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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2014 13:31:45 GMT
When is it warm enough for my boys to move back outside?
Obviously it's only been warm for about a week so I'm not expecting to put them out too soon I just wondered when it would be okay for them?
Don't know if this is an American forum or not but I'm in the UK.
Is it when it's been 15degrees Celsius and above for a few weeks?
Thanks.
Indiana x
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Post by Bean on Mar 17, 2014 14:33:22 GMT
It was started by people in the UK, but it's a good old mix. I'd assumed you might be American actually, on account of your username!
I'm hopeless with weather stuff - I never know when to plant things out or if there's still a risk of a frost. I can think of a few times it's snowed in April, but other years when it's been lovely. My guess would be that May is safe!
I suppose it depends on if you have good protection for the hutch too- to keep it warm, dry and sheltered from the wind. If you do then you needn't be as cautious as when you're relying on mild weather.
In the meantime, I'm sure you're doing the same as us and taking advantage of the nice days! It was super windy here all weekend so our boys have been staying in again.
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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2014 14:47:05 GMT
Haha I'm from the West Midlands!
I'm going to go out and do some gardening in a bit so I'm going to take them out with me for an hour or so. Last summer was the first one they spend outside and I've never seen them so happy! They both look so bored when they're inside, they get more exercise out there and fresh air! I feel so bad for them being left inside. I might put them out in their runs during the day time and bring them back in during the night times. Their hutch is against two brick walls and has a good cover on it so I'm not concerned about the wind or rain, just the temperature for them. I don't want them to get poorly because I've put them out too soon.
Indiana x
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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2014 16:09:17 GMT
George loved munching on the grass today! Being guarded by my Labrador Angel!
Indiana x
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Post by jolovespiggies on Mar 17, 2014 19:10:20 GMT
Thank you for sharing a lovely piccie hun, it looks as if Angel is taking her role very seriously LOL!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2014 19:31:40 GMT
Haha she does! She makes me laugh so much! I was trying to plant some flowers this afternoon and every time I dug a hole to put them in I'd turn back around after getting my plant would have some sort of soggy toy in the hole! She then went out and dug the plants back up after I'd came in! Can't tell her off though, I could see how much fun she had! Will try again tomorrow Indiana x Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by Bean on Mar 17, 2014 20:02:45 GMT
Ooooh did you make your run or buy it? I *really* want one like that and am about to draw up a plan (for my husband to make!). Any tips on features that are good/bad before I start?
Angel does look very authoritative there! Hope your plants can survive a replanting haha!
Sounds like a good compromise to have the pigs in by night and out by day until the risk of very cold weather has passed. If the hutches are dry and out of the wind, covering them when it was cold and at night would help keep their temperature constant - it's more going up and down that they have trouble adjusting to, than just getting used to certain temperatures.
Midlands eh? Looks like I was way off there! I lived in Birmingham for a good few years - up in Yorkshire now though!
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 17, 2014 20:31:04 GMT
That is a nice run! If I didn't live in condo where I don't own the lawn, I would have a solid piggy run. My rule for when it's safe for the pigs to go outside is to press my hands on the ground, and see how long it takes for them to get uncomfortably cold. Pigs live close to the ground, so no way to get away from the cold seeping up from the dirt. It should be okay for them to be on the grass for as long as you could comfortably press your hands to the grass. Hope that makes sense. I thought you were from the US, too, because of your member name
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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2014 20:53:26 GMT
He seemed happy out there, wasn't puffed up or anything and he didn't feel cold when I brought him in, he was only out for an hour or so, I think I'll bring them in of a night, not willing to risk it yet! I like your ground touching test, I'll try that!
I hope my plants can survive it too!! I may have to move on to seeds!
I love York, much nicer that Birmingham!!
The run I have is a Lazybones one, I'm not clever enough to make my own haha!! It's just the right size for them, they go out in it separately on alternative days. I don't have any tips really! The bottom of the covered bit is made of wood as well and you can take it out if you wobble it enough so it's easy to clean. I like that about it!
Indiana x
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 17, 2014 21:10:16 GMT
We can't plant outside until at least the beginning of May, and possibly later. Our last killing frost can be as late as the end of May. We're in the southern part of our state, so it's warmer here, and we can get our tomato plants out sooner. Might have to cover up, if we got a cold night, but otherwise it should be okay.
