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Small pets

Some question for experienced rabbit or piggie owners please.

5 replies

Titsalinabumsquash · 24/04/2014 15:11

We as a family are thinking of expanding our family with some small and furries.
I have a few questions if anyone would be kind enough to answer them please.

  1. Firstly and most importantly, do both rabbits and pigs have to have stew/hay? If nutrients are provided in other ways can anything else be used for bedding?


  1. Which is more sociable and willing to be played with or stroked? (we have 3 children)


  1. Can both species live together in a harmony? One of each?


  1. What sort of size hutch would we need for 2? I don't want to go into pets at home and be sold a tiny wooden box for 2 animals that are clearly going to require more space.


They'd live on the action in a hutch and have daily run time on the grass.
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okeydonkey · 24/04/2014 15:16

Hi
I can't answer all questions but...guinea pigs are sociable.
If handled from young age they can be tamed and enjoy being with kids.
Guinea pigs need to be with another guinea pig otherwise they will feel lonely and sad.
Don't put rabbits with Guinea pigs as they intimidate them and bully them.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/04/2014 16:08

Ok - no rabbit experience here but I've had pigs from when I was 9yo and I've passed the mantle to DD (but she chose some boars so I've had to learn a whole new set of Piggie Rules) Grin

GPs need hay 24/7. They shouldn't really have straw (it can be sharp, they can damage themselves, and it has minimal nutrient) but the past few years the hay has been coarse. I use soft barley straw in winter at the back of the haybox.
They have the 'trickle feed' digestion that needs to be fairly constantly grazing (then at dusk they start to pooh eat to extract the nutrients - nice)
Grass alone or veg would give them loose poohs, they need the roughage (also keeps their teeth down and stops them getting bored and plotting) They can get gut stasis and liver failure if they go without food for 7 hours.
There's lots of bedding choices, I sometimes use shredded paper indoors and give hay cookies (solid hay disc) but mine prefer hay.

Rabbits aren't considered to be good childrens pets.
Guineas are lovely and snuggly but some people find them a bit dense and boring.

Rabbits and Pigs together - no.
Their diet is different , a rabbit can give a GP a respitatory virus, they can kick the GP causing injury/death, and they speak a different 'language'

With GPs you need 2+ but you don't need to innoculate or neuter (same sex pairs)

Size of accommodation - mine have a nightcage for winter (4'x2' which they decided they would not tolerate - we have a new boy after one died last year. The original ones were judgey but tolerant)
They were bought an indoor run (over 3'x5' ) last winter and have a shed (6' square approx) for winter days and the warmer months.
With a heater
And a fan
And a light
And a removeable but reinforced window (mesh and bars)
Oh yes.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/04/2014 16:10

And they have a rabbit run (about 7'x4' )

Mine are very very spoiled but they'd never admit this Grin

Find a good guinea-pig vet.
Chances are you'll never need them but too many vets don't have GP interest.

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FernieB · 24/04/2014 18:37

I have both but not kept together - they really can't live together. Both pigs and rabbits should be kept in pairs. As a rabbit lover I would say get pigs. They are sociable, chatty and friendly and love cuddles. Rabbits are generally not. Also rabbits need injections and neutering and pigs don't.

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Titsalinabumsquash · 24/04/2014 18:44

Thanks for all the replies!

My eldest has issues being around straw, I'll have to ask his consultant about hay although I can't see it being harmful if it's not soiled.

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