HIBERNATION...what should you do?

Thank you so much for that post. My hog displayed those exact symptoms this morning. I went to check on who had eaten food etc this morning and Spike had not ate hers. Immediately I got her out to see all is OK. She was an unresponsive ball, no huffs, no nothing - I could have done anything to her and she wouldn't have noticed. I was crying, panicing and thought she had died in the night - cannot describe how awful it felt. Was due to leave for work in the next 10 mins and just started new job, so got out her microwave heat pad, kept her held against my body in fleece - still nothing. Had to put her on the heat mat to madly brush teeth, get brush through hair.

5 mins later she was staggering about her cage. 10 mins later on wheel but not as manic as usual. Soooooo relieved but still not happy. I had to leave for work so put her heat pad into her igloo and had someone check on her couple of hours later. Apparently she was huffing and puffing like a train (the usual) so put my mind at rest.

I have a thermostat heater in their room set to 22 degs and a digital thermometer and a simple dial one, both read 25 to 26 at all times. The room is tiny, only big enough for my hogs 2 cages so I was thinking the 22 degs was keeping them warm enough as the thermometer never drops below 25. Is it lack of light maybe? Mohawk appears fine and is displaying no signs of hibernation attempts.

What am I doing wrong? I could not bear another morning like that. I know now (from this post) that shes trying to hibernate.

Any help please. Feel like crying just thinking about this horrible morning.

A thread on Mabel's attempt.

HeatherClare wrote:opps! clearly didnt no what that little green thing a the side was, and i think ive just said that i dont like this post! which i do i like it a lot, its very helpful for a newbie like meself!

Glad its not just me, I have just done the exact same thing! Sorry! I did find this post very useful, Thankyou

Urgent help needed.
Had 2 babies delivered at 11-30 and both look dead...i have them on heat pads in a blanket on my lap....how long should i try to bring them round..........or is it to late?

dottysdesigns wrote:Urgent help needed.
Had 2 babies delivered at 11-30 and both look dead...i have them on heat pads in a blanket on my lap....how long should i try to bring them round..........or is it to late?

Wow. 2 babies just been born? You have 2 hogs, 1 boy and 1 girl and had a litter on the 5th of Feb which is 53 days ago. If your girl hog was pregnant for 35 days that means she had 18 days rest before becoming pregnant again. If I got this wrong then please do correct me. You will more than likely have to hand rear them now too if they are OK.

I do not think this is a hibernation attempt and as it is urgent I really recommend creating a new post, you would get more responses from experienced breeders. Really hope babies are OK.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo
I had 2 new 8week old females delivered to me today via TNT courier. NOT from my stock. It is very upsetting...i was just asking if it is to late to bring them round if they have hibernated whilst in transit.

What kind of shape are the hogs positioned in? (That's terrible wording but I can't think how else to say it! Lol) If they are hibernating, they will usually (I think always) be in a tight ball, they will be cold, especially on their bellies and they will be unresponsive, you would still be able to see the breathing (I'm guessing. Iv only ever had one hibernation attempt which I spotted early) Harlow warmed up pretty quickly, she uncurled after about 10 mins on a snuggle safe but was still lathargic etc, she perked up after about an hour. I'm not sure if 2 and a half hours is a bit long for there to be no change :( I will still keep everything crossed for you though x

Fantastic post for a newbie like me, Thankfully im blessed with basic animal care knowlege and Pablo is off the floor against and internal wall and lights are on, i was a little worried by the heat but i have a thermometer from my incubator with humidity gage, thankfully my house is at 72-76f all the time, i work form home as a childminder and have various baby birds wondering around so i need a warm house.

Love this forum!