fact many years ago when I was a kid (too long ago to say!) somehow a rat got into my guineas hutch...we never did figure out how. The two guineas (very large boars) killed it! The tail of the rat was missing and to this day I don't know if the rat was sick anyway and had been injured or the guineas ate the tail :o

The idea was the hutch would go inside the shed instead of a C&C cage so it would have all the protection of the shed but also the security and warmth that a hutch provides better.