Keeping Super Furry Animals cool

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Soooo, this will be my first summer with the boars , I got them in October. I remember it was easier to keep my December DS warm than my June DD cool. And the pigs have the disadvantage of a real fur coat to contend with.

I'm not happy to leave their PigHouse door open (they've got a screen/wood door that slots into place when the wooden door is open) when I'm at work.
DH is going to take out a couple of windows to replace with a metal screen and fly screen mesh, but that won't be until the weekend.

I've put newspaper and shredded paper to bed in with a pile of hay to scoff (I'll put their hay rack back) .They were having a huge haybed for warmth,most of it got wasted TBH as they peed it -changed daily/2 days.

I can give them ice in a water bowl- but they don't drink much.
Today they were in their run, with two hidey boxes and an old shower curtain pegged over half to give shade.

An other ideas? I'm worried about the little boys getting too hot.They were larding about today, a bit of popcorning, mainly snoozing in the run.
(My childhood guineas were in Scotland, I think if we had a warm day we let them free range, but there are too many foxes and cats here)

I bought a Citronella Gel thingy to protect their PigHouse ( FlyPaper hanging outside.
We're doing daily bedding changes at the moment to guard against the dreaded flystrike (and because they've only got eating hay not bedding hay) the shredded paper is fairly absorbant but of course they don't confine themselves to this

They had 7 hours in the run.They don't eat the whole time, they spent most of the time blocking each other out of the hedgehog house and cardboard box.(They have a choice of two hidey spaces, but of course they both want the same one)
I'm sure the heat is making them Evil.
Strawberries and peashoots for (small) supper +pellets+hay

Hi again
Thanks for the advice and the sympathy. Have been lurking but didn't feel quite up to posting. Just to let you know that we picked up an 8 week old boar from a breeder we know yesterday afternoon, he tried Eddie with a few and apparently they were the best match. It is all going well at the mo, they are outside in the run together currently being supervised by DH. I can't help but feel a little resentful of piglet but his cuteness is winning me round...

Aw, it is bitter-sweet isn't it.
Your Eddie will be happier now with a new companion, but in your heart you know it should be your original pig out there.

Just think of all the time when they are together rather than your boy being alone. (Humans are adequate company but really they need their own kind)

Lots of popcorning to look forward to from baby GP ( though our big GP is the one who rodeos round the run like a mustang )

Just keep an eye on baby GPs grass time though. dampatchnot lost a baby GP (though hers was very baby -1 week) to suspected bloat after grazing.
My GP 2 does more soft poohs after grass so I cut out their supper veg and give them hay +pellets.

though at baby piglets- he'll win you all round

Awww Ellie.
Its tough, but Eddie will be happier with a friend. Try and think of it that way :)
Before you know it Piglet will win you round .
I hope it all goes well :)

Yes, I'm keeping an eye on piglet, but he doesn't seem to be grazing anyway. I think he's full up with all the hay he had earlier during bonding-time.
They are now snuggled up together in one of the igloos . This is unheard of for my gps... After the first half-hour of humping all Eddie seemed to want to do is cuddle him. I know it's early days, but I'm hopeful they are going to be friends. Let's hope adolescence doesn't get in the way!

Older boars LOVE babies and come over all paternal. It sounds a lovely end to a very sad story. I am so glad you got him a friend. It sounds like he appreciates it. CONGRATULATIONS on your new arrival.