A warning and sad news :(. I've just gone out to see my piggies as normal and found poor Anna has died and both Jiggle and Polly squashed together under the hay shivering. I knew something was wrong as they always call when they hear the gate and because they know what times I go out to them and they were silent. They have loads of woodshavings down with newspaper underneath and tonnes of hay as well as little houses to go inside and it obviously still wasn't enough. I know it could be something else but they were all fine last night and thwe fact that Polly and Jiggle feel so cold to touch says it all.

Needless to say polly and Jiggle are now in the house and will be staying in here till spring.

Sleep well Anna :(

so sorry to hear that,
my bunnies were also quiet this morning,i will add more bedding tonight,

I lost my bun recently, he was pretty cold too. It has been so cold these last few nights and the weather says it's going to get colder.

Problem is, my kitten now thinks the piggies are toys as she's never seen them before :rolleyes:.

That's terrible news honey xx

I feel a bit awful because they've gone from having a huge space (their own little shed) to a cage in the house. Obviously they will get to run around the living room (with the cats locked out) but it isn't the same is it.

... but it isn't the same is it.
Maybe not, but they will be warm which, if given the choice, I'm sure they'd choose :thumbsup:

Sorry for Anna though, never pleasant finding you've lost a pet.

Aww sorry to hear that kittenta! I've just started fostering cats and the pen is pretty sheltered but still outdoors so I bought a snuggle-safe heat pad and cover a few weeks back that I started using ths week when it started getting nippy. Its the one you put in the microwave for 5 mins and quite effective at taking the edge off the chilly weather. I'm hoping to buy another [or something similar] at the Supreme cat show on saturday cos they'll probably be a bit cheaper than in the shops (Mine cost £20), until we can get an electric point sorted out- we can't just get an armoured cable outside because we've got a right of way over the back yard.

I have all mine in now for winter but I have seen bubble wrap and that poly stuff wrapped round hutches, plenty of hay and my guineas used to survive many worse winters than these!
the heat pads are fab

we once had a guines pig that froze to the chicken wire door following a freak cold snap.
the vet had her on a water bottle all day at surgery and we had to put her on one of those hanging cat bed things when she came home.
fortunatley for us she survived for about another 2 or 3 years.

First of all I would like to say how sorry I am to hear about Anna pig Kittena :sad:
There was a great thread started by sooz22 last winter with some great ideas for keeping outdoor pets warm, I have made it a sticky again as it is now relevant again, here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=152549) it is.