Reference Calling all experienced summer piggy mothers and dads!!!

[rubypig]

Hi all ok so I know I asked a similar question before but I didn't get major feedback and I have a couple new questions too so please post!

Ok so the heat has REALLY hit here and it's only going to get hotter! My piggies are refusing to give up they're fleece cushioned hidey's and my girls are insisting to go under ALL of the bedding. I know for sure it's way too hot but I don't want to stop using the fleece bedding so I think I may have to Velcro it down at some point!

Does anyone have any tips or ideas on something I can make that will give them the hidey effect without being heavy and holding heat? Baring in mind I am very limited on resources out here and if I order online it won't get here!

I was considers using chop sticks as a mass for a tent but I don't know what wood they're made form so kinda iffy about that! Plastic is like a sauna even with holes so I don't think that would be effective!

Can you tell me how you keep your babies cool? What do you switch to housing wise in the summer??

I'm aware of freezing water bottles and putting bricks etc under they're houses but other than this what can I do?

The other thing is I have to be honest, I clean they're homes all day long but I am now noticing some slight smell after only 2 days of washing everything, is there any other advice for this? I don't mind washing every day but it stresses them all out when they need to stay out longer than they want!

Any tips and advise much appreciated and will be very helpful!

Thanks

 

[Zuidy]

Grids and leftover fleece, and you can make a fleece forest. I use 2 fleece forests and one wooden hidey.

Also, you can fill a bottle with water and freeze it to keep the girls cool. That is what I do.

If they are hot, they will seek wherever isn't hot. So I wouldn't worry about them overheating-- Just provide what you can to prevent overheating, and if they are hot, they will take advantage of it.

Oh, I also put their water bottles in the freezer for around half an hour when it is hot. That way they are on the brink of freezing, but no ice is formed yet. Just make sure if you do this that you run the nozzles under lukewarm water to make sure the ball still moves around in it.



Hope I helped!

 

[rubypig]

Thanks Zuidy very helpful! If think of any more ideas or anyone else has some please post :0)))))))

 

[Roo99]

You can take a spare piece of fleece and tie or sew it around a reusable ice pack. Then, place the ice pack in their favorite corner of the cage. That way, they can cool down without changing their routine. You can also make them a fleece cozy with a built-in slot for an ice pack, like a little pocket.

I also run a fan on the other end of the room where the pigs stay. The pigs are in the 'south' and the fan is facing the 'west' of the room. That way, there are no drafts but the air is well circulated. It also helps with allergies. I haven't been running it for the past week or so and my allergies have been miserable. I scare the crap out of the pigs when I sneeze! lol Also, I did some rearranging so that I could make room for the C&C that I'll be building them, and stirred up a bunch of dust (achoo!). I'll be getting my fan back out as soon as I finish typing this.

Also, sometimes I think that fleece is like the cool underside of the pillow. You know when you're trying to sleep, but it's hot so you flip over the pillow? Well, when you flip it its cool for a bit and feels really nice. I think that sometimes it feels cool for a little bit under the fleece for them. Just a thought; I have no idea if it's true or not.

Good luck! I had to deal with a broken air conditioner for a total of about a week, and in the southeast United States the summer heat was just setting in. It wasn't too fun, but I had my fan going 24/7 in the pigs' room (it used to be mine, but they've taken over ).

 

[ggpigs]

I give mine frozen veggie cubes,fresh veggies that have cold water on them,water with ice cubes,and make sure no windows are open.