Warning: Freezing UK nights ahead!

VickiA said:
Great timely warning @Wiebke
Mine are indoors but I’ll still be sure to cover over one end of their cage at night to help keep,them warmer.
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All my snugglesafes are in use overnight and the big fleece is going up in front of the cages on the bay window side to prevent cold drafts getting into the ground floor pens. There is also another old fleece where cages abut an outside wall as an added layer of insulation.

Additionally, I am providing richer soft sweet meadow hay for burrowing into and for a bit more calories when they eat it - usually it is just a handful for an occasional treat during the summer months.
 
Mine are very well covered and thankfully up on the table, so warmer than being on the ground. We have also got an oil filled radiator to put on for a while before morning, when it's going to be the coldest temps.

Our living room where the boys live, is actually a lot warmer than our bedroom, despite having no heating on in either room (due to expense!), so I'm actually quite envious of the piggies having a 'warm' room while our bedroom is literally like a fridge! 🥶❄️
 
Storm1974 said:
Mine are very well covered and thankfully up on the table, so warmer than being on the ground. We have also got an oil filled radiator to put on for a while before morning, when it's going to be the coldest temps.

Our living room where the boys live, is actually a lot warmer than our bedroom, despite having no heating on in either room (due to expense!), so I'm actually quite envious of the piggies having a 'warm' room while our bedroom is literally like a fridge! 🥶❄️
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My bedroom is not heated, either, while the piggies have the lounge which is heated during the day...

I will however steal one of the snugglesafes for my own bed now that I do not need them all for the cages. :D
 
I didn’t think I’d need to use snugglesafes indoors as my two were used to living outside in the garage. So inside they are always going to be warmer?
 
My lot have plenty of hay and their snuggle pads. Got covers and more covers and blankets on the hutch to keep them warm in the shed. Definitely feel a heat difference as you step out of the shed and an even bigger difference when you put your hands in the hutch. First time them being out this time of year so really hoping I'm doing enough
 
We have plenty of nice fleecy tunnels, a paper bag stuffed with hay and lots of extra hay in the cage.
The cage is close to a radiator and I have old towels pegged around the outside to help keep in the warmth.
We keep the heating on all day at a steady 17 degrees and this seems to suit the piggies well.
 
I was met with this when I opened the curtains this morning! 🥶🥶🥶
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I haven't had a heater blower for the last 18 months after my fan burnt out. I paid for a garage to replace it yesterday! How's that for good timing! 🤣🤣🤣
 
The shed is on timed heating and when the really cold snap visits us, the snugglesafes will be ready to go in. In the meantime, keeping clean and dry and burrowing hay is the place to be in the Pad. Here’s Casper having morning cuddle check
 

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Engel said:
Already feeling defeated, despite my best efforts it dropped to 4C in the hutch. I think they're going to have to come in. I feel really bad that I left them out there last night while I was nice and warm inside 😭
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What insulation do you have on the hutch? I used to keep my hutches outside all year round but they did have hutch huggers and electric blanket. Have you considered using one of the dog heated mats? They are really good, especially if you have an ill piggy and wrap it in a few towels to stop the chewing. The cable is armoured too. As long as you have outside electric point of course.
 
Mother Hubbard said:
What insulation do you have on the hutch? I used to keep my hutches outside all year round but they did have hutch huggers and electric blanket. Have you considered using one of the dog heated mats? They are really good, especially if you have an ill piggy and wrap it in a few towels to stop the chewing. The cable is armoured too. As long as you have outside electric point of course.
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Shed is insulated in the foil insulation stuff. Got curtains up at windows and doors. Hutches have thermal covers plus foil insulation on the inside and cardboard against the walls. There's blankets and duvets over the top as well as a tarp. Lots of hay to snuggle in with snuggle safes. Large hides for them all to go in and there was a fleece blanket placed over the hides to help keep heat in.

It dropped to -1 last night but my weather app said it felt like -4?

I don't have electricity going to the shed.
 
Engel said:
Shed is insulated in the foil insulation stuff. Got curtains up at windows and doors. Hutches have thermal covers plus foil insulation on the inside and cardboard against the walls. There's blankets and duvets over the top as well as a tarp. Lots of hay to snuggle in with snuggle safes. Large hides for them all to go in and there was a fleece blanket placed over the hides to help keep heat in.

It dropped to -1 last night but my weather app said it felt like -4?

I don't have electricity going to the shed.
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-4 will be the windchill but as they aren’t outside then they aren’t experiencing that.

You are doing everything I do with mine in the shed (I don’t have electric out there either).
I’ve never had to bring mine indoors in a winter, as even if it has been chilly, they have always been absolutely fine with a few snugglesafes in the hutch and lots of hay to snuggle into. They aren’t exposed to damp and wind and that goes a long way. They seem to manage in cold better than in heat provided they aren’t damp and in windy conditions. It’s the sudden cold which concerning me most, there hasn’t been a gradual decline in temperatures this year.

They’ve always gone about their normal piggy business, maintained their weights or gained weight all winter and never felt cold. They burn more calories keeping warm so I ensure there is extra hay.
I am keeping a closer eye this winter though as I have two oldies now, they get some porridge oats in the evening now.
 
Piggies&buns said:
-4 will be the windchill but as they aren’t outside then they aren’t experiencing that.

