Can I Feed Oats?

[Betsy]

I have read somewhere that I can feed oats to piggies. As the weather is now getting cooler and I have outside piggies is this a good idea? If so how much and when is the best time? They have a breakfast of nuggets and a dinner of veg and grass or hay in between depending on the weather and if they can go in the run or not.

 

[sport_billy]

I think oats are only for when they need a little bulking up. Not so much as a staple food or for when it gets colder. @Lady Kelly is very knowledgeable about outdoor pigs, i'll tag her in.

 

[Betsy]

:like:

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have only ever fed oats to one piggy and that was Isobel when we were dealing with dental problems, a brewing abscess and pneumonia and in that instance I only ever did it to try and get her to gain weight for the best chance of survival.

In my opinion a healthy piggy will never need oats and all you will risk with this is fat piggies rather than healthy ones. In the winter I will go through easily twice the amount of hay as in the summer as they have much more for snuggling in rather than eating. I also use snugglesafes from Scratch and Newton. I have two of these and when it gets colder they have them every night and when its bad every day and every night. Fleece snugglies/pouches are also good for this. My hutch has the insulating cover and the weatherproof cover and if its too much for the piggies the hutch can be moved into the garage. I think you would be much better providing insulation than fattening them up

 

[Betsy]

I was wondering whether oats was the way to go or not as I have never fed any oats before. My hutch has the thermal hutch hugger from Scratch and Newton. I will be winter proofing the hutch this week. I need to put new bubble wrap on the open sides at the bottom of the hutch where the run is. Also @Tim (Thanks Tim!) gave me some copper slug tape to put on the bottom of the hutch so I'll be doing that too. Then an old blanket will go under the hutch hugger. I have snugglesafes, snuggle pouches, strawberry houses and I get through twice the amount of hay in the winter just to keep them warm.

Thanks for the advice @Lady Kelly.

 

[Tim]

Pats are calorific. I've only ever fed oats when our piggies need to put on weight after an illness.

I hope the tape solves the problem with the slugs Betsy

 

[Betsy]

So do I - not put it on yet as its raining now.