Cold weather

[Toya]

Hi, I'm new to the group and am worrying sick about my boy piggy. He is 2 years old, was born outside and has only ever lived outside. His previous owner had 10 pigs but anyone he was ever paired with picked on him so hes always been a lone piggy. The temperature outside hasnt got above 1 degree for the past two days and is due to drop below freezing overnight tonight. Ive noticed today he hasnt been as active and is only eating some of his meals (usually not a crumb is left!)
He absolutely hates being anywhere but in the garden! I've tried moving his hutch into the shed, he was so unhappy he stopped eating or wheeking and just hid so after 2 nights I moved him back outside and instantly he was his happy self again. He would be just as unhappy being brought inside as is so used to being an outdoor boy.

He has a snugglesafe heat pad which he refuses to sit on (and I find it only stays warm for around 5 hours so without setting an alarm to get up and re heat it at 3am, it's cold from then for hours until I get up at 7am), plenty of hay bedding which he flattens and will only sit on top of, never burrows and a cardboard hide inside the bed area of his hutch and I pack all around the sides of this and the top up to the hutch roof with straw and hay for insulation. He also has a hutch hugger and lots of blankets plus a duvet over the top of his hutch and the cover plastic door is zipped closed overnight. What else can I possibly do to keep him warm?! Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I over worry with him, always have but I absolutely hate the thought of him being cold.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Might he have been unhappy because it was a new situation and not necessarily because he prefers to be outside? My almost three year old piggies live in a hutch in my shed but they get brought indoors mostly in summer as it’s too hot in the shed - they tend to sulk for a couple of days but soon come round to the idea of being indoors when they realise they can manipulate me into getting extra snacks!
A lone piggy outside at this time of year is not ideal but youve got to do what you can!
he may not get on with other boars, but have you considered neutering him and finding him a sow to live with? Character compatibility is key to finding a new friend and dating at a rescue centre allows him to find his own friend which will result in a good bond.
Please try not to use straw in the hutch as it is sharp and can cause injuries, plus it’s not edible.
Do you have a thermometer in the hutch?
Have you tried adding more than one snugglesafe - not because it’ll make him sit on them, but because multiple will mean the hutch is warmer. I put four snugglesafes in for my two boys which get spread the length of their hutch so even if they don’t want to sit on it, the hay and air around has been warmed.

 

[Toya]

Might he have been unhappy because it was a new situation and not necessarily because he prefers to be outside? My almost three year old piggies live in a hutch in my shed but they get brought indoors mostly in summer as it’s too hot in the shed - they tend to sulk for a couple of days but soon come round to the idea of being indoors when they realise they can manipulate me into getting extra snacks!
A lone piggy outside at this time of year is not ideal but youve got to do what you can!
he may not get on with other boars, but have you considered neutering him and finding him a sow to live with? Character compatibility is key to finding a new friend and dating at a rescue centre allows him to find his own friend which will result in a good bond.
Please try not to use straw in the hutch as it is sharp and can cause injuries, plus it’s not edible.
Do you have a thermometer in the hutch?
Have you tried adding more than one snugglesafe - not because it’ll make him sit on them, but because multiple will mean the hutch is warmer. I put four snugglesafes in for my two boys which get spread the length of their hutch so even if they don’t want to sit on it, the hay and air around has been warmed.

Thank you for your fast reply. It may have been the new situation that made him sulk, yes. The shed didnt feel any warmer to be honest so I didnt see the benefit of keeping him in there. He has a huge enclosure which his hutch goes inside in a very sheltered part of the garden and the enclosure has a roof so he's well protected from rain and wind.
The straw is just on top of his hide so he cant get to it, the base and sides is all soft hay.
I dont think I could go through the stress of taking him to be neutered and he is such a happy boy with just my company, I spend a lot of time with him.
I dont have a thermometer so will get one asap and another snugglesafe. Hes a very intelligent boy so if he were really desperately feeling the cold I'd like to think he would sit on one or at least lay against it?

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things to keep him warm. Keeping him out of drafts and his bedding dry are the most important things. If he needed to be warmer he would sit on the snuggle safe.

if he is eating less and losing weight he needs to be seen by a vet, as that could b down to any number of things and not necessarily related to living outdoors.

 

[Toya]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things to keep him warm. Keeping him out of drafts and his bedding dry are the most important things. If he needed to be warmer he would sit on the snuggle safe.

if he is eating less and losing weight he needs to be seen by a vet, as that could b down to any number of things and not necessarily related to living outdoors.

