My Guinea Pigs are quite mad

[NotInMyDay]

So my baby GPs have been indoors for 3 weeks now. They go out in their hutch run for 6-7 hours for exercise, fresh air, change of scenery. They are still quite nervous.

Doing is way too damp for them to go out so I got out the paddling pool I got for them as an indoor run. Piles of hay, hidey holes, yummy veg. Yet they spend the whole time seeming very anxious. Hiding with heads under each other, making not very happy noises. Then they discovered they can leap over the wall (haven't read the book that says GPs are not good jumpers) so I popped them in the kitchen.

Well they are as happy as pigs in muck. They are wandering about very nonchalantly making happy wheeks. My son's toy trains are lying around and they are sniffing them, leaping over them and licking the wheels so they go round.

Makes no sense. They are quite mad I tell you.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I bought my boars a paddling pool, we put a fleece blanket in it otherwise GP2 tries to bite the vinyl.
(I'm tempted to fill it from the helium canister to give him a fright and a very squeaky Joe Pesquale voice if he breathes it in)

Baby GPs are so cute when they explore- do they do a little squeak-squeak-squeak while they jog along with their little ears flapping?
The boars sit in the middle of the floor, SAS style, casing the place and watching each others backs. (aka sitting on their bums )

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh, BTW, if they start eating for Britain and telling you they need to pile on some winter fat for hibernation don't believe them.
They'll eat all the winter fuel food but they don't totter off into a box of straw for 6 months.

(3 guesses who was at Tesco on Boxing Day afternoon buying Emergency Parsley Rations )

[NotInMyDay]

Yes, 70, squeak squeak squeak as they bobble about. No ear flapping though .

They are getting a little round belly too especially smooth pig.

They're favourite thing is grass but DH cut our grass a few weeks ago and there isn't enough to clip for them. I've been scissor cutting from the house next door in a stealth ninja sort of way (house is empty and for sale) but my neighbours think I'm bonkers plus that grass will be getting cut soon. What to do then?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Some of my GPs used to squeak so loud theirs ears would actually lift (Must've had really good ear muscles)
My GP1 has very acrobatic ears, GP2 doesn't squeak


My boys aren't going out now (in their Pighouse at the moment but not on the grass).
All last winter I clipped handfuls of grass for them (and rinsed under warm water to take the chill off if it was frosty).
I got the looks.
The grass does grow enough even in winter to clip some but there's enough winter veg to keep them happy.
Do you have a 'weed patch' ? Dandelions survive winter.
My main trouble is the bstrd foxes- I need to check they haven't been on the grass and wash it really well.

[NotInMyDay]

Weed patch? you ask. Most of my garden is a weed patch thanks to the god awful summer. No dandelions though . No idea what else they could have.

My GPs don't like winter veg . Pests that they are

[fridayfreedom]

try curly Kale, my two boys adore it.

ours are getting loopier, well especially big pig...jumping around like something gone nuts..hilarious to watch!!
got home the other night after a long day at work..DS is in the kitchen "what's for tea, I'm starving?", DD in the lounge "when's tea I'm hungry?", go into the back room.....big pig "wheek, wheek, wheek"...hmmm, not you too!!!

[guineapiglet]

Hi - its lovely to read about all these guineas getting their 'owners' trained - its such a great sound when they know food is about to arrive! ( or not!) - it is quite a tough time to keep guineas fed though, just reading that hay will be more expensive this year, and without much greenery about, it is hard to keep them fed to their required and expected levels! - Spinach is good, cabbage leaves, Kale, cauliflower leaves, apple cores, - mine used to devour banana skins (!) - peelings from pears, carrots, etc, we used to go and get all our Veg from Aldi ( for us and them) as it is SO much cheaper and good quality. Mine used to like bread in the winter, not a lot, may be half a slice each, ( I know carbs arent great, but in moderation) - esp wholemeal - and when you are out and about keep an eye out for dandelions and long grass, they do still grow in the winter, you can store it and dry it out if necessary. OUrs used to adore the leaves from the apple trees, any herbs that were in the garden when they were out free ranging. Missing my wheeks of joy :(

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Kale and spring greens (a bag lasts ages in the fridge)
Peelings from the Sunday veg
Cauliflower
Brochilli
Parsley (of course)
Sweetcorn especially with the leaves on
Beetroot (GP2 loves it)

Ours love grapes (only a few though)

I buy mine the bags of naice hay (Excell Herbage type or Marigold and Camomile) GP1 likes ReadiGrass.

[NotInMyDay]

Love your alternative spelling of broccoli 70

I have a field and woods out the back and I'd like to forage for my little piggies. Is there anything they absolutely can't have?

They walk past veg favourites like sweet corn and peppers to get to grass! Winter sucks

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

and I've got SpellCheck on this PC !

There's loads of websites with lists of Poisonous Plants (but you'd need to get pictures as well to identify)

Off the top of my head though- Poisonous Forage/Weeds

Buttercups
Dock Leaves
Anything from a bulb
Ragwort (it grows in grass and is fatal to horses in quite small doses. Worse when dried)
Anything fruit tree with a stone -so avoid plum, peach ,cherry wood. (I give mine pear leaves. Well the leaves fall from our tree and they eat them )
Ivy
Holly
Anything like yew, fir,
Laburnum
Foxglove



I've read that stingy nettles are okay but how could you


My little ratbags can have their run put in clover and not touch it (clover is safe) but if they have a clump of buttercups I put their mat on it. So far they've avoided -self preservation instinct

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

ReadiGrass is lovely green, slightly malty grass.
It's short cut so not cuddly like hay.
I've seen bags in Jolleys and you can buy it online.

I got a massive bag of equine readigrass (it said it was safe for rodents) and I use it if the grass is not available (like when there's snow or it's just meh)

Readigrass makes my GP2 sneeze -but he does eat it. GP1 shovels it down but he's a real grass hog.

[Sneets]

I'm new to GP world. My DS's have a wee girly each and I'm falling in love with them! These tips on food are great. Thanks all

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi Sneets welcome to Guinea-Pig World!

I had guineas as a child and last year my DD wanted a pet (I pushed her down the GP path ) .She wanted a boar, so we got our 2 brothers from rescue.

They are lovely. It's fabulous to be a guinea- mum again.

[NotInMyDay]

So I let the GPs out for a romp in the kitchen for the second time. DH was here this time. I told him last night about escapee GPs and how they lived the kitchen and that it's super safe for them as long as I block up the gap at the back of the fridge. Which I did with a big flat mop.

So fast forward to today and the GPs are pottering about. I popped out to the bin and said to DH that he was in charge. Return 2 mins later to find DH holding the mop.

That's to block up the gap at the back of the fridge says I .

Oh I didn't know that. One of them is behind there. Is that bad?

Cue rescue mission. She was not happy with me as I had to be quite firm

She seems fine now and is wandering about.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Little blighter .
They can squeeze into the tiniest of gaps can't they and anything electric is a safety hazard (obviously the Book of Guinea-Pig that they read doesn't warn them) That and the fact under my fridge they'd choke to death on dust.

My DD has got a wardrobe that has a gap underneath just big enough for GP1, so I roll towels up to jam underneath if he's upstairs. He's an angel in her room and just sits on her bed. GP2 I wouldn't trust an inch