Engel's Herd

Engel said:
Scrap my previous post. I'll do the split bottom of the hutch with c&c front.

Right ideas for keeping c&c part warm. Could I use hot water bottles wrapped in a towel? As well as snuggle safe and hay?
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hot water bottles wrapped in towels arent safe. They could so easily get the towels off, chew the bottle (which is a risk itself) and then get burnt.
it must be snugglesafes and hay. They don’t produce warmth to warm the space, they just provide a warm spot. If you put it in the middle of hay (so hay under and hay over it) then that helps then stay warmer for longer. Also use wooden hides with fleece blankets over the top and out snugglesafes under the wooden hide (plastic condensates so I’d personally stay away from them) then that also helps.
they say they stay warm for 10 hours but don’t rely on that In mid winter. Mine can be cold at 8 hours so I leave putting them in right until the last minute before I go to bed
 
Piggies&buns said:
hot water bottles wrapped in towels arent safe. They could so easily get the towels off, chew the bottle (which is a risk itself) and then get burnt.
it must be snugglesafes and hay. They don’t produce warmth to warm the space, they just provide a warm spot. If you put it in the middle of hay (so hay under and hay over it) then that helps then stay warmer for longer. Also use wooden hides with fleece blankets over the top and out snugglesafes under the wooden hide (plastic condensates so I’d personally stay away from them) then that also helps.
they say they stay warm for 10 hours but don’t rely on that In mid winter. Mine can be cold at 8 hours so I leave putting them in right until the last minute before I go to bed
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Oh no 😲 didn't think about them chewing the bottle

How would I got about heating the shed without setting anything on fire?
 
Engel said:
Oh no 😲 didn't think about them chewing the bottle

How would I got about heating the shed without setting anything on fire?
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An electric oil filled radiator is a commonly used method of heating for sheds

Without electric you’ve only got the option of lots of hay, insulation and lots of snugglesafes .
I’ve got four snugglesafes between the two piggies and some for the rabbits - when they’ve got heat pads during the day and at night I spend over an hour each day heating pads!
 
If you can get electric there then you don’t need to worry quite so much about their cages being open. You’ll still need to insulate snd protect them though.

What is important if you’re going to heat the shed is to ensure your heater is thermostatic and reliable. What you don’t want is for the heater to go off, the temperature to plummet, for it them to come back on and heat it back up - they could end up being exposed to wild temperature fluctuations which won’t be good for them. They need their temperature to be stable and relatively constant
 
Piggies&buns said:
If you can get electric there then you don’t need to worry quite so much about their cages being open. You’ll still need to insulate snd protect them though.

What is important if you’re going to heat the shed is to ensure your heater is thermostatic and reliable. What you don’t want is for the heater to go off, the temperature to plummet, for it them to come back on and heat it back up - they could end up being exposed to wild temperature fluctuations which won’t be good for them. They need their temperature to be stable and relatively constant
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Yeh that's not going to work as I've got no way to run electric to the shed.

Can babies do ramps if they're a gradual incline?
 
Engel said:
Yeh that's not going to work as I've got no way to run electric to the shed.

Can babies do ramps if they're a gradual incline?
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ok, then you are going to need to be well insulated, loads of hay and multiple snugglesafes Etc

Climbing ramps is something which varies from piggy to piggy. They’ve got to learn how to do it as climbing isn’t something natural to them, although many are happy to explore and do learn how to do it given time. Some never do though.
if you put a ramp in, then it needs to be gradual and also have sides to make them feel safe while on it.
 
Piggies&buns said:
ok, then you are going to need to be well insulated, loads of hay and multiple snugglesafes Etc

Climbing ramps is something which varies from piggy to piggy. They’ve got to learn how to do it as climbing isn’t something natural to them, although many are happy to explore and do learn how to do it given time. Some never do though.
if you put a ramp in, then it needs to be gradual and also have sides to make them feel safe while on it.
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Yup ok. Can I ask how big is the gap where the ramp goes on the bluebell?

I'm going to get that insulation foil roll stuff and do the shed. Then have insulation covers for the hutch/run(c&c bit)
 
Engel said:
Yup ok. Can I ask how big is the gap where the ramp goes on the bluebell?

I'm going to get that insulation foil roll stuff and do the shed. Then have insulation covers for the hutch/run(c&c bit)
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Do you mean on the upper level? If so....it’s huge and I had to fill part of it in and put a banister up to make it safe.

I’ll go and see if I can measure the hole but it equates to about half the hutch. It won’t be entirely accurate measuring though because filled in the hole so removed the ramp entirely now so it’s basically two separate stacked hutches. I’ll be back.....
 
first pic is looking up from the bottom level. Second pic is the top part of the hutch. You can just see the piece of wood which I’ve blocked the hole up with

the piece of wood which now covers the hole is 70cm x 23cm so the gap itself is slightly less (but only by a small amount where we put the screws in)
 

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Piggies&buns said:
first pic is looking up from the bottom level. Second pic is the top part of the hutch. You can just see the piece of wood which I’ve blocked the hole up with

the piece of wood which now covers the hole is 70cm x 23cm so the gap itself is slightly less (but only by a small amount where we put the screws in)
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Ah ok Thanks. Why have you covered it up? Do your boys only use the one level?
 
