So, Autumn & The Super Furry Animals.

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My GP5 (little Himmy ruby eyed girl) seems to have spawned a thicker coat overnight. Her coat was smooth, now it seems to have 'texture'

They will all put on their Winter Weight (yes ok, lardiness)

I have already bought a bale of soft straw to bank up their weinter bedding ( I insulate their sleeping areas with straw then have their newspaper/hay on top)

DH has put an extra layer on the roof of the Pighouse to insulate and waterproof.
I'm going to get him to put new flooring down (I'll seek ut some offcut lino)

They still have some grazing days ahead but I need to cut them grass if they can't go out.

And I need to order some Snugglepads online.

Mollie's coat has suddenly become noticeably thicker and coarser. I've asked if she knows something we don't and that we are in for a hard winter. Just got and she went back to munching grass. Sadie is just green, no thick coat, no prep.

However, they are both living next door for the week. I've ruptured tendon in my foot and have a rather fetching boot thing on. Cannot get around and look after them, DH is currently cycling round the Lake District. So they've gone ND to be spoilt.
Expecting a visit in half an hour

Gingerpig has maintained his 'winter weight' from last year and added a little extra just in case. Scruffy is ageing and has lost a bit of weight over the year so he'll need extra bedding. Current Bun is in the middle of a particularly aggressive moult (seriously, never known a bunny to moult like him). I presume his winter fluff is coming through but there's enough for several small bunnies deposited on the floor each day. He's also lost a bit of weight due to age (he has other age issues too and is definitely geriatric). His basket is near a radiator so he should be snug anyway.

I'm monitoring the weight loss (and other issues) of my elderly boys but whilst they seem happy I'm not subjecting them to the vet. Current Bun finds it too upsetting and stressful and, Scruffypig just complaints about me to the vet nurse

Its sad when they get that rangey older rodent look. Our GP1 went all rat faced near the end, still eating'n'poohing'n'enjoying life but just a bit more bony and pointy.

I think they look quite venerable and important, I imagine Scruffy to talk like Professor Yaffle from BagPuss when he chides Gingerpig

DD can knit a new Bert , the amount of (very allergenic) fur that pig sheds!

My older two have that 'older rodent' look too (they'll be 5 later this month) and have definitely lost a little weight these last few months, but like you Fernie I'm just monitoring for now. Mind you our ginger pig is definitely getting ready for winter. He puffs out his fur and makes himself look like a little pumpkin. He's also immensely fond of the little luxuries of life (see pic) and knows exactly what to do if the grass isn't quite comfy enough for a snooze!

Our 3yo long haired girl may well be growing more fur for winter but in all honesty she has so much bloody fur it's hard to tell the difference . It will be little baby agouti girl's first winter though and she's definitely fluffing out.

Ours live indoors so no real worries about cold or damp but if it gets really chilly then they'll get a fleece over their hutches at night.

East I hope your foot is better soon!

Last week I was freezing 2 litre water bottles to wrap in newspaper and put in their Pighouse.

This week, I'm giving them straw under their haybed

They've managed 2 hours grazing this evening before it got dark (didn't make them easier to catch though !)

Snugglepads ordered- >

It's been quite nice here this week so my lads have been out grazing every afternoon until nearly dark. Yesterday though it sneakily started raining and I didn't notice. They were in their igloos under the covered bit of the run looking grumpy - very easy to catch them though!

I am starting to think they'll need tucking in at night soon. The utility room is a cool room anyway, but in winter is a bit on the Baltic side, so they get a blanket over their cage at night. Current buns in there too now but as he's free range, I can't really make sure he's warm. I can just make cosy areas and it's his choice.

EastMidsGPs have managed to get out most days recently. But it is really drizzly rain here today so doubt there will be any grass munching today.
We're still in the summer house but as it's not really damp proof and Mollie bring a martyr to her chest we'll be moving them into the utility some time soon.
Already covering them over with thick duvet at night .. 2 ignored new snugglepads sit on shelf.
Were only used for walking around, peeing and pooing on when introduced last winter
sigh

Fortified Pigs enjoyed the sunshine today. Shai was very happy making her pop pop noise as she tootled around the run. Millie had her paws up begging to be hand fed dandelions.

The 70 hogs were out from 12ish til dark, they were all prancing about (GP5 loves the darker time of day)

GP6 gives DD the "I'm staaaaarved Mummy" look to persuade her to pick leaves "I need 'lions Mummy, Lions "

She, instead of telling him to look at the grass he's standing on (not that he can see it, he'd need to move his chins outta the way ) Enables him by feeding him through the bars.

Gave my hogs their lovely new Snugglepads tonight , it has turned parky.

I'll see if the little ratmagnets actually use them. No fleece cover though (they stink after one night) I wrap in two layers newspaper and nestle them under their newspaper bedding layer.

My boys went out today. I put their run near the washing line on a patch of longish grass full of dandelions. When I went to put the washing out Gingerpig was begging at the bars for food. I pointed out he was surrounded by grass and dandelions, but they just wouldn't do apparently. I was sent to pick lavender.

Fernie, Gingerpig is like Millie, she would do the same. Paws up the side begs for hand picked grass when the run is on grass

@ hand picked lavender

Last week, we moved the rabbit hutch into the Pighouse for the trio to sleep in (it has a door cut in the end for them to go into their run, so now it leads into their section of the Pighouse , at the far end)
The new ladies have the big plastic lidded box with the middle space as theirs.

From the Pooh Nests, I've deduced that they (GP7/G8)sit by the sleeping area/closed in bit of the rabbit hutch, probably chattering and annoying Bert all night

We have insulation roll (the foil stuff that goes behind radiators) behind the houses, away from little rodently teeth, deep bedding , Snugglepads and their little heater on low at night.

GP6 has doubled his coat . GP8 is casting enough to knit a new guinea