hidey house idea

[loves2travel]

i just had a great idea for a hidey house. Take a shoe box and cut a whole in the side. put a slit through the lids and point them up to make a triangular roof. Then, whenever they poop in there, just lift the lid/roof and scoop. very easy.

then i though i could paint it, the roof shackles, windows, etc for color and deco.

but...would the paint be harmful for the pigs if they chewed on it or something?

[Treen]

I definitely wouldn't paint it - they will chew on the cardboard (half the fun of hidey houses for them) and eating paint isn't good for them and could make them very ill. You shouldn't even use coloured or glossy cardboard, just plain brown is the best.

I use boxes for my pigs, but I turn the base upside down and cut doorways in it. With no bottom to the hidey house, they last a lot longer - otherwise they just tend to get soggy with wee very quickly and have to be thrown out.

[Denise]

My husband just made a huge hidey-house for our two piggies, and I was wanting to "paint" it, but I know they will chew on it. I was wondering if edible food coloring gel thinned with water might do the trick. They color chew sticks and other edible items in the pet stores, but does anyone know what they use?

[mncavylover]

I don't know if I would trust whatever they use in pet stores. I don't know what they use, though. Good luck with a house! =)

[bunnyluv17]

Originally Posted by Denise

My husband just made a huge hidey-house for our two piggies, and I was wanting to "paint" it, but I know they will chew on it. I was wondering if edible food coloring gel thinned with water might do the trick. They color chew sticks and other edible items in the pet stores, but does anyone know what they use?

You can use kool-aid to dye wood. It is safe for birds, so I think it would be fine for piggies. The more water you add to the kool-aid, the lighter the color will be.

[LiciaMommycott]

Originally Posted by bunnyluv17

You can use kool-aid to dye wood. It is safe for birds, so I think it would be fine for piggies. The more water you add to the kool-aid, the lighter the color will be.

What a great idea. I don't know if they still make it but you should get the packets without the sugar. I'm afraid that sugary water might attract ants and other bugs.

[Denise]

Thanks! Using Kool-Aid never occurred to me. My one girl is on a specially made antibiotic that isn't flavored and she hates it so my vet said I could flavor it with a TINY amount of Jell-o, so I guess I could also use that.

[bunnyluv17]

Definitely use the ones without sugar. You might have to soak the wood in kool-aid for several hours, the only downside is that the colors might run if it gets wet.