hello, potential guinea pig owner here.

[fishandlilacs]

I started a thread in chat about getting some guinea pigs. A freind of mine as developed allergies to hers and wants to rehome her 3 yr old piggies. I'm seriously thinking about it.

anyway thought i'd pop in and say hi, any advice will be welcome.

[fortifiedwithtea]

Welcome to Superfurries. I posted on your other thread. Actually allergies is a good point. Have your DC been in contact with the guineas at your friend's home. It's worth making sure none of your family have allergies before you commit.

Fingers crossed it all works out. Guinea pigs are lovely pets

[fishandlilacs]

good point, I dont think so, were pretty much an allergy free family, no one is particularly sensitive to anything but I will see if we can get out and have a play with them. I'm pretty sure dd isn't because shes handled guinea pigs before but I wont know with ds.

[guineapiglet]

Hi there fish welcome to the guinea world! Lovely of you to consider rehoming your friends guineas I'm sure we will all be a ble to offer help and advice.....if needed ! I am a bit sensitive to the allergy issue as my son developed allergies to our guineas and they had to move out to the shed and basement so not in contact with him, they are very allergenic animals. Hay is also a factor , if they are indoors hay can get everywhere and cause problems for some humans who are sensitive, do have a few practice runs with them just to check. I do hope all will be well, where will they be living? They are lovely pets, do let us know if you want any help!

[fishandlilacs]

Thank you, they will live in an outdoor hutch and run when its mild and the garage when not I think. I'm going to take my son and daughter over to visit them if i get a chance soon.

[fishandlilacs]

They are here! They seem to have settled really well, they have eaten a load of dandelion, celery, apple and carrot.

we couldn't fit the hutch in the car, we'll be getting it in a few days when a man with a van will be able to help us. So the cage is in the conservatory for the minute-if it gets too hot i'll put it in the kitchen if we have to go out. They are in their outdoor run in the garden for now, and as long as it's dry I see no reason why they cant be out there if we are home and it's reasonable weather, they have shade, water and food out there. Will that be ok?

[fishandlilacs]

..and in the cage at night indoors ofc

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

lovely to have guineas in the household.

Pictures will be essential.
WRT them being out- were they out in their previous home (on grass).
You need to limit their grazing to begin with if they are not used to it otherwise they'll gorge themselves which can give them a bloaty gas filled belly.
And keep an eye on their droppings too. If they have grass don't give them too much veg at night.I give fresh hay, pellets, water and maybe a carrot and a sweetcorn cob to stop them being judgey
Mine have been going out for a couple of weeks once the lawn was dry enough (they have hidey boxes and fleeces in their run).We started with an hour at a time then built up the grass time.
Shade, water, hiding spaces. And make sure it is completely predator proof, foxes are brazen and evil.

[fishandlilacs]

i'll bring them in at night, but the conservatory gets a bit hot in the day.

[FernieB]

Welcome to the piggie world fish. They should be okay in their run so long as it's secure and you're home. Mine are only allowed out if I'm home, so I can check on them every 5 minutes and also move their run to a different patch of lawn so they mow it evenly (and then I don't have to!).

WRT the conservatory - my rabbit (free range round the house) stays in there all day no matter how hot it is. He has free access to other much cooler rooms but chooses to stay there (sometimes, you could fry an egg on him!) When my pigs roam around indoors, they also choose to wrap themselves in blankets in the conservatory, even if it's boiling in there. They are contrary animals! Yours should be okay in there most of the time, but I would move them out on warm days - they are probably more sensible than mine.

[fishandlilacs]

thanks all, i'm rather taken with them already. I love thier squeaks. These 2 are a little nervy at mo, they haven't been handled frequently for a while because the original owners developed allergies. I'm hoping some tlc and a few of those honey treat sticks will help them to be calmer. They freak a bit at mo to be moved or handled, but they don't know us yet.

[guineapiglet]

Verrrrrrrrrrrrrry jealous!! :)

Hope you have lots of fun with them! Would echo everything that has been written, go easy to start with particularly with grass and green stuffs, get them used to certain things and then introduce another veg or fruit once there are no adverse effects!! They will enjoy being outside, but limit this to start with as they need to get used to you and your routine, - they will need a couple of weeks to truly settle and get used to your voices, your smell and for them to work out how to get you wrapped around their paws.

We would love to see photos when you have time!

[guineapiglet]

PS - handling - suggest you get some cuddle cloths, so they can be swaddled a bit on your lap to start with, offer them grass stalks or parsley whilst you are petting them and then they will associate you with food and cuddles....... birbery, it works every time.

[fishandlilacs]

photo should be up on profile now

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

food and cuddles

I've been away so DH has been looking after the boars (very well IMO but they are very judgey).He couldn't let them graze because only DD can get into the run to catch them.All those ££ on gymnastics classes not wasted.

Bribed them with watermelon today (and 2 days worth of grazing)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh and the pigs are gorgeous BTW- are they both cream/white- red eyes?

[fishandlilacs]

yes, they are-one has a mohican though :)

One further question, can you put the bedding and droppings in the compost or wormery when you have cleaned the cage?

[guineapiglet]

Oh they are really sweet are they brothers? They llok happy and healthy. Hope u have lots of fun with them. I used to put the top layers of poop and old veg into our compost as it does make good manure/compost. Not sure about wormery......!

[fishandlilacs]

yeah, they were litter mates

[MadeOfStarDust]

lol 70is.... - we have "bucket trained" ours - we put a bucket on its side in the run and they go straight in to be ferried to the hutch.. but I suppose it would be fun to borrow a gymnast.....

[fishandlilacs]

so cheapest place to buy sawdust and hay please?

[guineapiglet]

Never used sawdust, found it expensive and unecessary, plus some guineas v allergic to it. Got all our hay from a friendly farmer, who delivered straight to my front door, HUGE great bale which lasted a couple of months and cost a fiver. Try local farms/farm shops etc for a regular supplier.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Alot of GP people use Megazorb (it's an equine bedding, fine in texture like sawdust but it's not got the irritant potential, though I'm sure some GPs are sniffly with it)

I use newspaper and hay for my boys (with cardboard, furry safe litter and rubber mats underneath. The newspaper and hay gets changed every 2 days) I tried Megazorb when I got the hogs, it lasted ages but it wasn't a repeat buy.

Be wary of shavings too. You'll see lots of petshops putting their mammals on shavings but they can dry fur/feet and irritate the breathing.
Bear in mind their little noses are right in the bedding.

[fishandlilacs]

well they aren't new piggies so I was just following what the previous owner did, layer of newspaper, shavings and hay.

[fishandlilacs]

so I meant to say they aren't allergic.

[fishandlilacs]

argh so much conflicting info out there.

RE toys, I have read they dont play with toys, I have also read that they need as many toys as varied as possible rotating them round a couple at a time.

Food, some say cabbage a lettuce ok, others dont.