So. We may have just met our future guinea pigs!!

[PacificDogwood]

Squeeee!!

2 young brothers currently in the local animal rescue.

Wish me luck that they will approve us...

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Good luck!!!

Guineapigs are lovely I miss our two brothers they were right characters

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Pacific good luck with your piggies.

Provided you've read up, you've got suitable accommodation , you know that there's no allergies and you're going to take these little boys on and love them..you should be fine.

Ooh, make sure you don't take your Pacific Dogwood Furriers to the Stars van that day

[PacificDogwood]

Thanks, and no, I won't!

We will have to wait til Monday to hear whether we can have them though. DSs are finding it hard to wait…. The pressure is on to go to Pets at Home today, but NO! These piggies will be rescued if not by us then by somebody else

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Pacif your boys won't be judgey at first they'll be so happy to be in their new home.
Give them settling in time, then they get used to you, the routine, the household noises.

Then when you sit down to watch The Walking Dead with a bag of crisps, they'll start
Wheek. Wheeeeeek
Food. We need food



Any rustling noise
Chopping
The fridge opening
A parsley bag from 30yds
Me walking down the garden...I must have scissors to cut grass. Why else am I there?

[PacificDogwood]

We weren't approved for the rescue piggies .

I am disappointed, but I can see where they are coming from - yes, I am looking at you, DS3 and DS4, who were tearing about the place like mad. Quiet they were NOT!!

Sigh.

Anyway, I feel deflated but the search continues….

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Aww news.

How old are your DS3 and DS4 ?
Some rescues are strict about the ages of children in the guinea-pigs future house.
(Sadly some guineas in rescue have had dreadful starts in life - neglect, pestering from other housepets, abuse - so they need to be careful where they go )

Maybe when your DC are older, you might look again for some older, more staid guineas/

[PacificDogwood]

I am a new mother to 2 guinea boys

3 months old, different rescue centre who were quite happy to rehouse with us.
They are currently in their new abode and a b s o l u t e l y petrified, poor things. They have pellets and hay and water and tunnels and blankets and I am just leaving them alone just now.

Just thought I'd let you know - I'm stupidly excited

[PacificDogwood]

Oh, sorry, DS3 is 6 and DS4 is 4; the older ones are 10 and 11.
There is no way on this earth the little ones are going to handle the GPs unsupervised and only if sitting down with a blanket on their laps.

And sorry for too many 'just's in the above post… .

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Great News
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Guineas.
We will need photos and detailed descriptions of your new boys

(GP3 was sitting on my lap, nicely, then got a bit animated, trying to gnaw my hand. Trouble was, I didn't listen so the little toad peed on me
It was his Dancey Dancey Stamp Stamp - I should know the signs by now - but I didn't )



Wrap them in towels to give them security at first and mop the the inevitable puddles

[Gileswithachainsaw]

:o

Yay enjoy the piggies!!!

[Gingerbics]

Congratulations Pacific on your new babies! Our boys are nearly 6 months now and getting loads of character! They took a good few months to really settle in, now they come out to greet me when I go in on a morning and start wheeking! I'm prob a bit too over protective of them, vary wary of putting them out, they've had a few 'go's out in the run on Warmer days. My children are 3 and 6 and we got snuggle sacs from Cosy Cavies website which seemed a much safer and cosier way of handling them. Look forward to your updates. Prepare yourself for lots and lots of poo, unbelievable how much they produce!

[FernieB]

Congratulations Pacific! I hope you know what you're letting yourself in for . Endless poo, cleaning out, big noisy wheeks, huge vegetable bills, being peed on ! And lots of cuddles, contented purring, chattering, funny antics and they are always, always excited to see you . I would not be without my lovely boys.

PS 70 is right we do need photos!

[dietcokeandwine]

Congratulations OP

I second the 'cosy cavies' snuggle-sacks too, we have them and they're great. Perfect for when children are handling the pigs.

Your new arrivals will get used to the sounds of your household in time...we have four indoor pigs and our house is flipping noisy at times but they are so used to us now that it doesn't faze them at all. Two of our guineas came to us a rescues and yes they were very scared at first but they are far more relaxed and confident now.

Enjoy your new arrivals!

[PacificDogwood]

Thank you all .

Well, they have accepted my offering of a dandelion from the garden. They are pooping and peeing and come out of their tunnel/house when they feel unobserved .

I now worry about going to bed… DH is making fun of my for suggesting to put the baby monitor in 'their' room .

I'll post photos when I figure out how to.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

:o

Squeeeee

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

No to the baby monitor BTW, they amplify every sound, you'll be thinking that WW3 is going on in there and it'll be normal rumbling.
Be aware that there will be some noise and bluster (there are some very good websites about GP noises and their body language that are well worth a view)
GP2 used to rip the cardboard boxes at 3am , I was thinking "What the Jeff" when I heard it . He used to push his empty plate about at 6am .

They'll be getting used to their new environment and establishing their 'pecking order'. You'll notice that one pig is more dominant but that might change.
Our GP3 has definately taken over the reins from GP1 but he'll still get told off if he's a overstepping the mark. But it's been a gradual thing as he's got bigger and GP1 has got a bit more middle aged and mellow.
Though when the Spring Fever hits them..........they might go a bit loopy


Enjoy finding out what your boys like, be careful with herbs (Guinea-Pig crack cocaine coriander is banned here )

[PacificDogwood]

Well, Sergeant Tibbles and Jeffery are still alive after almost 48 hrs in our care
I swear taking newborn DS1 was only marginally more exciting .

Please may I ask a few questions?

1. They are piddling and pooing beautifully, but I've noticed that their urine is a bit cloudy? Is that normal, maybe due to the calcium they excrete? (Btw, where on earth do they get calcium from??)
   
