We bought home our two GPs yesterday from animal rehoming centre and they're comfortably ensconced in new home outside. The hutch and run are combined (run downstairs and hutch upstairs with solid sloping ladder in between. Homing centre approved it before we bought it.)
Food wise, we've put one food bowl and one water bottle in the corner of the run (as well as fruit/veg etc scattered round the run so they can forage) but it's occurred to me that if we have loads of rain this weekend as forecast everything will get soaking wet. Should we get a cover for the run or just put everything in the hutch? Or doesn't it matter?
Also, we have two boars so should we give them a bowl and bottle each or are most happy to share?
Sorry for epic post, I'm just keen to do it right and give the boys a nice home as they had a less than ideal start in life 
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Small pets
Newbie, help please
loveisagirlnameddaisy · 18/07/2014 07:47
Oooh congratulations on your new boys 
Ages? Colours? Coat type? Are they brothers or unrelated bonded (you have been very remiss in the detail 
OK- lots to answer:
I'm not a fan of two level living because the GPs in my life have always been extremely lazy (I had four sows when I was a child who would use a ramp but it was shallow, carpeted and had a solid side , like a bannister. My dad made the cage)
We put a ramp in our Pighouse but they only walked down to the food if they were placed on the level.
Guineas shouldn't go on wet grass, so if we have rain like last night, I'd keep them off it for a day (especially if you have baby pigs, ) they shouldn't get wet bellies.
They will scalp the grass and leave their droppings (which is good fertiliser) so ideally a rub you can move about.
I think in your shoes, I'd put the hutch on a hard surface (patio maybe) so it doesn't sit on wet grass. You can hose it down, and if they don't like walking on stone, you can put newspaper down.
Then get a moveable run (Bunny Business are brilliant)
Food - I only gave one bowl/one water bowl (mine didn't do bottles) and one plate for veg, but as you say, spaced well so they don't squabble.
But , I use big plates - dog bowls (solid and shallow) and plastic picnic plates.
When they get bigger you might need to give them one each , see how they go.
(Though now I have three hogs, when they all cohabit, I might give more plates)
If you scatter food , you'll need to clear it all up so it doesn't go off and attract flies/wasps. They will sometimes take food away to eat in peace.
You can get covers that will protect the whole hutch and run, or you can use tarpaulin or thick plastic. Tarpaulins have those eyelets to thread rope fastenings through, I use tent pegs pushed into grass to secure things .
If you get a run, tent pegs are brilliant (though we need a hammer if the ground is solid ) to secure it. And I use those little plastic fasteners - cable tie things that you pull through the loop on one end and they are ridged so they stay fastened- on the doors (cut them off with nail clippers )
Put a couple of extra bolts on the doors of your hutch too. (foxes, cats)
Cor, that was an essay .
They'll take time to settle down, give them that time.
We got GP1 & GP2 as 1 yo (brothers)
GP3 as a 6 week old
GP4 & GP5 (not related) as 10 month old (sows)
All rescue pigs.
The sows (we got last week) are still lairy but settle nicely for a cuddle. Just nightmares to catch . Usually if we catch GP4 then GP5 (the flighty one) realises she's on her own, so she's catchable.
They have had to cope with huge changes but they have a whole summer of lazing about , and in 3 weeks, they'll officially bond with GP3 (he's been neutered, he's waiting to go sterile)
DH is going to attatch our smaller run (GP3 uses this at the moment) to our Pighouse with a 'catdoor'. They'll have access to grass but only if we open the door.
GPs unlike rabbits who will go out in rain, snow, cold, are more fragile. Usually if it's not nice, they won't venture outside.
Now, you need to build up a stock of cardboard boxes (no staples or sellotape) and Primark bags (take the handles off)
Oh, if you do put a waterproof on them, make sure they have ventilation and remove it when it's not needed.
I just put a couple of ice-blocks in the Pighouse ( they have a fan and an open re-inforced window) GP3 gave me very judgey looks, but he's very large with a thick Rex coat.
He'll be pressed up against the ice-block knowing him (it's wrapped in newspaper BTW)
I have a selection of very pretty feeding bowls. But tbh I've given up using one for veg. My girls grab food and runaway to separate places to eat all over the floor, or steal off each other. Guinea pig version of football put one large tomato in a hutch and see what 3 guinea pigs do with it. They pass the 'ball' with their teeth, maybe I should call it rugby
Try to get them to drink from a bottle, a lot won't but it's a pita if they don't because they get poo and hay in their water.
