What should I do?

Status
Not open for further replies.
pandabear

pandabear

Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
54
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Hi Everyone,

I apologise in advance haha, I think this is mainly a stressing post ")

I have three sows, and they live outdoors under the patio. I received them in a situation where a woman and her kids could no longer care for them, and I love them to death and want the best for my girls.

I live in Queensland, Australia and the weather is undeniably hot. I'm doing everything I can to keep my girls cool, but since I rent a room off the man who owns this house, I can not keep them inside even thought i would LOVE to. I would even consider moving just so I could, but being 19 and supporting myself I cannot afford to.

For the Aussie's on the forum, you will probably know the attitudes of most Australians with the whole 'guinea pigs are outside animals' thing, I fully disagree, I recognise that the heat fluctuation is not great for them. I guess i'm venting here as anyone in person i talk to is like basically "stick them in a hutch on the grass, everyone does an they're fine" and i'm sick of hearing it :\

I feel horrible, they pant from the heat even though i have frozen water bottles, a cool towel over the hutch when theyre in it (mainly at night when its cooled a little, theyre usually in a large 2x7(approx.) c&c like cage when I'm watching them, as they are right outside my back door in the shade)
I'm trying everything I can but i'm just kicking myself that i can't bring my girls inside.

I'm sorry for the rant or whatever, I guess i'm just worrying and feeling stuck because I don't feel I have any choice.

Do you think I should keep my girls or possibly find an indoor home with someone else for them?

I would hate for them to get hit with heatstroke and I just feel lost.

This is all over the place, doesn't really have a point, just needed some basic opinions i guess?
 
I know people in australia who have pigs...most keep them in wire-sided cages so that there's good ventilation, you can also buy little fans which can attach to the sides of the cage...they should be on ebay, and they're battery powered (would probably be best to get rechargable batteries).

If possible can you put them in a garage or shed? If not, make sure they are in the coolest part of the garden and have constant shade, frozen 'coke' bottles (just fizzy drink/water bottles), granite slabs or glossed tiles (which will provide something cool to lie on), and a couple of water bottles...you could even try freezing a water bottle (don't fill it up to the top!) and that way it would melt slowly during the day.

If they're longhaired pigs I would recommend shaving them off during the summer, and keeping them trimmed during the winter.

You could always try and find someone close to you and see what their set up is like, it will give you some ideas for your own :)
 
Thanks for the constructive help :D

I do have them under a patio, so i guess it isn't so bad.
They just seem so affected by the heat unfortunately, panting and quite flopped in the daytime whereas when the temp drops at late afternoon they liven up.

Two of my pigs are semi-long haired, maybe its time for a haircut! Good idea,

Thanks Squidge.
 
Thanks for the constructive help :D

I do have them under a patio, so i guess it isn't so bad.
They just seem so affected by the heat unfortunately, panting and quite flopped in the daytime whereas when the temp drops at late afternoon they liven up.

Two of my pigs are semi-long haired, maybe its time for a haircut! Good idea,

Thanks Squidge.
 
Hi,
you could try buying those marble slabs that stay cooler they could lay on those, also try a giant parosol umbrella and angle it so it shades he hutch from the sun:)
 
Thats a good idea with the slab/tile Lily_74, thank you :)

The hutch is in the shade all day :) It's just the air itself in Australia is that hot and sticky, it's hard to keep cool anywhere really :\
 
Squidge said:
I know people in australia who have pigs...most keep them in wire-sided cages so that there's good ventilation, you can also buy little fans which can attach to the sides of the cage...they should be on ebay, and they're battery powered (would probably be best to get rechargable batteries).
Click to expand...

this is a good idea, maybe some small battery fans so they can get a breeze?

living in england I'm not alot of help!
 
Hi guys, thanks for the links! :) the first one is actually the site of a member here, enchantingcavy I think? Her name is Jess and she runs the main rescue in my state :)
 
Hi love i use tiles in the girls house on hot days also.
So i would be very tempted if i was you to have a few tiles (i'm sure you could pick some up at a tile place for nothing if you asked for some out of date styles etc.. ) as well as the frozen bottles and fans too. I like the idea of the damp towel too.
Yes Jess P is the girl who runs ACS in Brisbane. You could give her a call and voice your concerns she is a busy girl but i'm sure she would help you, other than that send her an email ....... her addy is on the website (sorry i have it at work but for some reason not at home!)
I also on hot days get a washer and wet it, then wring it out, then lightly wipe the girls, particularly Velvet as she's long haired......i wipe their faces and very gently over their bodies. Make sure it's not too wet tho.
And yes hair cuts, i give Velvet a full hair cut a few times thru the summer to keep the thick layers thinned out and shorter. She hates the scissors so maybe get someone to help you incase your girls also wriggle around.

GOOD LUCK XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Glynis said:
Hi love i use tiles in the girls house on hot days also.
So i would be very tempted if i was you to have a few tiles (i'm sure you could pick some up at a tile place for nothing if you asked for some out of date styles etc.. ) as well as the frozen bottles and fans too. I like the idea of the damp towel too.
Yes Jess P is the girl who runs ACS in Brisbane. You could give her a call and voice your concerns she is a busy girl but i'm sure she would help you, other than that send her an email ....... her addy is on the website (sorry i have it at work but for some reason not at home!)
I also on hot days get a washer and wet it, then wring it out, then lightly wipe the girls, particularly Velvet as she's long haired......i wipe their faces and very gently over their bodies. Make sure it's not too wet tho.
And yes hair cuts, i give Velvet a full hair cut a few times thru the summer to keep the thick layers thinned out and shorter. She hates the scissors so maybe get someone to help you incase your girls also wriggle around.

GOOD LUCK XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Click to expand...

I was hoping to hear from you Glynis :)
Thanks! I have been doing the other things and i might give my long hair girls a haircut tomorrow :) Great idea.
I made a new 2x5 semi-c&c today! haha more space, they seem so much more chilled.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top