damp pigs

[Pepperdog]

I put them out earlier today as the sun was out and the weather predicted rain later in the day, well I didnt quite get them back in the hutch before a sudden down pour got them damp.

In this weather there was no way I was going to shove them back in their nice clean hutch to dry off so I brought them all in and thankfully had the borrowed small cage which I must give back to the rescue. I towel dried each grumpy pig and put them in with two stools to shelter under and covered one half of the top (as they are used to a darker hutch to my light and airy bedroom). Pepper thought her birthday had come early and was dissapointed that I shut the door.

I will deffinately be getting them in full time next month (within the next few weeks really) but they hated it, much noiser and busier for them, they spent the first hour staying stock still under the stools. I put a plate of veg in for them to eat and have just put them back outside now they are dry again - only in for 2 hours, they were rather glad to be back home again

Interesting to see they were very shell shocked by the new environment, they love their run and happily go from the carry case to the run and back again to the hutch so I will have to make sure they are given some coverings in the big set up I plan to make them feel secure, obviously they will get used to the inside arrangement as they did the hutch and I know the choice of the spare room is correct for my lot, they like to be left alone really and only put up with me as I feed them (I did notice that once I put them back in the hutch they relaxed and were coming to the front of the hutch and not bothered by my hands and arms inside as normal). I will know also what to expect when they come inside, there will be a settling in period again.

Have any of you that inside winter your pigs had this where they dont like the change to begin with or are mine just wierd?

 

[Wiebke]

It is completely normal for a piggy to be frozen in new surroundings - they are prey animals that roam a certain territory.

I experience the opposite effect; I can always tell which of my rescues has never been out on the lawn in their life and which piggies have been used to living in hutches. They can take a bit of time to get used to the indoors with living next to a tv...

Just establish a routine and give your piggies a few days to get used to their new surroundings; they will come round soon enough!

 

[christine]

My 27 at the moment piggies always have a bit of a trauma when coming in for the winter,or going out again for summer.
It is at these times that any potential weaknesses show up in the older piggies,and if any are going to the rainbow bridge it will be in the first couple of wheeks after the change.
The younger ones seem to take it in their stride,but I suspect that,like us ,the old ones get more set in their ways!
Having said that,they certainly remember the set up both indoor and outdoor from one year to another.

 

[Pepperdog]

I am glad this is normal, was worried that they would hate being so close to me. The spare room is darker (as there is a shurb infront of the window) but gets enough light for them, plus is not as hot as we have the heating turned down in there due to it being unused, can put an electric heater in there when it gets really chilly but it wont be hot or cold for them

 

[LordBernieBouffant]

I think it does depend on how much handling/moving/experiences the piggies have had also :^-

My indoor piggies are quite happy to be carried outside to the grass, I suppose because they are used to it and they popcorn all over - but they live inside so they see more, hear more and accept more. They don't seem the slightest bothered about anything - other than birds, which I can fully understand Their main aim is to eat grass and play and as long as it's warm they love it.

The outside piggies are completely different - they don't especially like being in the run and will hide in the houses. I put that down to the fact they don't get as much handling and change as the inside ones do - my fault :red

I notice that with the boarding piggies - the ones who are handled daily by their children, played with and probably cuddled to squishness are absolutely chilled - they are dream piggies and nothing phases them in the slightest

I am shamed by some of them :red