Moving To Hutch - Ideas Please

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VJ&Flower

VJ&Flower

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Hi all

I'm going to move the boys outside soon. I've got a 5ft hutch second hand disinfected. I also got this lovely wooden hut as part of a bundle. I'm not sure whether to put the hut into the 'sleeping' compartment as not sure if more dominant boar will take it over and it takes up a lot of space. Saying that it's likely to be warmer than other options. I also think the pigs will have to bend q a bit as the entrance is not in line with the door if you see what I mean. I have a heat pad I can out somewhere too.

What shall I put out in the rest of hutch? Should I still have two tunnels/hidey?

Any advice for outside pigs very welcome. The boys are currently inside in a 120 cage.

Thank you!

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Maybe it would be better to put the house in the bigger part? If the dominant boar takes a liking to it your other piggy might be barred from going in there. You could swap having the house in the little bit for a heat pad and possibly a bit of hay to make it more roomy? Providing it won't overheat in whatever weather. Providing you don't think it clutters you could still put the two tunnels and hidies in, but might want to take one or two things out once the hutch is furnished.
 
Thank you!

How does this look? I've taken the house out as it's pretty huge. There is a lot of hay in here plus I can put heat pad. Also have hutch snug and cover. Will that ve warm enough do you think? Xx

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Unfortunately I can't keep them in any longer. The cage is in our utility room and it gets dangerously hot in day time so constantly having to move cage in and out of our kitchen. With three little kids as well it's not working very well at moment.

I've got a temp of 19.2 in the hutch at present. Obviously it's going to drop a lot at night that's why I will use the heat pad plus silver insulation cover plus waterproof hutch cover.

Does anyone keep their pigs outside at moment?
 
Haven't had my pigs outdoors aside from in the run in years so can't offer much advice. Is there a safe, insulated shed you could move them into for now?
 
My shed is literally crammed and isn't insulated so don't think that would help much.
I live in south Uk so probably some
Of the better temps of the country.
Here are the covers - they go all round the whole hutch so hopefully keep temps up.
I will monitor the temperature.
I need to work out the sleeping arrangements and how best to keep them the warmest as possible. The heat pad will help.
I'm very dedicated and want to do the best for the pigs but at present it's not working for the family (If I could I would keep them in).

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ive moved my hutches out of the shed now.you have lots of hay in bedroom area,that insulates the hutch.If you use a snugglesafe heat pad at night I'm sure they will be ok.you have a cover as well,probably check the temp at night in hutch to give you a reliable temp guide.Allow this to inform your decision to move them outside.xx
 
I'm sure they will be very cosy in there. Hay is very insulating, you can also stuff it into cardboard boxes for extra warmth? I think there are quite a few people on here who keep their piggies outside and not in a shed so hopefully they can help with anything else. I am also in the south and it has definitely been milder at night, I was thinking I might swap to our summer duvets soon! Only thing is apparently this week the temperatures are going to drop again at night really quite low so might be worth bearing in mind, especially if they are not used to being out at night.
 
Thank you so much. I will monitor the temps. I won't move my indoor cage til I know what's going on. It's probably never a good time to move them but I need to do it now as our life is chaotic and the constant moving of cages Is adding to it. Plus the smallest child has now got a penchant for throwing food (luckily just that so far) in to the cage.
 
Mine are outside now and are fine with lots and lots of hay. So much, in fact, that I can't fit anymore in! The base is insulated with loads of newspaper too.
 
VJ&Flower said:
Thank you so much. I will monitor the temps. I won't move my indoor cage til I know what's going on. It's probably never a good time to move them but I need to do it now as our life is chaotic and the constant moving of cages Is adding to it. Plus the smallest child has now got a penchant for throwing food (luckily just that so far) in to the cage.
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I totally feel for you. Our kids are now 6 and 8 but having been through those early years I know how crazy it can be. I look back and wonder how we survived at times! You definitely need to find what works for your family and I am sure the piggies will be fine, you are clearly putting a lot of thought into it.
 
Dorothy&Coco said:
I totally feel for you. Our kids are now 6 and 8 but having been through those early years I know how crazy it can be. I look back and wonder how we survived at times! You definitely need to find what works for your family and I am sure the piggies will be fine, you are clearly putting a lot of thought into it.
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Thanks so much Dorothy&coco! That's such a nice, encouraging message! Our kids are 6,4 and not quite 2 and it's very chaotic (but fun!) do your kids like the pigs? The youngest is most interested of my crew! Xx
 
VJ&Flower said:
Thanks so much Dorothy&coco! That's such a nice, encouraging message! Our kids are 6,4 and not quite 2 and it's very chaotic (but fun!) do your kids like the pigs? The youngest is most interested of my crew! Xx
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You're welcome! Our piggies officially belong to my daughter who is 8. She has always been the most interested in animals. Our son thinks they are cute but is more wary of them! He wants a pet of his own but I think he would lose interest quite quickly so we'll see.
 
My pigs have been living in a hutch in my conservatory over the winter (since october!), they normally live in a homemade isulated hutch outside. For thr past couple of months I have been putting them out for the day and bringing them back in at night as i found it was too hot inside during the day and too cold outside at night still. I have a temperature sensor in both hutches so i can keep an eye on them.
Maybe this could be an option for you until the weather gets a bit warmer at night?
 
Apollo - great minds! I've literally just done this. I had the hutch all set up and cleaned out the cage, got the heads up for weather change from Dorothy&coco, just seen weather report and now remade cage up and brought them in! I will move them (as you do) across every morning /evening :)
 
Apollo86 said:
My pigs have been living in a hutch in my conservatory over the winter (since october!), they normally live in a homemade isulated hutch outside. For thr past couple of months I have been putting them out for the day and bringing them back in at night as i found it was too hot inside during the day and too cold outside at night still. I have a temperature sensor in both hutches so i can keep an eye on them.
Maybe this could be an option for you until the weather gets a bit warmer at night?
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Ps what temp sensor do you use? Thanks xx
 
Mine are outdoors (not in a shed) and have been since last weekend. In colder months I use snugglesafes and plenty of hay. I have the insulating cover and weatherproof cover and also insulating covers for the water bottles too. My piggies are fine with the weather now :)
 
VJ&Flower said:
Unfortunately I can't keep them in any longer. The cage is in our utility room and it gets dangerously hot in day time so constantly having to move cage in and out of our kitchen. With three little kids as well it's not working very well at moment.

I've got a temp of 19.2 in the hutch at present. Obviously it's going to drop a lot at night that's why I will use the heat pad plus silver insulation cover plus waterproof hutch cover.

Does anyone keep their pigs outside at moment?
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I know somebody who used to keep theirs in a hutch all year round, even Christmas with no extra hay or cover and they lived until they were 6 and 8.
 
My piggies are outside hutch piggies all year round as my old ones Lenny & Gizmo were. At least I put in loads of hay and cover them up every night. How many would I need for 5 piggies? I wouldn't dream of just putting in the summer amount and not covering them up! Lenny & Gizmo lived until they were 7. We buried them both in separate Veuve Cliquot coffins so they went out in style. That was some years ago now and as I missed having piggies I got some more.

I didn't know about Snugglesafe heaters before I joined this forum. How big are they? Are they expensive? and lastly how many would I need for 5 piggies?
 
I got my snugglesafes on amazon when they were on offer, around £12 each.
I have 2 per piggie as you have to wait for them to fully cool before re-heating.
They are about the size of an average desert plate.
 
I have two snugglesafes and when I got them I had 4 piggies (now 3). I don't use them during the day very often and mostly just use them overnight. I tend to heat both up and pop them in later at night
 
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