You are doing everything I do with mine in the shed (I don’t have electric out there either).
I’ve never had to bring mine indoors in a winter, as even if it has been chilly, they have always been absolutely fine with a few snugglesafes in the hutch and lots of hay to snuggle into. They aren’t exposed to damp and wind and that goes a long way. They seem to manage in cold better than in heat provided they aren’t damp and in windy conditions. It’s the sudden cold which concerning me most, there hasn’t been a gradual decline in temperatures this year.

They’ve always gone about their normal piggy business, maintained their weights or gained weight all winter and never felt cold. They burn more calories keeping warm so I ensure there is extra hay.
I am keeping a closer eye this winter though as I have two oldies now, they get some porridge oats in the evening now.
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Despite my best efforts they've all lost 100g+ and feel cold. They're spending a lot of time in their hides, only really coming out when I'm in there. Due snow on Thursday and Friday and meant to go down to -3 (-7 with wind-chill). I'm preparing their indoor cages as we speak, as I don't like how this is going with them. They've coped really well up until now though.
 
Engel said:
Despite my best efforts they've all lost 100g+ and feel cold. They're spending a lot of time in their hides, only really coming out when I'm in there. Due snow on Thursday and Friday and meant to go down to -3 (-7 with wind-chill). I'm preparing their indoor cages as we speak, as I don't like how this is going with them. They've coped really well up until now though.
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Definitely doing the right thing in bringing them in then.
 
Engel said:
Despite my best efforts they've all lost 100g+ and feel cold. They're spending a lot of time in their hides, only really coming out when I'm in there. Due snow on Thursday and Friday and meant to go down to -3 (-7 with wind-chill). I'm preparing their indoor cages as we speak, as I don't like how this is going with them. They've coped really well up until now though.
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Snow?
 
Mother Hubbard said:
Can’t believe we’re reading snow already on the forecasts….
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Climate change is not just warmer weather; it also means a more sluggish jet stream and blocked weather patterns.

It is basically more extremes - when it gets cold it gets really cold and for longer, the same with heat, with rain and drought... :(
 
If my living room is constantly around 20 degrees c do I still need snuggle safes? I put deep piles of hay in and there's plenty of hideys, plus a large fleece forest covering 2x1 grids. At night it hasn't dropped below 18 in the living room. I've had pigs for 5 years but this is the first winter with an elderly 6 year old pig. I want to make sure she's comfy, so I'm going to buy a snugglesafe anyway but I feel new to this still.
 
piggymad28 said:
If my living room is constantly around 20 degrees c do I still need snuggle safes? I put deep piles of hay in and there's plenty of hideys, plus a large fleece forest covering 2x1 grids. At night it hasn't dropped below 18 in the living room. I've had pigs for 5 years but this is the first winter with an elderly 6 year old pig. I want to make sure she's comfy, so I'm going to buy a snugglesafe anyway but I feel new to this still.
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Snugglesafes are not needed if termperatures aren't falling much overnight when the room is heated during the day. My young and healthy piggies don't need them. We have the same situation as you in our lounge, half of which doubles up as piggy room/my office so it is one of the rooms in the house that is fully heated.

Additionally, I protect the floor cages next to it from cold drafts from the bay window with a large fleece pegged over the cage and the window side. It makes about a degree difference first thing in the morning before the heating comes on again.

My own snugglesafes are mainly for my arthritic elderlies that also have age-related weight loss as they come towards the end of their lives and that - like older humans - crave warmth much more; they have half-heated snugglesafes during the day, which they appreciate. Snugglesafes are also handy to have in case you need to see a vet on a cold day and of course for severely ill piggies that are no moving around much and have experienced weight loss.

I place mine usually underneath a cave my oldies love to hang out in anyway or otherwise where they love to sleep most.

During a heatwave I then do the same with snugglesafes out of the fridge which bring a welcome spot of coolness but are no so cold as to force the piggy to move away. Those cosies need replacing every few hours, though. But my oldies love them.
 
Wiebke said:
Snugglesafes are not needed if termperatures aren't falling much overnight when the room is heated during the day. My young and healthy piggies don't need them. We have the same situation as you in our lounge, half of which doubles up as piggy room/my office so it is one of the rooms in the house that is fully heated.

Additionally, I protect the floor cages next to it from cold drafts from the bay window with a large fleece pegged over the cage and the window side. It makes about a degree difference first thing in the morning before the heating comes on again.

My own snugglesafes are mainly for my arthritic elderlies that also have age-related weight loss as they come towards the end of their lives and that - like older humans - crave warmth much more; they have half-heated snugglesafes during the day, which they appreciate. Snugglesafes are also handy to have in case you need to see a vet on a cold day and of course for severely ill piggies that are no moving around much and have experienced weight loss.

I place mine usually underneath a cave my oldies love to hang out in anyway or otherwise where they love to sleep most.

During a heatwave I then do the same with snugglesafes out of the fridge which bring a welcome spot of coolness but are no so cold as to force the piggy to move away. Those cosies need replacing every few hours, though. But my oldies love them.
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Thanks ☺️ I ordered some this morning so they will arrive tomorrow.
 
The bins are frozen closed. Have been for a while, if the amount of effort it just took to open the paper bin is any indication.
 
-3 on my way home. We are gearing up for snow at the end of the week, our winter maintenance teams are ready to rock and roll. 👍
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Spot which car which has been parked up all evening and which one has only been home 90 minutes. 😁
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