looking to rehome a couple of piggies. where do I start?

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

What do I need and where is the best (cheapest place) to get it.

I would like an indoor cage and an outdoor run (my dad has offered to make a run if I cant find a reasonable one)

Also how do I find a decent rescue. Is it possible to find rescue piggies that are ok to be handles. I have a 4 and a half year old dd, the piggies will be my responsibility but dd will want to be involved. I dont want to do the p@home thing.

[fridayfreedom]

Well done for thinking of rehoming rather than a pet shop.
You could google rescues.
Where abouts are you?

[fridayfreedom]

You need the biggest cage you can afford. Google guinea lynx for advice on sizing.
They need good quality hay as bedding and to eat. Also floor covering such as megazorb but not wood shavings.
Also fresh veg daily and dry food. Find out which dry food the rescue is feeding them.
The rescue should advise re a suitable local vet if nec.

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

In the SE Kent boarders

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

Thanks for the advice. Had a google for animal rescues but there isnt a huge amount of info. I have emailed thenearest rescue with a bit about us and what we are looking for. I heard nothing from them. Hey ho.

Have looked on Gum tree for cages but not much in area. Similar with ebay. Any ideas for other places people might advertise second hand stuff. My thoughts are if I can get second hand I can afford something bigger

[fridayfreedom]

Just looked in my GP magazine. There is one called April lodge GP rescue in Kent. 07790 684888

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Guinea-pigs are fabulous little creatures (I'm biased, I've been an on/off/on guinea keeper since I was 9yo)

Before you go searching for your piggies though:

Have a good read through the GP threads to see what your letting yourself in for.
Make sure no-one in your family (especially your DD) is allergic to piggie fur or hay (one of the commonest reasons for re-homing)
Are you looking to keep them indoors/outdoors/both.Most Rescues will want you to have them under cover in bad weather. I bring my boys inside for winter nights.
You'll need alot more space than the cages you see in the shops.
A secure indoor or outdoor run. If they can go out on grass (secure) they love it.
Where will you keep the hay

Do you want babies or adults? Boys or girls?

C&C cages website will give you an idea of sizes but if you look on the threads here you'll see that boars need tons of room. One of the main problems with boars and the reason that Gumtree is full of 6 month boar pairs or single boars- is they get a bit 'Kevin the Teenager' and if they are confined in a small small, tempers flare.

Lots to consider before you decide.
I got my adult boars from Rescue then when GP2 died we got a piglet boar from Rescue. We love our boars . They are four legged love sponges

We didn't have a homecheck but I had to take in photos of my pig accomodation and garden.

Come back and let us know what you decide

[fridayfreedom]

Wondered if 70 would post! Totally agree with all the above! I love my boars too, they are such characters but do plan it all through and take your time it's worth it in the long run.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My boys live in my DC old wooden playhouse (like a shed/swiss chalet with 4 plastic windows. DH made one of the windows removeable and the inside has fly screening and fox-proof re-inforcement)
That cost pence to renovate because we had wood etc. The haybox is an old bookcase carcass with a wooden hinged lid.

The outdoor run was from Amazon (a rabbit run, it can fold away.We secure with tent pegs.We move it every 2-3 days)

Night winter cage from The Range but Jolleys have some nice ones. Mine is 4'x2' but I'm going to improve the space because they get very in a space this size (though PetShops will tell you a 3'x18" is good enough)
They don't seem fussed about ramps so you can't rely on doubling their space with levels above.

IIRC my rabbit run was £50 ish and the indoor cage £40.

Hay is my main outlay now

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Of course 70 is going to post friday

I was on holiday last week, did y'all miss me?

[fridayfreedom]

Having a cuddle now :)))

[fridayfreedom]

Don't know you 70, but am feeling your piggy love!!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

dd felt something that wasn't piggy love from gp3.
so he's with me now, wheeking away -hence the one hand typing.

at least he's got an empty bladder

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

I wanted an indoor cage and an outdoor run.

Boars look lovely but research tells me girls are probably a better idea for a first time owner.

Dd has been to a few petting farms and held lots of piggies and had no reaction.

It was you lot that made me want piggies. I asked about rabbits about 18 months ago and you all went so mad about piggies I changed my mind. Been working on dh ever since.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

It was you lot that made me want piggies

Who us whistles innocently.

Step away from the rabbits , guineas are the superior race.

[fridayfreedom]

Rabbits are cute but ours were a bit psycho! The boys are just luvley :)

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

I have found a rescue. They sell second hand cages too. I contacted them yesterday and nada. I am impatient now ( I may have had a guinea pig care book hiding in my car for 2 years waiting for dh to agree)

[AFishWithoutABicycle]

www.wayfair.co.uk/Safco-Wire-Cubes-in-Black-5279BL-SAF1061.html

I use these for a the cage with a plastic correx sheet I bought from my local sign shop for 12 pounds. Google c and c cage to have a look at how to make them.

My 2 boars are rescue and are very happy to be handled. The rescue I got mine from is in the north west.
Where abouts are you?

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

The south east I am afraid.

I have been reading up about bedding etc. Do most people find newspaper and hay are the way forward.

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

I have just enquired after a 2 storey indoor cage. Are piggies ok with ramps?

[FernieB]

Careful with ramps - pigs are not great climbers so make it as gentle a slope as possible and make sure they can't fall off.

70 - 'guineas are superior' - you're just trying to provoke me aren't you . Even my pigs think Current Bun is best!! I do luvs my little roly poly lawn mowers though.

[noyouhavehadawee]

Our local councils animal welfare occasionally gets piggies maybe yours does - they don't advertise only on the councils internal electronic noticeboard and the staff snap them up every time - I am stalking ours daily for 2 girls to keep my old girl company.

[looseleaf]

I am looking to rehome our rehomed piggies but in west London! That is probably no good but they are two delightful sisters aged 2.5 or 3 and have a double hutch plus v large indoor cage and travel cage.

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

West london is a bit far at the moment but they sound perfect.

I now have a very large! Indoor cage. 5kg hay (dust extracted and feed grade) water bottle. Hidy hole. Food pellets. Wood gnawing toys. But no piggies!

The shelter hasnt got back to me despite me chasing. Nothing else locally (I have tried) looked in 2 reputable shops. Saw 2 un neutered brothers who didnt seem to keen on each other but that was it. Cant even seem to find a reputable breeder. Gah ... no wonder people end up with unsuitable pets and going to p@h

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

Going to pick up our new piggies today. Owner had developed an allergy and has beeing paying to board them at our local small animal boarding facility while he looked for a new forever home for them. (not the damn rescue who still havent replied)

[FernieB]

Good luck - hope they settle in well