Piggies Moved Outside...

[April_L]

Didn't want to hijack the last post, but we too have two young Swiss teddy boys who moved outdoors over the weekend. They have a two-storey wooden hutch (German engineering!) which is raised up off the ground, placed in a sheltered corner of the patio, with a waterproof cover over the top which I am closing at night to give them some extra protection from any local cats or foxes that might sniff round them. They are really nervous - obviously, as they have previously been in a large indoor cage for all their little lives - and are spending all their time in the enclosed sleeping compartments at the moment (though I know they have crept out at night because they have drunk some water and nibbled on their treat stick) but I really hope they will get used to it soon. I just miss the purring, wheeking and popcorning! :-( I have moved them into the downstairs sleeping compartment this morning because I was concerned they might get too hot upstairs under the roof and it seems cooler in the lower half of the hutch. I will move them back upstairs for night-time, and that sleeping compartment is well packed with extra hay for snuggling in. They have not wanted to try the ramp yet... I really really hope they get used to it soon. I have been putting them outside in an A frame on the lawn for the last couple of days too, towards the end of the afternoon without the full heat of the sun, and with their fresh food bowl in there to tempt them, and of course always supervised. Fingers crossed they get used to it - I feel sorry to see them looking so nervous again! poor little fluffy sausages.... They will be coming back in again when the weather gets colder again of course!

 

[sport_billy]

Awww, bless them. I couldn't have ours outside I would miss them too much, but I know some people prefer outdoor piggies.

 

[April_L]

Well, I had a brainwave today. I popped them on the lawn in their A frame with their evening bowl of fresh food, and they did their usual hiding in the corner. Until I remembered that they like to eat while in their tunnels. So I fetched the stick tunnel and the cardboard tunnel - bingo! They started haring around, climbing on things, chewing things and eating! They even had a wheek or two, and a spot of rumbling!
So now I have put the tunnels in their hutch to encourage them out of the sleeping compartment. Has worked a treat! They look a lot less nervous knowing that they have their familiar hidey-holes in there :-)

 

[Hermes]

You can also put a sheet/cover over part of the run so they don't feel so exposed - mine were nervous about being outside at first but after a few times in the run they love it!

 

[KatyKitchen]

My two are enjoying going in the outdoor run. I cover the top and put lots of tunnels and boxes in which seems to make them feel safe. Ebony runs round and eats grass in the open spaces but Elsa likes to poke her head out of tunnels and eat whatever is closest! I haven't moved the hutch out yet as I like having them close enough to chat to. Husband doesn't know I have no plans to move them outside yet! Hee hee!