[patchy1990]

Some of you will know I've been a bit worried about leaving my two pigs out at night - stupid I know! However as the weathers been so nice I've decided to leave them out tonight. Just went to check on them and one is in the arc and the others outside led against a big tunnel. They usually snuggle up together, so would it just be a case of too hot in the arc? Bit concerned that shell get cold and I should bring them in? Them make full use of the arc in the day and is plenty big enough for both! Any other pigs choose to lie outside?

[Roxy]

Well, they have the choice to go in, if they want to ......says she who has just tucked her two piggies up in their nice warm bed and closed the gate. Having said that, they both squeeze out of the gate in the morning when they hear me, so obviously can go out if they want to!!

[gavo]

Lots of ours choose to sleep outside from very young weaners to our oldest breeding animals we've even had a couple of adults choose to sleep out many a night last winter at -15 despite having a lovely house to sleep in.

[Beewyched]

Yep, know the feeling 

Put ours out across their field yesterday too & nearly went over there at midnight to see if they were ok, but resisted ...

The sun is shining today & the world is well 

[loosey]

Sometimes they just don;t "get" that the arc is bed ... We've had to put straw outside for them to follow inside with most of our pigs! How did they do? I bet they were happy this morning!

[patchy1990]

Went in around 7 this morning both sound asleep in the arc! When they sleep in the stable they are usually up by this time squealing for their food, so they must of been comfy!

[Beewyched]

Just typical eh - when they're out & can get their own breakfast the little darlings decide to lie-in 
 

[little blue]

typical!

we had a stable-type door on the pig shed ... which they took down and ate the bottom part of!  so we can't shut them in anymore & the three adults & piglets survived minus 18 temperatures & three foot of snow!
   So don't worry!  They will do exactly as they chose 

[ambriel]

That's great. I'm sure they'll be fine.

I just went out to close the gate on ours and there was a lot of snoring coming from their ark, too.

[lisanic]

We have just introduced a new sow to our field where a sow and boar already live with a lovely big ark. The new sow is sleeping outside on her own...I think it might be because she is being bullied. I am told it will all come good but feel really bad for her. Any ideas?

[Beewyched]

How were they getting on today?  If there is plenty of room in the ark, you may find she sneaks in later tonight 

[lisanic]

We introduced her on Saturday  afternoon so this will be her third night under the stars! There was a big fight when we first put her in but now she just runs away when the original sow comes anywhere near her.  Have not seen anymore fighting but think she is just scared now. The ark is plenty big enough. The boar is fine with her. ?

[Beewyched]

Sounds like the original sow has decided that she's not allowed in the arc & that's the way it will stay, until she decides otherwise - they should settle down once the new girl "learns her place".  The only way you might be able to manipulate things is if you can take the original one out for a few weeks, but you may find if she's that dominant things may revert once she's back.

At least the weather's nice at the mo - do you have room to make another (temporary) shelter for her - maybe as an "annex" to the existing arc?

[Hilarysmum]

Hilary can be that way with other sows too.  Normally after a few days she relents and lets them into the ark.  If not we provide a temporary straw ark next to the big one.  Hilary of course wants that one!!!!  Problem solved  

[lisanic]

Thanks for your replies. New sow spent another night out last night but hubby kept an eye on her today and she has been up and grazing which is a first. So maybe things are improving... fingers crossed. Will let you know how things go.