Moving Piggies Outdoors....

[angelpig]

Hi, I want to move my piggies outdoors into a bigger cage, I have been putting them outside in their new cage now for the past 5 days, and then I have been bringing them in, early evening. The nights seem quite warm here at the moment, (my son requested a fan to sleep with as warm and muggy here) and I would like the move outside to be permanent, any recommendations. The outside cage was built double skinned and has been insulated, each floor is insulated too, I have put plenty of straw in and was hoping to give them a test run this evening.... do you think it is too soon? I have got a cover for the front of the cage to cover them up in the evening.... Just slightly nervous as I do love my piggies, the reason I need to move them outside, is a space issue, now the babies are a lot older the indoor cage is just too small, the outdoor cage is much bigger, and allows them to go up and down if they wish....

Any advice....

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

If you're worried then try taking the temperature outside and inside and see what the difference is - or get a min / max thermometer. I would think they'll be fine (guessing you're in the UK?).

One thing though, straw isn't recommended as it's quite hard and they can get poked in the eye. Hay is better as it's softer and of course they need it to keep their teeth trim

Try putting a cardboard box in their sleeping area as an extra layer of insulation, and stuff it with hay. If you're really worried you can get a snuggle pad for the winter that you warm in the microwave and it lasts the night.

Sophie
x

 

[angelpig]

Thanks, sorry I did mean hay, God knows why I wrote straw! They have meadow hay. I ended up bringing them in as it got windy and rainy :-( Yes I am in Cornwall :-)

The boy who lives on his own felt quite cool, the others who are 5 girls seemed ok, cooler than normal I found two together and 3 together in the 2 houses we have built for them.

I am just worried I have left it too late in the season to start this...?

Where can you get a snuggle pad from is it just a pet store, is it safe to use for them, I think that might be useful for the single boy I have....

Wish I had a bigger house or garage or something! I wonder if I can convince my hubby to move all the bikes out of his shed and buid a lean to for them and put the cage in the shed that would be another layer of protection and might help?

Gosh how nervous am I.... but they have been living inside for a year, just going out on the grass in there run etc.....

 

[Claire W]

Hi. Like you, space is a major issue and although I would love my piggies to live inside, it just isn't feasible.
My hutch has been in our outbuilding for 2.5 years but unfortunately, the outhouse is very old and began to leak leaving it damp. I felt that this wasn't a nice environment for them so have now moved the piggies outside. We invested in a new bigger hutch for them and have brought a hutch hugger and hutch snuggle. The hutch hugger is rain and wind proof and the hutch snuggle is an insulator. When it comes to the winter, I shall be putting the hutch snuggle underneath the hutch hugger. They aren't cheap but well worth the money.

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/category.asp?dept_id=1267&gclid=CP7cnbzP6ZwCFVUA4wodSmWcjw
I brought mine from pets at home along with the hutch.

They also have a snugglesafe heat pad which I used last winter and will use again this winter. Again, they can be brought online or from pets at home.

http://www.petsathome.com/find/keyword-is-snugglesafe/product-is-7094

They also have a dome in their living area and during the winter, I shall provide another one in the sleeping area. They will also get mountains of fresh hay.

If worse comes to worse, I shall put the hutch back in the outhouse but I am hoping that I won't have too.