Thank you He's definitely not lost any weight and is being 'choosy' about what he eats more than anything. Leaving the boring lettuce until later when all the good stuff like parsley and mint has gone. He's a little overweight if anything as I've upped his food since the weather turned colder.

 

[Piggies&buns]

As hay needs to be the main part of the diet, it’s highly unlikely he would be overweight due to it.
too much veg (they should have just 50g day) and definitely too much pellets (they should have one tablespoon per day) will cause unhealthy weight gain, but when you increase food due to the cold weather ensure it is the hay which is increased not veg and pellets

 

[Hath]

Hi. We built an insulated piggie shed for then two pairs. One pair just didn't settle and I gave in and brought them back in. On the other hand, the second pair preferred to be in the shed. But since this winter is already starting to be colder than usual, with lots of nights of freezing temperatures or horrendous rains and little sunlight to warm the shed during the day, I've decided to bring them inside. I had a heater and it still wasn't enough. You'll be horrified once you get a thermometer and see just how cold it is, even with everything you're doing. I would be worried keeping single piggie outdoors as there's no companion to warm him up and must be lonely.
You can get cheap snugglesafe pads on zooplus. I always have multiple so that I can reheat them without disturbing my pigs. Also, I've noticed they don't heat well once you've had them for a while (I've written dates of purchase on mine to keep track). I would warm them up at 10pm and they would still be warm at 6am. Try covering it with hay, as none of mine like it otherwise (guess it's like sleeping on a rock?)

 

[Toya]

Hi. We built an insulated piggie shed for then two pairs. One pair just didn't settle and I gave in and brought them back in. On the other hand, the second pair preferred to be in the shed. But since this winter is already starting to be colder than usual, with lots of nights of freezing temperatures or horrendous rains and little sunlight to warm the shed during the day, I've decided to bring them inside. I had a heater and it still wasn't enough. You'll be horrified once you get a thermometer and see just how cold it is, even with everything you're doing. I would be worried keeping single piggie outdoors as there's no companion to warm him up and must be lonely.
You can get cheap snugglesafe pads on zooplus. I always have multiple so that I can reheat them without disturbing my pigs. Also, I've noticed they don't heat well once you've had them for a while (I've written dates of purchase on mine to keep track). I would warm them up at 10pm and they would still be warm at 6am. Try covering it with hay, as none of mine like it otherwise (guess it's like sleeping on a rock?)

Thank you And thanks for the tip about zooplus. I covered the snugglesafe with hay last night and it did stay warmer for longer. He seems happy this morning, popcorning around and has even come out into his run to eat some grass so he's definitely not cold. The extra blankets I put over his hutch worked well last night too as it dropped to -1 early this morning and the inside of his hutch felt nice and warm when I unzipped his door cover.

 

[Toya]

 

[Siikibam]

I’m afraid if it’s too cold for you to be out in a t-short and bare feet then it’s too cold for him. And isn’t the grass wet in the mornings?

 

[Nidhi08]

View attachment 160007

Dont use igloos, watch little adventure and many other youtube channel and please make sure your settled cage is actually perfect. also your piggie is so so so cute these are mine

 

[Toya]

I’m afraid if it’s too cold for you to be out in a t-short and bare feet then it’s too cold for him. And isn’t the grass wet in the mornings?

He only comes out when he wants to and if the grass is wet he runs straight back into his hutch. Usually only spends 10 mins in the afternoon down on the floor. He loves the freedom, it's what he's used to since he was a baby.

 

[Toya]

Dont use igloos, watch little adventure and many other youtube channel and please make sure your settled cage is actually perfect. also your piggie is so so so cute these are mine

He never uses that igloo, dont worry. I take it away in summer as I know they get hot and dont let air flow. He has natural wood and cardboard ones too. Not sure what 'settled cage' being perfect means?

 

[Tara95]

Your cage and set up look amazing for the warmer months! But it is in the minuses outside, perhaps you could bring him indoors for the really chilly part of winter? You can buy some really cheap C &C cages for around £20 you can purchase grids and make them any design you like. I've done that myself recently and it's really fun to do! Plus it might be quite nice having him inside for a bit he'll certainly get tamer
Best of luck!

 

[Nidhi08]

He never uses that igloo, dont worry. I take it away in summer as I know they get hot and dont let air flow. He has natural wood and cardboard ones too. Not sure what 'settled cage' being perfect means?

There are certain "Must haves" for a guinea, and yeah as Tara said, c and c cages are great, once brought inside, he will slowly accustom himself and for me insides work the best having them infront of my eye.. specially when he is alone.