Engel's Herd

Piggies&buns said:
I think I've seen something like that one before, but I think it was being sold as a tortoise or hedgehog shelter rather than a permanent piggy hutch. I think the smallest decent commercial hutch you'll get is a 4ft.

Yes it would be ok - it wouldnt be much different to the bluebell - and as it is kept in your shed then you wouldnt have to worry about the wood getting wet (that's the biggest issue with ply outside)

I was wondering though, whether you may be able to fit a reinforced shelf to your shed or something similar and put a commercial 6ft hutch on that? Not sure if it would still be too heavy for a shelf or whether it would even be possible but was just a thought
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Good idea. I'll try and work out how to do it. (And if I can do it in the first place). I have 6 months + to work it out anyway.

Another option could be converting IKEA furniture into a cage but idk if thats too heavy
 
It might not be possible considering the weight it would have to take.

My dad is going to be fitting a shelf in my shed shortly but it has to span 8 foot and hold 20kg of hay and other supplies so its been a task to get the support for that right!
 
Piggies&buns said:
It might not be possible considering the weight it would have to take.

My dad is going to be fitting a shelf in my shed shortly but it has to span 8 foot and hold 20kg of hay and other supplies so its been a task to get the support for that right!
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I bet! You'll have to post a photo when it's all done. So exciting for you! I think I'm going to have shed envy 😭

I'll sort something.
 
Piggies&buns said:
If it is still above 15 degrees in your hutch and shed, then I personally wouldnt start adding anything too much extra otherwise when it does start to get cold in there you have less adjustments available to you to keep them warm.

Obviously it depends on what actually happens with the temperatures, but I dont usually start adding extra hay and certainly not heat pads until much towards the end of September. Mine are still free roaming the shed all night just on aubiose bedding with normal amounts of hay for eating. It's still around 18 degrees in there in the mornings.
For me, I build it up in increments - the first thing I do is start to lock them back into the hutch at night, the next thing is to pull down the front hutch cover, then add extra hay (again adding a little extra at first, then building it up until it is stuffed full), then pull two covers. Then one heat pad. Finally building up to the hutch absolutely stuffed full with hay and the addition of all the heat pads - one at first, building up to all four once it is closer to winter.
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You mentioned that you've only had to bring your pigs in once in 3 years. What temp did it drop to in the shed before you brought them in?
 
Engel said:
You mentioned that you've only had to bring your pigs in once in 3 years. What temp did it drop to in the shed before you brought them in?
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I can keep them in the shed as long as it isn’t colder than -1 outside as the shed/hutch usually stays around 12 at that point (obviously less than -1 is when I have a problem as the shed then starts to get towards 10 degrees or lower) and as it is quite mild where I live, I generally do not have a problem keeping them in the shed. However, this time was a particularly cold spell and predicted to be -10 outside so I knew there was no way they could stay out with that so they were brought in straight away. I think when I checked the thermometer the morning after the cold night it was actually -8 and when I checked the hutch thermometer and It got down to about 5 degrees inside. As the pigs were already inside, I didn't put the snugglesafes in but I did have the hutch covers down so I could see what would happen to the temperature in the hutch.

As my shed is south facing, even the slightest bit of winter sun warms it up wonderfully. I've seen sunny days but only being 2-4 degrees outside and its still be 18, 19 degrees in my shed during the day. That means I can trap that heat within their hutch with their hutch covers, use the snugglesafes etc overnight and that is why it stays so warm in there for them.
 
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Just checked on babies. No poop for 6 hours? Eaten some pellets and veggies, hay looks untouched. Ideas?
 
No poop at all? Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake. When did you bring them home?

Is their hay stuffed inside their hides if they dont want to come out etc?
 
Piggies&buns said:
No poop at all? Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake. When did you bring them home?

Is their hay stuffed inside their hides if they dont want to come out etc?
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Yesterday they came home. Lots of poop last night and this morning. Nothing since.

Hay is literally right outside the hide. Bowl is further away and they'll come out for that but not hay.

Cage is covered with a blanket.
 
