When is it too cold for 2 tiny piglets??

[secuono]

I just got two tiny 1mo piglets in a trade, didn't quite think it through and forgot how small they would be. I would guess they are 5 pounds. Pink was shivering some, but it could of been from fear, they are quite scared of me.

They are in a large metal dog crate, they have a little plastic cat carrier with a folded towel over the top to cover the slits on 3 sides. Filled the carrier and the crate with hay and gave them food. Covered the crate's top and backside to block wind and shade it during the day.

Our low tonight will be 25F. Tomorrow's low will be 32F.

Should I bring them into the house for these two nights? Other nights will be a bit warmer for a few days.

What's the lowest temperature two tiny piglets can handle on their own?

Should I set up a more long term shelter for them in the shed for them to stay the nights in until they are larger and fatter?

Pigtures or it didn't happen-

 

[Baymule]

I would totally have them in the house. And my poor long suffering husband would totally have a fit. Then I would haul one out and cuddle it (it would probably scream bloody murder) and he would feel sorry for it.

 

[secuono]

I would totally have them in the house. And my poor long suffering husband would totally have a fit. Then I would haul one out and cuddle it (it would probably scream bloody murder) and he would feel sorry for it.

The more I think of them...the more I'm getting the urge to set up a crate in the laundry room....The dog and cats will be so curious

 

[Mini Horses]

If you bring them inside I would suggest you try to keep them in the crate they are in, they don't like change much.
If they've been with littermates, probably used to more heat than just two. BUT, with a lot of straw, they will snuggle up & make a bed. Probably warmer than you may think. LOTS of bedding and dry, good wind block and sounds like you've done that. They will actually cover themselves with hay if enough there. All around them and it insulates.

 

[secuono]

I got too worried and brought them in. Don't have space for the crate, so in a large laundry bin. Black one is 6 pounds.
I'll better insulate their crate tomorrow. But probably won't leave them out until the night temp goes up a little. Just too paranoid one might freeze...

 

[goatgurl]

aren't baby pigs the cutest things. i would have worried too but your new worry is how are you going to get them back out now that their in the house and warm for the winter. as long as they are fed well, dry and out of the wind they should be ok. mini horses is right, they will tunnel down into the hay to stay warm. gotta post you a picture of one of my pigs and how he stayed warm. i couldn't figure out how he had gotten out of the pen till he poked his head up thru the hay and said "here i am". made me laugh.

 

[secuono]

My others bury in hay, but they aren't tiny fresh weanlings.

 

[Ferguson K]

My potbellies live outside from day one. No added heat. Lots and lots of hay to snuggle down in, an area big enough to house them where the wind can't get to them, and they do fine. Even at that age they should be okay as long as they can get out of the weather.

What's the temperature there? It doesn't really get "cold" here in my part of Texas. Even when its raining and below zero its only by a degree or two. Sometimes we get into the twenties in the winter. Even then pigs don't seem to mind.

ETA: my breeders live in a plastic trash can. it was free!!! Does the job out in their pen until we can finish their new barn. All three pile up in it.

 

[secuono]

Down to 25F tonight. It's been above 50 all fall really. So they're not used to it dropping this cold and now just being the two of them.

 

[Ferguson K]

I'd have them inside, too then. Going from a litter and warmer temps to two and colder temps spells trouble to me.