Keeping The Pigs Warm!

[chloeyerma]

Hi,

I have outdoor pigs and I'm looking for advice to keep them warm
They already have a hutch cover, hides and plenty of hay and are in a shed.
I have just brought some running insulation blankets to put under the hutch cover for extra insulation.
Is there anything else I could be doing?
Thanks

 

[gwinnypiggylove]

you can buy heat pads ( like hot water bottles ) you just heat it up and put it under some blankets and hay where they sleep

 

[Fluffy]

These are the heat pads, called Snugglesafes. I would reccommend you get one
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/cat-accessor...-626_325/snugglesafe-heat-pad-and-cover-p-250
This is the cheapest place to get them (Trust me-I have scoured the shops and internet )

 

[chloeyerma]

I heard that these can be bad? That the guinea pig just sits on them and can get bed sores?

 

[gwinnypiggylove]

I haven't heard this and I'm pretty sure they are safe. Since all it does is provide heat ( it's like lying on another guinea pig! ) You're supposed to cover them up so if you do that it should be fine. If you don't want to use it though just make sure they have plenty of hay and blankets

 

[Guinea pig slave]

I heard that these can be bad? That the guinea pig just sits on them and can get bed sores?

Ooh, that's a new one to me. The only way an animal (like humans)would suffer from bed (pressure) sores is if they are ill, immobile and sitting on wet bedding. My pigs have had heat pads daily during the winter months for the past 3.5 years with no problems.
Lots of boxes stuffed to capacity with hay works well - my lot are indoors, I still overload hay baskets and put heat pads in each pen day and night

 

[chloeyerma]

Ah I see, its just something I heard while researching. The amount of hay they have is unreal, and I have brought silver insulation blankets to wrap the hutch with under their cover. What kind of blankets are safe to put in there?

 

[Briony_S]

Fleecy blankets are fine x

 

[Jess]

We got our Piggies a cat snug... It's going in the bin soon as its been abused by Piggie bladders, bums and teeth! Needless to say they love it and we know they are so nice and cosy inside!

 

[jenniferanneharris]

The only time snugglesafes can be an issue is if you have a piggie that has some sort of paralisis and cant move off if it gets to warm. :-).

 

[chloeyerma]

I stuff their hutch full of hay but they trample it down! They have plastic hides but I have just been to check on them but they arent in them, one of my pigs doesnt use his at all if the bedding on cleaning day is anything to go by! I will try fleecy comy ones.