Cold weather, affecting indoor pigs.

[flintstones]

My pigs are indoors, but I am now starting to worry as I've noticed this year is particually bad so far for pigs dying due to unknown causes. It is very worrying, it seems to be both indoor and outdoor pigs that are passing, I appreciate this could very well be unrelated to the cold.

Obviously when we're home the central heating is on, but when we're out it isn't, my pigs all have a friend to snuggle, if they wish. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas how to keep them snuggly!

I have noticed when returning from work they feel cold to touch which I don't like.

With temperatures reaching as low as -12 so far, I daren't think about the rest of this winter.

 

[Branston&Pickles]

Mine are inside too, I was worried the other week and posted about this. A few people suggested putting fleece over their cages at night and also adding vetbed to their beds to keep them extra warm.

 

[flintstones]

Mine are inside too, I was worried the other week and posted about this. A few people suggested putting fleece over their cages at night and also adding vetbed to their beds to keep them extra warm.

Oooo, I totally missed it. I shall have a look now!

Although I wouldn't want to cover there cage when I'm at work although I don't think they would care that they couldn't see out. I'm terrible for putting human emotions onto animals and thinking about it far too much!

I think I will get them some snuggle heat pads.

 

[Branston&Pickles]

Someone suggested snuggle heat pads too, Here's the link for you:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58794

 

[Romily]

Pigs indoors *** be fine without the heating on during the day, I would only be concerned if you had skinnies x

 

[mojules]

I was concerned about ours too even though they are indoors and I actual prefer them to be watrm and I would rather freeze they have nice new vetbed from piggy claws with another fleece on top, they are always bundled with hay to hide ad snuggle in, they have a fleece over the top and sides of the cage but this doesn't cover the front and wait for it the piesta resistonce (? spelling) a heater inbtween the two cages which is on low-ish heat all day just to take the coldness away from the room (they are so spoiled it is unbelievable )~ x

 

[flintstones]

I was concerned about ours too even though they are indoors and I actual prefer them to be watrm and I would rather freeze they have nice new vetbed from piggy claws with another fleece on top, they are always bundled with hay to hide ad snuggle in, they have a fleece over the top and sides of the cage but this doesn't cover the front and wait for it the piesta resistonce (? spelling) a heater inbtween the two cages which is on low-ish heat all day just to take the coldness away from the room (they are so spoiled it is unbelievable )~ x

I would worry about leaving a heater on when I'm out, Incase they overheated or a fire started. Wonders if I have irrational fears. @).

Do you have a temperature Gage I was considering investing so I can see what temperatures the room is going too.

 

[Castaway]

When I had my first two piggies, about 12 years ago, I lived in a flat that didn't have central heating - just electric fires and convector heaters when we were at home. I was worried about the piggies being chilly in the kitchen, so first thing in the morning, I filled two hot water bottles and put them between the outside of the cage base side and the wall of the cabinet their cage was next to, with a blanket at the cabinet side to try and keep the heat towards the cage. The piggies tended to snuggle down that end and a bit like a storage heater, it gave off some warmth through most of the day. I did the same thing at night as well. You could try something similar

Now, thankfully we have central heating and a thermostat. During the day, it's left at between 16 and 18 degrees and that seems to be fine for the piggies and their "pig brother" (who's a cat - don't ask! ) Their bedrooms are vetbed, so I think that keeps them dry and warmer as well.

 

[sport_billy]

Pitch and Putt are indoor pigs and am afraid our green credentials have gone out the window (as will our paychecks when the gas bill comes in). We have left the heating on constant for the last few weeks so they will stay warm.

 

[hot fox]

I bought a nursery thermometer from Boots and put that on the nearest window sill to our chaps' enclosure. It gives you a min and max temperature until you re-set it. I thought it was sad, but it's proved really useful! Even with a radiator in there, the temperature fluctuates from 11 to about 18 degrees, I try to keep it constant now. I'm convinced they have more mite problems since the heatings been on....

 

[idlewildgirl]

We have moved our boys to the upstairs bedroom as the heat from the hot water tank helps. Feel awful when their ears are cold when I get in from work

 

[ericnernie]

Ernie is in the coldest spot in the house so on cold nights he has a snuggle pad and generally in the winter I put a couple of towels over his cage at night. He also sleeps on a fleece with extra hay in his cage.

 

[mojules]

I would worry about leaving a heater on when I'm out, Incase they overheated or a fire started. Wonders if I have irrational fears. @).

Do you have a temperature Gage I was considering investing so I can see what temperatures the room is going too.

Yes I am usually worried about leaving things like that on too - it is usually set low just to take the coldness awat from the room and when it gets to the temperature the room is at it cuts off and only starts back up again when the temperature drops

I should have said that the heater doesnt inidcate what temperature the heater is at x

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I agree this is a thought that needs careful consideration as not everyone's indoors is actually indoors as some of us know it i.e. many people have rooms which may not be heated at all and the rooms feel far from indoors.

Fleece blankets over cages (leaving one side open for breathing space, of course) and lots of hay is what I opt to do if for whatever reason the central heating is not doing its job (which, touch wood, it's never let us down).

The Snugglesafe is the only heating "gadget" I have tried and I feel safe leaving it with pigs provided a) the pig has the ability to move freely and b) the pig is not hellbent on attempting to destroy the Snugglesafe or its cover.

 

[alisont]

Our heating is on 24-7 at the moment but very low at night - Dad feels the cold being diabetic so I'm lucky its always on.

I was worried about Monty when the heating broke - we were without heating for 2 days last week luckily not the colder spell. I had a plug in mini heater in my room where he lives and put a fleece over his cage at night then just moved him round to the warmer room but he was fine.

My others are outdoors so worry more about them but they have tons of hay/covers/heatpads and seem fine - Id much rather they were inside but not an option as cant fint them in my room and cant have them in other parts of the house our garage is dark and to be honest not any warmer.

I shall be working on the idea of a shed for next winter and should have the garage/house re wired so can look at heat in the garage next winter.