Non-Microwave Heat Pads

Where do your piggies live - inside or outside?
You can get self heating blankets but they only work by reflecting their own body heat back when they sit on them rather than a really creating a warm environment for them.
 
They live outside. They have a hutch cover and I always give them loads of hay and they have beds/pigloos, but I still worry about them in the colder weather.

Do you think that the self heating blankets would help to keep them warmer?
 
They will give them a warm place to sit but only after their body heat has warmed them up, I personally don’t think they will be anywhere near as good as a microwave heat pad. They will still be within cold air though. The other problem will be that they are made of fabric/fleece which shouldn’t be used outside. They will sit on them, pee on them and then they will be sitting on wet areas. It’s really not ideal.
Is there anyway you can buy a small, cheap microwave?

My piggies live in a hutch in my shed with thermal hutch covers, blankets, another hutch cover over it all and then a duvet thrown over the top. They then have four snugglesafes between the two piggies. The microwave pads go some way to also warming the air around them as well. I put their heat pads underneath their hides, so the warmth is trapped within almost all night. This is the only way I can keep them warm enough outside. I really couldn’t imagine them being warm enough outside without snugglesafes. My microwave was £20 and is used only for heating up the snugglesafe heatpads for the guinea pigs.
 
I have asked about getting a microwave before but we don't have much room for one. Thank you so much for your advice though, it looks like heat pads are definitely the right way to go. I'll just have to do a bit more persuading! I'm sure we have room for a microwave somewhere...
Thank you again!
 
I have outdoor rabbits and have tried lots of different heating options, but in all honesty the only ones that actually work and can deal with being in a hutch really are the snuggle safes. Do you have a garage or utility room or somewhere less obvious that you could put a small microwave?
 
Definitely, without extra heat source they'll be too cold. My insulated piggie shed is now empty (as my pigs are indoors) and without heating on it was - 3 in there today! Even if they were snuggled in hay-filled bedding area I doubt it would make huge difference.
Also, keep the hay dry as hay damp from pee will make them even colder.
 
If you can safely get electricity to your hutch then one of these Petnap whelping pads might be useful.
Flexiguard Pet Heat Pad | Petnap Metal Heat Pad chewproof

I have one for my girls in their hutch in a shed. It doesn't get hot but it keeps at just above body temperature, they all snuggle up together on it when it's cold.

I put mine under a couple of sheets of newspaper & a thin layer of very small shredded paper.

I put an old duvet down over the hutch at night too.

I used to use the Snugglesafe's they are very good. You can get for around £13 when they're on offer (make sure you get the actual Snugglesafe, as often shaped spare covers can be mistakenly bought for a similar price - the Snugglesafe usually comes with a basic fleece cover anyway).

I'm amazed you can manage without a microwave - I'd be lost without mine now :(
Most of my vegetables I do in it, no need to add salt like I would in the pan.

Could u add a little shelf for the microwave if space on your worktop is limited?

Boxes stuffed with hay are good for keeping Guineas warm.
Or if it's an outdoor hutch, maybe at night/very cold or windy weather put a piece of clear perspex/plywood/cardboard put up to the mesh (leave an inch or two gap for ventilation & to stop condensation at the top), would cut down a lot of the draughts (this is generally more of a problem than the temperature).
An old duvet put down over (make sure ventilation) with a waterproof cover will all help to insulate the hutch & keep them warmer. :luv:

Good luck xx
 
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