Warm and sunny enough to go out

[FernieB]

At last!! Scruffypig has his first venture outside this year. He was allowed to mow for 10 minutes and got stuck straight in. I have a small patch of very short lawn now.

All being well, he will have a new nephew by this time next week. That's providing he behaves himself when we go to fetch him.

Good News about New Nephew .

My GPs had a quick graze a couple of weekends ago but GP5 was mega-judgey about her delicate little eyes and the nasty bright sunlight (I should make her watch TOWIE so she'll realise that being a sun swerver doesn't work if you live in Essex)

They need to pace themselves after a long spell of non-grazing, build up their grass guzzling time, our pigs haven't been out since the last spell so they're eager to scoff.

I have a wooden 'housie' from a scabby chest of drawers that I was recycling so DD can paint their names once it;s had a protector coat.

Scruffy will behave himself of course, he'll adapt better to a Mini-Pig than another random adult male.

I think he's looking forward to being an uncle. We are all ridiculously excited.

Lovely news for Uncle Scruffypig, sunshine and company. Hope he's a complete gent!

When will ScruffyBoys Nephew make his guest appearance (we'll need updates, pigtures and a MN Piggie name )

Tomorrow is G Day! Just hoping he behaves.

I've built a good sized run out the back which is on scrub type land so not much fresh green for them to gorge on. I just pick grass for them. They've been out 6 or 7 times in the past fortnight. They seem to like the sun and scootling about. I feel so much better that they are out.

DH cut the lawn last week, DD and I were away so the ladies didn't get the chance to go out.

Today, I wrestled their new outdoor wooden house ( outer carcass of a chest of drawers so a good size) into the rabbit run and put them out for 3 hours ( grass was short so they couldn't overindulge even if they wanted)

GP5 took no chances WRT the big nasty yellow thing in the sky. She wrestled the Hop In tunnel into the wooden house so was double protected

Relative newbie here!! What can happen if the guineas overindulge in grass?? My boys have been out a few times over the past week and just ate and ate!!!

Hi count

GPs digestive systems need fairly constant throughput ( they are crepuscular which means dawn/dusk activity rather than nocturnal like hamsters) . They'll eat while it's safe then pass their droppings part processed and re-ingest them to digest all the nutrients properly (you don't see these ones, they sneakily duck their heads under the belly to grab them ) and finally pass the losenge shaped waste .

Grass is rich compared to the dry hay or pellets with alot of moisture and it ferments in the belly. Which if they overdo it can lead to bloat .(Gas build up in the guts , the belly would feel tight and swollen)

We found one of our boars got soft pooh after grass (and his cagemate got a liquid nose drip) so we gave a hay/pellet/water supper after grass.

When they go outside, build up from 30-60 minutes then longer. (Adults can cope better than babies)

My sows were out for 3 hours today but my Himmy spent most of the time in the tunnel , silly girl .

Once they're used to grass they can lard about all day .