Low temperatures and solutions

[Bourbon]

Whats the lowest temp a pig can handle without feel cold at all? For the whole summer i kept them at 23-26 celsius all day long (even though the av temp outside was well above 30 like 33-36) but i dont know about winter time as its my first winter with pigs! I want them to be worm not just alive!

 

[Piggies&buns]

They are most comfortable between 18 and 20 degrees. Anything below 15 is too cold, and above 25 is too hot but humidity is also a factor though.

 

[Bourbon]

They are most comfortable between 18 and 20 degrees. Anything below 15 is too cold, and above 25 is too hot but humidity is also a factor though.

Humidity is like 70-80% all year long as i live on an island in Greece....what can i do to help them besides the artificial heat?

 

[Piggies&buns]

You can keep them warm by filling boxes with hay so they can snuggle into it, covering their cage with blankets, using fleece tunnels and hides for them to retreat to and using safe microwaveable heat pads called Snugglesafes

 

[Bourbon]

You can keep them warm by filling boxes with hay so they can snuggle into it, covering their cage with blankets, using fleece tunnels and hides for them to retreat to and using safe microwaveable heat pads called Snugglesafes

Ok but lets say the temp is like 10 degrees, will blankets and snugglesafes be enough? I'm not planning on let the temp fell more than 15 anyway I'm just asking

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok but lets say the temp is like 10 degrees, will blankets and snugglesafes be enough? I'm not planning on let the temp fell more than 15 anyway I'm just asking

with lots of hay to snuggle into as well, then yes, it should be. The heatpads work well in providing a warm spot for them to sit when put underneath a hidey (particularly a fleece hidey).

i keep my piggies in my shed year round (although I always have the ability to bring them in if I can’t keep them warm enough). They are kept warm enough with thermal covers, snugglesafes and lots of hay, so if your piggies are inside, then then it’ll be easier for you to keep them warm.

but if your piggies are indoors, and if it was to get down to 10 degrees, then it’s going to be uncomfortable for you too. The rough guide is if you are comfortable, then the piggies are too. If you feel cold, then they are already struggling

 

[Bourbon]

You can keep them warm by filling boxes with hay so they can snuggle into it, covering their cage with blankets, using fleece tunnels and hides for them to retreat to and using safe microwaveable heat pads called Snugglesafes

Also i dont have a micro as i dont like microwave energy if any form, can i put a snugglesafe blanket in the oven?

 

[Piggies&buns]

No, you can’t. a snugglesafe isn’t a blanket, it’s a disc which goes in a microwave to get hot, and cannot be put in an oven, they will just melt and cause a fire. Without a microwave you cannot use these particular heat pads.

 

[Bourbon]

with lots of hay to snuggle into as well, then yes, it should be. The heatpads work well in providing a warm spot for them to sit when put underneath a hidey (particularly a fleece hidey).

i keep my piggies in my shed year round (although I always have the ability to bring them in if I can’t keep them warm enough). They are kept warm enough with thermal covers, snugglesafes and lots of hay, so if your piggies are inside, then then it’ll be easier for you to keep them warm.

but if your piggies are indoors, and if it was to get down to 10 degrees, then it’s going to be uncomfortable for you too. The rough guide is if you are comfortable, then the piggies are too. If you feel cold, then they are already struggling

Yes ofc 10 degrees would be uncomfortable even for me but when we go to bed temp
could drop below 15 for like 5-6 hours, in any case Ill try to keep it around 16 all day long even when I'm not home, it will cost me an extra thousand euros for the whole winter but i can afford that so ill do it + the blankets so i guess they will be more than fine

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes ofc 10 degrees would be uncomfortable even for me but when we go to bed temp
could drop below 15 for like 5-6 hours, in any case Ill try to keep it around 16 all day long even when I'm not home, it will cost me an extra thousand euros for the whole winter but i can afford that so ill do it + the blankets so i guess they will be more than fine

Guinea pigs need a stable temperature day and night, without large drops in temperature. Large temperature fluctuations are what can lead to respiratory infections

 

[Bourbon]

No, you can’t. a snugglesafe isn’t a blanket, it’s a disc which goes in a microwave to get hot, and cannot be put in an oven, they will just melt and cause a fire. Without a microwave you cannot use these particular heat pads.

I see, so i will spend an extra K in petrol just to be sure....

 

[Siikibam]

Stuffing hay in boxes and covering hides with a blanket can help. You could also cover their cage with a fleece blanket overnight, in addition to the stuffed boxes and covered hides. It’s actually cheaper to leave the heater on low all day - I don’t know if that applies in Greece though.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

You can buy freestanding electric radiators (usually oil filled), which you can use to keep a room at a reasonably steady warm temperature. That would probably be cheaper than heating a whole house, if that's what you were thinking of doing.