With regards to details, we don't have many. We weren't told their ages (they came from a hoarding situation, a lady had over 200 in her house) so the rehoming centre had a lot to rehome! One is brown shorthaired, the other is black/white longhaired, neither are satins but apart from that I know nothing and tbh, I'm a bit clueless about GPs so am still slowly learning all this stuff.
They are very cute though and I love hearing them chat.
Oh, am a little concerned that they're not drinking much water. We were advised to use a bottle because of contamination in a bowl with faeces but they've hardly touched it. They were using bottles at the rehoming centre so I assume they know how to use one. I've given them some watery veg just now (cucumbers and tomatoes) which they guzzled as soon as they saw them but would you expect them to drink a lot. In this heat I assumed they would and am a bit concerned they're not.
I'm not an expert, I have had alot of guineas over my lifetime .
The trouble with hutch/runs on grass is -
you can't move it easily (and they do scoff the grass, when we move our run, it's like a plague of locusts has been there. We need to move GP3 small run, there's a huge pile of poohs in it.) We bought a massive run from BunnyBusiness a couple of years back (it's about 84" long ) for about £45, they have different sizes.
And wood on grass needs to be protected or it will rot.
The run below the hutch gives them the option of having some fresh air when they choose, so hopefully your pigs will use the ramp ( mine are particularly lazy
If you put them on the decking, make sure it's in a secure sheltered spot, away from wind and full sun . (And you'd need something to cover if there's any gaps in the decking ) . If you can, secure the hutch against getting knocked.
My new girls came from a huge Rescue (over 300) they were both pg, had their piglets and the day before we got them they were weaned away. So they were a bit confused and befuddled, poor things.
One of my girls is so tiny, I look at her and think "You poor little scrap, what a start to your life "
They do drink from a bottle, it's my boar types who were stroppy .
Satins are beautiful almost luminous (their hair strands are hollow, so reflect light) but the downside to breeding this beauty, is they have joint problems .
I'll find the website that has lots of guinea info.
We found out that our fluffy little GP3 was a Rex not a Swiss (I was relieved, the Swiss are more fragile. Rex are like a Steiff Teddy Bear )
GP5 is my 17th guinea-pig (since I was 9yo, not all together)
Rodents With Attitude have a guinea-pig breeds page (some USA sites have different names for breeds. They sometimes call Rex a Teddy)
Look at the Rex halfway down, who couldn't love those faces?
We call GP3 The Malevolant Teddy Bear he looks like a demony child's toy with his red eyes
If you keep them on grass you need to be vigilant about picking up their poo as it will attract flies. On a hard surface you can just hose it away. A separate moveable run would be great to have as well as you can move them around the grass on nice days and they will mow the lawn for you (and fertilise it). I rarely mow my lawn myself
They don't drink much - all the watery veg is enough. Every do often one of mine will have a go at the bottle but I think that is more to be noisy and get my attention so I can fetch him something from the fridge.
If you take away the carrier, put their USED bedding in the place you want them to sleep. Then that will be familiar.
Remember they are new to you and their new home, the only thing they know is each other.
They'll take time, my little GP5 (the little Himalayan) still looks at me all 
like she's never seen a human before.
But I'm assuring myself it's because she's a pink-eyed pig not because I'm an ogre
They've gone into the hutch of their own accord!!! I'm so proud.
You've obviously got athletic piggies that will use the ramp.
They like their comforts.
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Abbys have quite stiff rossettes (if it's a proper one , which none of mine were they are meant to have 12 or 14)
If your piggie has long hair it's a Peruvian, Sheltie,Texel, Lunkarya (there's probably more )
My boy is a Rex, my two girls are smooth
GP1 was smooth GP2 was a sort-of-Abby. His fur was too soft to hold a proper rosette but he did have one on his rump and between his shoulder blades (he looked like we'd blown in his fur and quick sprayed with hairspray)
Long haired pigs need brushed/combed daily (part of their cuddle time)
I had a Peruvian years ago, I combed her with a small baby comb.
Others just need a brush over (baby brush) and the occasional bath.
Not relishing bathing GP5 
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