Getting GPs - what have I forgotten about?

[crocodileshavenoears]

So following on from my previous thread a while ago asking for advice about which small animal to go for, I've decided to go ahead with GPs. Went to my local animal rescue and re-homing place today and they don't have any right now, but I've just noticed from the website that the next nearest place does, so planning to phone about going to see them this week - exciting .
I know they need company, and it looks as though they rehome in pairs, so I'll be getting two. Is an indoor cage about 1 metre 20cm ok? I've also read that they should have outdoor time so I'd get an outdoor run for them too - when they're new will it unsettle them to be moved from their cage to outside and back every day though? Is there a better way to manage this? I don't think permanently outside would work - there are loads of foxes in this area and presumably that would be stressful for them even if the cage is secure?
I know they need food, water, fresh vegetables, hay - anything else? What should I line the cage with - sawdust? Anything extra for bedding?
Thanks in advance.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi crocodile guinea-pigs are fabulous little animals but as you say there's alot to consider.

You want two (at least) there will be bonded pairs or there might be a sow trio or a neutered boar + sow/sows.
Don't go for a boar trio unless you are pig savvy.

At the moment I have a 1yo boar (who was cagemate to our older boy until he died) . The 1yo has been neutered (not sterile for another 2 weeks) but he's side-by-siding with two rescue sows.
They're in a 4'x2' cage in his Pighouse (Pighouse is a 6'x6' wooden Playhouse adapted for Pig Living )

The cage seems big enough but Hand on Heart , it isn't. They have a 7'x4' run (he's in his own smaller run) so it's a temporary accomodation till they can all be together.

Ask them the history of the piggies. Our first boars were in Rescue (accidental litter) and were lovely, cuddly. