Will The Pigs Be Okay Without Heating?

[Sian25]

Hi all. My boiler has just broke, leaving us without heating or hot water. My main concern is keeping the pigs warm. The heating is usually set to never drop below 20 degrees even throughout the night so that is the sort of temperature they are used to. The thermometer in their room is reading about 17-18 degrees now but that may drop overnight.

I've just changed all their bedding so that it's completely dry. They have a few cosy beds if needed and also have hay/cardboard beds. I am just about to put a spare duvet over the cage (obviously leaving some gaps for air) but don't currently have an electric heater. Should I go and get one now or will they be okay? We have someone coming out tomorrow to see the boiler and hopefully fix it.

Here is Milan ignoring my strict orders for him to go and snuggle in a cosy bed and keep warm!

 

[piggles 7000]

If your house is well insulated and you keep doors/windows shut I think they will be ok.Perhaps cover their cage with a blanket.Do you have snugglesafes?If the boiler can be mended fairly quickly they should be fine.

Poor you,what a nuisance!Hope you keep as warm as possible.

 

[Sian25]

If your house is well insulated and you keep doors/windows shut I think they will be ok.Perhaps cover their cage with a blanket.Do you have snugglesafes?If the boiler can be mended fairly quickly they should be fine.

Poor you,what a nuisance!Hope you keep as warm as possible.

Thank you. I have put a spare duvet over the cage but left a few sides uncovered for air. I dont have a snuggle safe unfortunately. I do have a hot water bottle that could be wrapped in blankets but not sure how risky that would be for them?

 

[piggles 7000]

The only problem with hot water bottles is the risk they can be chewed and so leak very hot water.The duvet is a great idea.

Lots of cuddles perhaps for extra warmth?!Might help you keep warmer too!

 

[Gem789]

Hi all. My boiler has just broke, leaving us without heating or hot water. My main concern is keeping the pigs warm. The heating is usually set to never drop below 20 degrees even throughout the night so that is the sort of temperature they are used to. The thermometer in their room is reading about 17-18 degrees now but that may drop overnight.

I've just changed all their bedding so that it's completely dry. They have a few cosy beds if needed and also have hay/cardboard beds. I am just about to put a spare duvet over the cage (obviously leaving some gaps for air) but don't currently have an electric heater. Should I go and get one now or will they be okay? We have someone coming out tomorrow to see the boiler and hopefully fix it.

Here is Milan ignoring my strict orders for him to go and snuggle in a cosy bed and keep warm!

View attachment 77817

We don’t have central heating in my house, only a gas fire in the lounge.The girls are in there so they’re nice and warm but my boys are in my room.I make sure I use cosy beds and they’re cage is cleaned Regularly with clean fleece/vet bed.They seem fine but one of them wouldn’t leave his house the other day so I brought him downstairs and he perked up so when I took him back up I put a plug in heater in to keep him warm x

 

[Sian25]

I think what worries me more is that they are not used to being in the cold hate to think they could be feeling cold but thanks all

 

[Sian25]

I'm thinking maybe I should have got a heater. I'm freezing so God knows how the pigs are feeling. I really do hope they are coping okay

 

[Julie M]

I’ve seen someone on another site suggest filling plastic bottles with warm water and wrap in fleece so if they’re cold they could snuggle next to them

 

[acapae]

Mine essentially have no heating - it's 10-12c in the room they're in. However that's what they're used to at this time of year as a slow cooling with the seasons rather than a sudden drop, So it would be the change you're insulating against rather than the absolute, if that makes sense? I'd probably make extra sure they have access to enough good quality food - keeping body temperature up is one of the main uses of calories in small animals.