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Post by Bean on Mar 18, 2014 9:48:21 GMT
I need to get some seedlings going really - it's just where to put them inside as my little greenhouse thingy isn't in great shape (it's been tossed about by the wind despite being weighed down by massive stones). I'm not the best at remembering to water stuff in there before we're out in the garden regularly anyway. Don't really have convenient window ledges spare.
I do like the idea of the compartment in the run - somewhere nice and cosy for them to retreat to. I found a 1.5 metre Lazy Bones grazing arc for £50 (and for a lot more at other places). Is that how big yours is? I think we can probably cobble something together for less, but will see what wood we have outside and work out costs for what we'll need to buy once I've decided how I'd like it. I would quite like it to be a bit bigger, but our lawn isn't very level, so the bigger area it covers, the more likely I am to have problems with it not quite touching the ground in places.
Now I'm thinking about it and considering all the bolts I'd need to get and the wood treatment I'd need to put on, in addition to planning it out (when neither of us are carpenters), I'm feeling quite inspired by the Lazy Bones brand...!
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Post by indiana on Mar 18, 2014 11:17:24 GMT
I like lazybones, my hutch is from them too. That run is about 1.5m maybe a bit smaller, I think it was about £80 but it was from an overpriced garden centre I used to work for, I bet it was loads cheaper elsewhere. I know what you mean about the grass not being level haha mine is like that too!!
Indiana x
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 18, 2014 20:20:37 GMT
I googled Lazy Bones Pet Houses, and was looking through the offerings. I was oohing and ahing, then realized I was looking at chicken houses If I had an outdoor area for pigs, I would so have a shed with easy to clean runs Sigh! I don't think lawns are ever really level, no matter how hard we try. You could probably make more than one run, and make a connector, sort of like the articulated trains and buses. Those runs would be easy to make, and not take special tools and a lot of training. Still, to be able to just bring it home and put the pigs in it is a nice option.
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Post by indiana on Mar 18, 2014 20:24:02 GMT
Haha yeah the chicken houses look good don't they!
Maybe one day when I'm more creative I'll make one, I'm too lazy to make anything haha
Indiana.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 18, 2014 20:28:06 GMT
One of our lapsed members, Newpig, has a chicken house for a run. She said it was nice to be able to stand up inside to rake out the poos and things.
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Post by indiana on Mar 18, 2014 20:49:25 GMT
Sounds like a good idea.
I think that if I had a large group of them then I would definitely get one but I have to put mine out one at a time so it would be expensive for what I'd use it for haha!
Indiana x
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 18, 2014 21:06:43 GMT
I have a portable play pen I used for the pigs to graze outside on the lawn here. Then I got Momo, who doesn't get along with the others, so I would have to take them out 2 and 1, and I don't have the setup for that. I've been considering just linking cage grids so I can make the combo I want/need for them all to be happy. It would be nice for her to be able to have a bit of floor time with the others, separated of course, so I could use the pen indoors or out. I can't leave my pigs outside unattended, so it's not a run, just a temporary place for them to play and graze.
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Post by indiana on Mar 19, 2014 8:39:39 GMT
It certainly does complicate things when they don't get along!
Indiana x
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Post by Bean on Mar 19, 2014 9:35:46 GMT
The chicken coops do look great, but a bit over budget! Actually, years back fella made a run for our pigs - it was probably about 6' x 4' and had a divider in so that my two groups (each with one boy and two girls) could go out together as well as separately for a better zoom around. It had a hinged lid to keep the cats out too. He did a pretty good job but I think if he did it now (after all the DIY experience he's gained at this house!) it'd be a lot sturdier, especially around the joints. It swayed and creaked quite a bit when you moved it! Due to its size, the condition of it after a few years of use and the fact we were moving to somewhere without a garden/storage, we had to leave it behind when we moved back up north.
I'm still undecided - given the fact I also want fella to make me a new cage, I'm still thinking that being lazy has its advantages! Very cold and windy here this week, or I'd probably just have bought it by now!
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Post by indiana on Mar 19, 2014 10:21:43 GMT
Sounded like it was brilliant! I would love to put them out so that they can smell and talk to each other but not get at each other. My boys will just have to take it in turns I'm afraid, my dad wouldn't be happy if I got a bigger one!
Indiana x
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