Faux Fur and lonely boar - advice pls!

[PiggyPotter]

I've decided to change my piggies over to fleece/vetbed and want to make their hutches as snuggly as possible. A friend has offered me a length of faux fur material she has going spare (the shorter type rather than the really fluffy stuff) but I'm not sure if this is safe for them. It would be used as something extra for them to snuggle under rather than on the floor of the hutch. It feels lovely and would keep them nice and warm but I don't want to give them it if it's going to harm them!

Also, I have a lonely boar at the moment (just lost his hutch mate, he's never been alone before) so we wanted to cheer him up until we can sort out a new friend for him. We were thinking a mirror (firmly secured to the hutch wall and with no sharp edges) to make him think he's got company and a small cuddly toy for him to snuggle up with. What do you guys think?

 

[skrikopanik]

Why don't you try him with a bit of the material and supervise for a while. If he doesn't eat it I presume it's safe? Also, what's generally seen as unsafe is long threads and faux fur is usually like vetbed, isn't it, on a knitted type of backing?

About the mirror I don't know. It sounds like it could be a good idea? I'm sure some more exprienced members can help you there!

 

[louisdog]

When my boar was on his own a couple of years ago when he mate died, I tried to give him lots more activity things to do like a paper bag filled with hay and cardboard tubes etc, I also put extra hiding places in his cage in case he was insecure on his own. He seemed to do ok on his own, he was alone for 5 weeks because his friend died when we were moving house, anyway then after the 5 weeks he had his op and lived next to two new girlies until they moved in.

 

[PiggyPotter]

Thanks. It's not so much that he's insecure, just a bit miserable and lonely I think. Whenever we go near the hutch he comes bouncing over up to the door and wants attention. We're paying him extra special attention and giving him loads of cuddle time but there will be times when we're both at work. Plus we're going on holiday the week after next and although a good friend is looking after them she works and has her own activities so she won't be able to devote as much time to him as we have been. I just don't want him to be lonely and pine away. Maybe I'm being a bit overprotective!