Engel said:
Ah ok Thanks. Why have you covered it up? Do your boys only use the one level?
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my guinea pigs aren’t in that hutch anymore.
ive blocked it as one of the rabbits lives in there now and he can’t use ramps. He sleeps upstairs but the downstairs part of the hutch has been connected to his run as it means he’s got somewhere to go if he doesn’t want to be outside

the hutch I have for my piggies now is a two storey hutch but it has a hatch over the ramp hole. I therefore close the ramp hatch during winter nights so they have to stay upstairs so I can focus all my warming efforts on one level rather than doing the whole hutch
 
Just had a thought. This week I changed the bedding to miscanthus (elephant grass) and it's rather dusty so possibly could be that.
Also I've changed from meadow hay to 100% Timothy, also noticed that's more dusty? So may be that.

They were originally on woodshavings. Dust extracted and kiln dried. Literally no dust, I use it for the rats. Brand is bedmax. I don't normally rate shavings but these are something else.

https://www.bedmaxshavings.com/bedmax-shavings/
 
Also, I've been using p@h hay, it's quite dusty in general and brown especially the meadow hay. Is there any better quality meadow hay (they prefer it over Timothy)
 
Engel said:
Also, I've been using p@h hay, it's quite dusty in general and brown especially the meadow hay. Is there any better quality meadow hay (they prefer it over Timothy)
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i have my hay on subscription from Haybox. It’s really lovely, green and dust free. I use meadow for bedding and eating but I do also get the Timothy as well, but the meadow is so nice they eat a lot of it.
 
Piggies&buns said:
i have my hay on subscription from Haybox. It’s really lovely, green and dust free. I use meadow for bedding and eating but I do also get the Timothy as well, but the meadow is so nice they eat a lot of it.
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Is meadow green too?

I got meadow hay from p@h as I was in a rush. I went back and found their Timothy which was green. But they're not so keen on it? I'm wasting a lot of it in comparison to the meadow hay. May get a box to try then.
 
Engel said:
Is meadow green too?

I got meadow hay from p@h as I was in a rush. I went back and found their Timothy which was green. But they're not so keen on it? I'm wasting a lot of it in comparison to the meadow hay. May get a box to try then.
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yes, lovely and green! It’s the best quality I’ve found. Not cheap though, I get through 20kg every three weeks in winter (less in summer as their layer for bedding thinner)
 
Engel said:
@Wiebke @Merab's Slave
@Mother Hubbard
any ideas?
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I’m flattered to be included in this but as my herd are indoor piggies in a C&C cage I can’t help with outdoor piggies.
I see that you’ve already had some good replies though.
Regarding hay - I order 10kg every 5 weeks on subscription from HayBox.
It’s always lovely and fresh. My lot love it.

Glad you’re finding the forum helpful. Thank you for thanking us.
 
Piggies&buns said:
yes, lovely and green! It’s the best quality I’ve found. Not cheap though, I get through 20kg every three weeks in winter (less in summer as their layer for bedding thinner)
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But I guess you get what you pay for. Sounds like great quality hay ☺️
 
Cleaned Oreo and Chunk out today. Replaced miscanthus with shavings. I haven't put in any fleece this time. Trial and error to find the best substrate for the pigs and I. Replaced hay. The Timothy (p@h brand) smells really sweet, it's actually quite nice. They're not so keen on it though. Don't get me wrong they'll eat it but their not as enthusiastic about it compared to meadow. But they're all individuals I guess
 
Who’s have thought such little things can be so picky! 😆
 
Mums still struggling, change of bedding and hay didn't change anything :( they're going to have to go outside.

My 3 choices are

Shed: as you know it's small and doesn't allow for 24hr constant interaction without compromising on space. No natural light. Don't think it has condensation

Greenhouse: larger so could attach 2 hutches together to allow 24/7 interaction and space. Natural light. Has condensation

Hutch with covers: space, light and constant interaction. Not protected from elements

Help what would you do?
 
Would it be possible to move them to another part of the house at all? Sorry she is struggling, it’s difficult.
 
Also do they have to be right next to each other to interact or can 2 hutches be a few cm away? (Thinking about the lip on the roof of the hutch)
 
Engel said:
Also do they have to be right next to each other to interact or can 2 hutches be a few cm away? (Thinking about the lip on the roof of the hutch)
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that’s fine, as long as they can see each other (although their eye sight isn’t great) but it’s also about being able to smell each other
 
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