Converting an old playhouse/wendyhouse?

[Samhtm]

Hi all

I acquired my piggies at the end of August and so far its been amazing however now we move towards the colder seasons, I am getting a bit worried that they aren't going to stay warm enough. We have an old playhouse in our garden, it's old and hasn't been used for a while and I am considering restoring and converting it for the piggies. Wondered what people might suggest? Would it provide enough protection from predators?

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Extra shelter for the colder months is certainly a very good idea, particularly if your piggies are young. How big is the playhouse, is it like a small shed? I would first check it all over, top and bottom especially for any rot or small holes which a predator could get through and which will let cold air in, and make sure they are thoroughly patched.
Do you currently have the pigs in a hutch outside, and if so does it have insulation and waterproofing? It's pretty cold already outside, my pigs are in a hutch with an insulated cover etc in a brick outbuilding, and it's generally below 15degrees in the mornings inside it now, even with 2 heatpads put in every night.

 

[Samhtm]

Extra shelter for the colder months is certainly a very good idea, particularly if your piggies are young. How big is the playhouse, is it like a small shed? I would first check it all over, top and bottom especially for any rot or small holes which a predator could get through and which will let cold air in, and make sure they are thoroughly patched.
Do you currently have the pigs in a hutch outside, and if so does it have insulation and waterproofing? It's pretty cold already outside, my pigs are in a hutch with an insulated cover etc in a brick outbuilding, and it's generally below 15degrees in the mornings inside it now, even with 2 heatpads put in every night.

Thank you for the advice! I'm going to check it tomorrow and see if its possible.

They currently have a cover on the hutch weatherproofing it and then two blankets underneath that to keep them warm and then plenty of hay for them to sleep in, unfortunately we can't move them into our garage as there just isn't the room for the hutch. I will look into heat pads for sure.

Here is the cover we have: Link

 

[Siikibam]

If your piggies have been living indoors then it’s too late to move them outside now, even if living inside a playhouse.

If they’re outside already then that’s fine. As above you’d have to insulate the playhouse, make sure any gaps are closed and that it’s secure.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Would you just put them loose in the playhouse, or move the hutch into the playhouse as well?
Its important that if you can move them out of wind and rain that you do, keeping an entirely playhouse warm (if you don’t have electric to actually have a heater), given it’s a larger space than a hutch, will take some work But it is entirely possible. You will definitely need to make sure the playhouse is insulated.
Mine live in my shed year round but they have a hutch in there as well as they benefit from the shed providing protection from the elements, plus it’s warmer in the shed anyway, and then being locked in the hutch over night during winter is an extra layer of warmth as I pull all the blankets down. Even within my shed my hutch has blankets And a thermal hutch cover (i don’t have a waterproof cover for this new hutch as it’ll never be outside), and an old duvet thrown over along with four heatpads between the two piggies.

Heatpads are simply essential for outdoor piggies. It would be good if you could get some today/tomorrow as it’s already too cold for them to be without heat pads.

 

[Jamston]

My piggies live in a shed and I have insulated it with thermal insulation foil. I have hay filled boxes for them to snuggle in and individual hideys with heat pads and a fleece over for the even colder months.