I assume the hay you give is different to the hay they have been used to - I wonder if they are being fussy with it?
 
Piggies&buns said:
I assume the hay you give is different to the hay they have been used to - I wonder if they are being fussy with it?
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I've given the hay they had before. I've just added a handful of hay box meadow to see if that works. Don't get me wrong, I understand they're new and that they need to settle in but I don't recall Eris and Jupi not pooping for hours.

I'll leave them a bit longer and of they haven't eaten or poopef I'll try them with a bit of recovery food incase stress from moving is part of the issue and has had a knock-on effect.

If that doesn't work I'll put Jupi and Po next door to them to try and encourage them.
 
Are there any grooming requirements for rexes? The coat is so coarse and thick, would it be worth desensitizing Basil to a brush?

After searching last night, I doubt Cyril is an aby, I think he's more a Ridgeback. (Got a mohawk rather than lots of swirls).

Nails are sharp so will need trimming/filing this upcoming week if they'll let me.

Going to make them a snuggle pouch tonight for when I do nails and for lap time so they feel safe. I'll probably make a couple will post pictures when I'm done. :)
 
I would give them a week to settle in first. As for Rex, I don’t think they need brushing but don’t quote me. If their nails are sharp you can just trim the very tip off. I don’t know how they’d be with filing them…
 
Siikibam said:
I would give them a week to settle in first. As for Rex, I don’t think they need brushing but don’t quote me. If their nails are sharp you can just trim the very tip off. I don’t know how they’d be with filing them…
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Don't worry I'm not going to grab them to trim their nails just yet. Probably won't be done until end of next week anyway as that's when I do nail trims for the others. 🙂

Yes I'll need to desensitize them to the file over a few months. Brushing would be the same if needed but if not I won't worry about it.

They're settling in quite well really other than the eating hay issue yesterday. They'll eat veggies and pellets no problem but they were used to having unlimited pellets so they're probably wondering what's happened to the food gods and what they've done to have such a cruel owner. 😂 (1tbsp per pig. *GASP* . It's alfalfa based but will transfer onto Timothy based at the end of the bag).

Yeh it's just the tip that needs to come off anyway. Basil has all black nails so that'll be fun.
 
Hopefully less pellets will mean more may. Try other types maybe.
 
Siikibam said:
Hopefully less pellets will mean more may. Try other types maybe.
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Yes I'm hoping so.

Sorry, other types? Hay or pellets?

Just had another look on your thread for Coco, how did I miss her? I remember the others. Shows I haven't been on here properly for a while, I was wondering why I couldn't find Kigo pigs anywhere.

Btw I'd like to know what rats you're husband has been looking at 😂. I'll want one of each colour lol.
 
Engel said:
Yes I'm hoping so.

Sorry, other types? Hay or pellets?

Just had another look on your thread for Coco, how did I miss her? I remember the others. Shows I haven't been on here properly for a while, I was wondering why I couldn't find Kigo pigs anywhere.

Btw I'd like to know what rats you're husband has been looking at 😂. I'll want one of each colour lol.
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I’ve got a grey, black and ginger, all black and chestnut one 😆 they don’t know guinea pigs in Uganda so the whole family calls them rats. Even my parents 🤣 having said that, they call them the word for mice. Rats are called…weight lifters sort of. I can’t translate it too well….
 
Siikibam said:
I’ve got a grey, black and ginger, all black and chestnut one 😆 they don’t know guinea pigs in Uganda so the whole family calls them rats. Even my parents 🤣 having said that, they call them the word for mice. Rats are called…weight lifters sort of. I can’t translate it too well….
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Ah bless them.
 
Today is Eileithyia-Eris' and Jupi's 1st birthday! They've been very spoilt. Had carrot (including the top), parsnip and swede amongst their veg today. They rarely have these and don't touch fruit so thought why not! Not a scrap left 😅

I would like the Cyril and Basil thread and this one to be merged. Can the thread also be renamed to Jupi and Friends.
Idk any moderators but if anyone can tag that'd be great 😊

Will post photos of the birthday piggies later.
 
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