|
Post by Bean on May 13, 2023 6:42:48 GMT
Ah if you're set up downstairs now, then it wouldn't really help to move them elsewhere - you definitely don't want to spend lots of your peaceful time moving loots of furniture upstairs and then back down again!
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on May 13, 2023 13:26:28 GMT
Ah if you're set up downstairs now, then it wouldn't really help to move them elsewhere - you definitely don't want to spend lots of your peaceful time moving loots of furniture upstairs and then back down again! Maybe if my wife decides to spend another three weeks or at least extends her stay for a while, I would consider it.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 13, 2023 15:09:37 GMT
Most sites seem to recommend keeping the sun lamp close to the animals, and running it for about 2 hours a day. I used sun lamps in the basement of two houses ago, and instead of putting them 9" from the cage, with all the recommendations to not overheat your animals, I put them further away, put them on a timer, and ran them for about 8 hours a day. That way there was no chance of overheating them. They got sunlight even when I wasn't around to turn lamps on or off, and because it was far enough away from the cage to be diffused, it was more like having a window or door open letting in sunlight. I didn't use a fancy light bank, just grow lights with UVB spectrum light. They were cheap can lights clipped on to pipes and things on the basement ceiling. Did the job very nicely. You'll figure out if you want it just as it is, or you want to change it a bit, once you're had time using it. I think it's great the boys finally have some dedicated sunlight
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on May 14, 2023 14:52:00 GMT
This is an LED lamp, so there's no heat at all. (no danger of overheating them) I made sure there was no harmful radiation from overexposure with this model, so things ought to be fine. Ideally, I'd bring them outside, but even today the temps have dropped and it's cold and rainy. Even when I DO bring them outside, all they do is run to the box and graze in the shade.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 14, 2023 20:11:29 GMT
Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you would overheat them, just repeating what all the articles on using sun lamps for pigs or bunnies seemed to say. I used LED grow lights, so wouldn't have overheated them, either. I figure the suggestions must either be old or in response to mistakes a lot of people made, before. I was just passing that on. I figure the boys will be happy to have the sunlight, and it will help with their vitamin production and possibly their moods
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on May 14, 2023 20:38:37 GMT
Not to worry, I didn't think you thought I was trying to bake the guys. I was just letting you know they were in no possible danger of being roasted by any incompetence on my part.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 15, 2023 19:26:15 GMT
You are the last person I would call incompetent
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on May 21, 2023 19:25:25 GMT
Got the guys out again for grazing! It was too nice not to get them outside, but the sunlamp treatment must continue, as neither of them ever bask in the sun. They always munch in the shade, occasionally poking their heads out of one of the windows of the cardboard box. Still, it was pleasant. Even I sat in the sun for a while. We were outside for 40 minutes.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 21, 2023 22:11:01 GMT
Sounds like a great break for all of you
|
|
|
Post by Bean on May 22, 2023 6:14:10 GMT
Mine have had a few outings on the lawn too. Biscuit has been straight in there, clearly enjoying herself running around and hoovering up the grass. But I think being taken out of their usual environment, Reggie isn't so confident without Bertie, so she's been quite reclusive, often choosing the little hutch in the run to snuggle up in, so she's not even eating grass. Hopefully she'll warm up to it. I'm definitely enjoying being outside more anyway!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 22, 2023 20:42:31 GMT
That's when it's unfortunate the Reggie and Biscuit don't get along. Most pigs are much more likely to try something new, if their mates are trying it, too. Also, Reggie no longer has Bertie beside her, and that's a big change, grazing for the first time without Bertie.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on May 23, 2023 6:34:35 GMT
Biscuit and Reggie do get along well, but it's not that intense bond that Reggie and Bertie had. In the house, Reggie's fine, still her usual confident and interactive (but don't touch me!) self. But the change of scenery definitely throws her in a way it didn't before. I don't think the birds are helping, it's breeding season and they're all making a right racket at the moment!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 23, 2023 20:18:16 GMT
Hehe, tell me about it. I have two full bird houses outside my bedroom window, and a whole feeding station worth of birds with something to say, in the back yard, lol Do you think she'd get used to it if she went out to graze regularly, or do you think she'd just not into it anymore?
|
|
|
Post by Bean on May 24, 2023 6:33:24 GMT
I was hoping it was just a case of her getting used to it as they've not been going out regularly for long this year (because of the weather), and yesterday was a different story - she was out and about, running round with Biscuit and getting tons of grass, hooray!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 24, 2023 20:11:13 GMT
Wonderful
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on May 27, 2023 0:13:42 GMT
It's not often I get to see one of my guys make a tactical error- today when I gave the guys their snacks, I was in the process of delivering the goods to Stilgar, having just given Zeke his slice of pepper when I heard a tremendous thrashing sound. I glanced over to see Zeke trying to decide which direction to go to hide in his pigloo, darting in one direction, then realizing the other direction had its possibilities, and reversing his course... only to believe that his initial plan was better... or not. He did this three or four times before finally choosing a random direction and sticking to it. As he dove into his pigloo, I heard him warbling angrily, probably cursing himself for such indecisiveness which was unbecoming for a cavy of his stature.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on May 27, 2023 19:59:47 GMT
LOL! That must have been quite a comical sight The warbling sound effects were too good to ignore, too, lol
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jun 4, 2023 23:21:58 GMT
I gave the guys a bath today, as the temps were fine and it was getting late in the year- don't want to miss an opportunity! They both behaved themselves, but when I put them on the basement floor on their towels to dry off, they both wandered off and got slightly heated with each other. I kept putting a hand between them, and finally elected to put them back before things worsened. Don't know why they get along for grazing, but not here.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Jun 5, 2023 7:02:28 GMT
Because the floor is made from food out there - it's a very good distraction!
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jun 5, 2023 23:21:51 GMT
Because the floor is made from food out there - it's a very good distraction! Good point.
|
|