2. I am using fleece cage liners. How often do I need to change them?? I am doing it daily which mean I kind of have an extra GP load of washing - unexpected . How many 'sets' of cage liners will I need? 2 sets does not seem to be enough…
   
3. I have a note of their weights from the rescue centre. Do any of you weigh your piggies once a week to monitor their weights? The non-dominant one (Jeffery) is 50g lighter than his brother (who looks twice the size because his rougher coat) and feels a bit skinny to me (I can feel his hip bones).
   
4. Do you throw all their hay out when you clean their cage? They seem to pick the tender bits out and leave the strawier stuff behind - clever boys!
   

We've had them out on a blanket on my lap for about 5 minutes last night and the boys got to stroke them (the older ones held them themselves) and they really seemed to like their clean cage today. They came out of their respective tunnels and had an explore around.
My custom made order from CavyCouture is on its way…. .

[fortifiedwithtea]

Congratulations on your new boys

1. cloudy pee is normal. The time to worry is when their wee feels gritty. They get calcium from veg. Veggies high in calcium which piggies eat are spinach, celery and broccoli so don't give them everyday. They need lots of variety of veg, which is why your supermarket trolley will look so impressive from now on

2 Don't know

1. It is recommended that piggies are weighed weekly so you notice any changes quickly. Change in weight can indicate ill health that guineas hide very well being prey animals.

1. Yes, I throw away all hay at each hutch cleaning. And yes they are choosy about which piece of hay they eat. Millie Pig likes to snuffles right to the bottom of the pile for some 'goody' never the bit on top

Looking forward to seeing the pictures squeee

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Piddling and poohing are good signs

I don't use fleece (I love my washing machine too much) but when they are indoors for winter I give them a trug of hay to climb into and thick cotton bathmats or old towels folded up.
They needed changed daily (mine are manky blighters). I washed them in an old pillowcase tied with string. Be careful what you wash yjem with, guinea-pigs noses are right in their bedding.
(I used Ecover or those plastic washball things. They don't need a 'smell' just to be clean)
Once a towel got knocked into their cage and they swarmed all over it , peed, poohed, left fur.....


Cage/hay- at the moment, they are pretty clean, their hay on the floor of the Pighouse can last 5 days. In the haybox , 2 days. It's deep hay at the moment.
In summer they'll only have a small amount , changed daily (to stop them overheating in hay)

[guineapiglet]

hi pacific really glad you got your boys and so glad you are having lots of fun already, it gets a lot easier in the warmer months when they can be outside and cage maintenance is reduced. We only ever used newspaper and hay, changed the manky top layer everyday..fresh top up hay each night. loads of great help on here for every guinea related topic, everyone is really helpful and a lovely lot of lasses.

guineas take time to settle but then become irreplaceable ....they could always be relied upon to cheer me up with their judgey faces and little lips..my husband said he was away down the pecking order hen they moved in -[ blush]

[guineapiglet]

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I DO fear for pacifics safety though .
In her household there are DH , DS1, DS2, DS3, DS4 and now 2 boars

She'll be drowned in male hormone

[PacificDogwood]

I so am drowning in testosterone!

The smaller GP (Jeffrey) has nipped all of us at least once - hard enough to smart, but did not break the skin. According to the rescue centre it's his larger brother who's the dominant one, but I am not so sure….

They are now confident enough to eat in front of us , but are still quite shy and reluctant to be caught and held. Early days, I know. DSs are v good at sitting down, legs in a basket, and only holding them together on a blanket on their lap.

They don't seem to be drinking water but continue to piddle plenty. Do I need to be concerned? They have a water bottle - if they don't take to that, should I offer water in a dish? I can just imagine the mess...

Here's another question: is it possible to overfeed a GP?? I know they need unlimited access to hay and water, I give vegetables 2x/day and make sure they always have some of their pellets. Like I said, I think Jeffrey is a bit skinny and they are still growing boys…

C+C cage arrived and is fabulous, soft furnishings on their way . So far they only have a willow sticks and sea grass tunnels to hide in and nothing really to play with

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Glad they are settling.
Some piggies do give a nip (if they wanted to bite you , believe me they would do more than nip, those rodenty teeth are sharp) but they are by and large gentle creatures. Don't forget though, they don't have much in the way of defences, so if they feel unsafe ,they panic.

Our GP2 got my arm (like you say a pinch not a bite) when we had them for a couple of days and I was "He doesn't like me" . But usually, any tooth action is if they mistake the smell of food on your skin.
GP1 only gnaws if we rub his rump (greasespot area)
GP3 doesn't like his right side touched , he pulls our skin rather than bite, but it's a definite don't touch. (Dh didn't know this. He does now)

Water- mine never drink. I give them a bottle if they are indoors and a bowl outside but they don't touch it. They pee rivers , it must be the veg.

I don't think you can overfeed but some foods are more calorific.
They need unlimited hay, and about 1-2oz pellet per pig ( you'll gauge how much they'll eat but make sure there's a bit spare so there's no squabbling over food)

What coat types are your boys? I find the fancy coats (like Abbys or long haired) tend to be lighter.
GP1 is a smooth haired and lost alot of weight when his brother died.
GP3 is a Rex, he's huge , solid, heavy but not porky.

When we try to get weight on GP1 - sweetcorn ,especially in the leaves. Raw beetroot . Banana and skin. Sweet red peppers.
So if we wanted to slim them, we'd cut these down.

And they can get surprisingly tubby on grass (just like little fat ponies do in a field )

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Cardboard boxes to play in are great. Make sure there's no tape or staples.
Cut two doors to allow an escape route.
Give them a Guinea Village.
Then when they get peed and poohed, they can be thrown out.


I played some early Kate Bush music to GP3. He purred like a good'un.
Obviously good taste guinea.