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New to keeping guinea pigs

8 replies

RupertTheBear · 15/02/2011 20:47

So I have done my research having never had pets other than cats before, and my two baby guinea pigs arrive on Sunday.
I have been assured they are both boys - do I need to get them neutered?
I have a hutch, a run, a cover for the hutch, wood shavings, hay, straw, a water bottle, food and two guinea pigs coming. Have I missed anything?
I am planning to keep them in the garage until Tuesday when it is my daughter's birthday then they will live outside - is that doable?

OP posts:
chabbychic · 15/02/2011 20:49

Depends how fiesty they are together - you might find one really dominates the other so neutering might be a good plan, but it's a big operation with general anesthetic and carries risks.

Sounds like you've got everything covered. Just be prepared for them to be totally looney and frightened of everything for the next few weeks! Constant handling and lots of love.

So jealous, ds is allergic!

RupertTheBear · 15/02/2011 20:52

I have told my (admittedly gullible) dh that it is impossible to be allergic to guinea pigs cos he has vetoed every other pet! They will live outside and I don't imagine he will go anywhere near them so am sure he will be fine!
Thanks for your reply. I will wait and see how they are!

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Stillchuckingit · 16/02/2011 09:17

Congratulations on your imminent arrivals!! Guinea pigs are fantastic pets! It's great that you are buying two together as they are much happier in a "herd" than alone.

Be prepared that two boys together may get along fine - but they may not. It depends entirly on the individual gp. If they are content together in the cage as babies then that's a very good start but look out for bullying/over-dominant behaviour (particularly when older).

First of all, I would check that they really are both boys by gently looking at the genital area (open very gently). If one of them seems to have a 'Y' formation then it is female and you'll need to separate or swap them, or babies will follow shortly.

For the first six weeks, they will be very, very nervous so you have to give them time to settle in. (This may be hard for your dd, depending on how impatient she is to get her hands on her new pets!! - but it's worthwhile going slow and building trust so they settle in gentle and gradually build up their trust in you.) Just quietly and slowly feed them a fresh treat twice a day at the beginning and then , when they accept that, quietly take them on your lap and stroke gently - no longer than 5 mins at a time. MAke sure you interact with them every day but also allow them space to retreat in peace and quiet too.

Ours are very friendly now and will sit and even sleep on our laps quite comfortably. They squeak when they need to pee, or sometimes just toss their noses up quite forcefully - so you know to put them back in their cage. At the beginning though, like any young animal, they will pee on the floor until they are trained. Most gps will poo on the floor every so often ...

GPs bite only very, very rarely - and only if they are handled too forcefully. Always make sure they are supported underneath when you pick them up and keep them close to your chest. Also, they dislike having their rear ends stroked but like being tickled behind the ears!

We feed twice a day - handful of hard food in the morning and a plate of fresh food in the evening. Carrots, endive, cucumber, broccoli and fresh sweetcorn are their favourites. Go easy on parsley and don't feed rhurbarb or too much dark cabbage because of potential build up of oxalic (sp?) acid. You probably already know that, like humans, they don't manufacture their own vit c, so need fresh food every day.

Gps love routines - ours even have a "set" bedtime at 11.30pm. They have great individual characters and can definitely make their feelings known to you if they want anything!!!

They have the same sensitivity to temperature as humans but they can't sweat so in the summer, they always need access to shade and water. In the winter, we keep ours indoors in our basement (garage fine too). It is possible to keep them out in winter but they do not react well to damp or drafts and so you need to make sure in very, very cold weather that you have protected the cage with old blankets and waterproof coverings etc (at the same time it's important that the cage can "breathe"). Tbh, I wouldn't have kept them out in the bitterly cold snap we had over Christmas. In the summer, we let ours run out all day in our (walled) garden and bring them in at night (because of cats).

Oh yes - you need to clip their nails every 3 months or so - and occasionally they enjoy a nice tepid bath!

Can't think of anything else except to say you will love them.

Good book recommendations:

here

here

Don't waste your money on RSPCA guide. It is too basic and inaccurate in parts.

Good luck!

RupertTheBear · 16/02/2011 18:13

Wow what a fantastic post - thanks for that.
I am actually really excited about them coming now.
I am not sure how dd will cope with not being able to handle them much at first - she will be so excited. But I will try and rein her in!

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itssnotfunny · 17/02/2011 17:31

Congratulations , im not normally a pet person but we have had 2 for about 4 yrs now and i adore them, my charlie and lola are v chilled out and live outside (in a playhouse in cold snaps) and free range through the day, having access to a lawn and a pavement snd numerous things to knaw at i have never actually had to cut their nails or teeth bizarely asnd they are v happy. I have 2 girls and soon as my dd goes to brownies im bringing them in for a cuddle Grin

RupertTheBear · 23/02/2011 08:19

Well they are here and my dd is thrilled to bits. They are so nervy - one is kind of ok, but the black one is petrified of us.
I keep getting contrasting advice. Some people have told us that they need constant handling or they will never get used to us, and some people are saying just leave them alone for a few days to settle in. What should we do. To be honest I am not that happy picking them up as they squirm and try to get away - I am worried we will lose them. They are very difficult to get hold of (I had to get them out of the box they arrived in to put them in their hutch) and I am worried that I am scaring them to death!

OP posts:
PonceyMcPonce · 23/02/2011 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stillchuckingit · 28/02/2011 17:43

Hello again Rupert only just caught up again with this

I'd go down the gently pick up once or twice every day route and then leave to own devices

It IS hard to get the hang of it at first but it'll just take a bit of practice . (Like handling first new-born human baby - terrifying first time but couple of months down the line you are expertly juggling bottles, the telephone and serving dinner with babe in crook of your elbow) It becomes second nature ..honest!!

Be calm and confident and they (and you) will soon get used to it. They will squirm and be nervous at first but if you simultaneously treat with with a bit of fresh food they like - they will associate handling with something pleasant.

Hope it is going OK!

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