Outdoor piggies and Climate

[Princess Dustmop]

I have to say, even knowing this is a UK based forum, I was initially shocked and confused by comments about piggies living outdoors and in sheds. I mean, around here, there's maybe two weeks in a year that I would deem that to be okay ... other than that, it would be potentially too hot, too cold, or both. It made more sense once I saw the discussions of temperature ...
I mean, in the beginning of May we had nighttime lows around 0°-8° C and then mid-month we had daytime highs around 25°-30° C and up to 35° C (38°C one day if you believe my car). We lasted about two days between turning off the heat and turning on the A/C.
Now, this year's been particularly odd (and very annoying for trying to harden off plants), but you can see why the concept of outdoor piggies would be so foreign to me! A couple days earlier this week we had days with lows around 13° C and highs around 30° C ... and those I did not even deem abnormal.

Just thought I'd share my amusement ...

 

[Siikibam]

There is too much swinging back and forth for your climate to be conducive to keeping piggies safely outdoors. The main issue is the high temps. Piggies are comfy around 15-22/23c so 25 would be pushing it and 30 definitely not good.

In the same breath, keeping them warm when it’s 0 outside can also be tricky. But if in a shed that would definitely help.

Goes to show different environments, different options for housing.

 

[Princess Dustmop]

Oh, I could never keep piggies outside ... 0° C is a spring/fall low ... it easily gets down to lows of -15° C in winter. 30° C is a normal summer day ... I start getting cranky around 32° C ... and I don't live further south because I prefer for 35°-40° C highs to occur seldomly.

We have a climate controlled house, and they just have a bedroom that is more of less theirs now ... occasionally they share with a visiting family member, who must accept their schedule and will be begged for hay.

 

[Seven7]

I know what you mean. I too was a bit puzzled at first. Having travelled to Europe and UK, I felt living spaces seemed a bit tight in Europe compared to here in the US, so I thought that was why piggies lived outside in Europe.
Mine are indoor piggies.

 

[o&b]

I know what you mean. I too was a bit puzzled at first. Having travelled to Europe and UK, I felt living spaces seemed a bit tight in Europe compared to here in the US, so I thought that was why piggies lived outside in Europe.
Mine are indoor piggies.

My piggies are also indoor piggies. First of all, in the winter it's REALLY cold in Canada. Second, I don't have any space in my backyard. And third, the summer is coming soon and it's super hot! I know that some people live in places where the weather is fine so I guess it would be ok to have outdoor piggies depending on where you live.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes I can imagine why it seems strange to you! Things are different in the UK but care and back up plans still needed.

i have shed piggies (and outdoor rabbits) I find summer much harder than winter. There is around two weeks each mid summer when it’s too hot in the shed and they need to move in the house. In winter, the shed has always remained warm enough and I’ve never had to have them inside due to cold

In my area, this time of year daytime is around 18 and night is about 10 degrees.
An average summer day would be around 25 but we get a couple of weeks around the end of July/beginning of August where anything can happen. My area broke a record a few years ago and had a day where it was 38 degrees….but it was just that, a record breaking day and not normal (although with climate change, these days may happen more frequently)
Winter in my area is usually mild and in the positive figures, around 0- 8 degrees during the day usually. We can get -3 mid winter night (this is about the coldest outside temperature my shed can take and still remain warm enough inside) but this winter even night time was mild with only a light frost two or three times all winter.

 

[Swissgreys]

Switzerland is the same with a climate that varies hugely, and it would not be possible to keep piggies outside year round here.
It's either far too hot or far too cold!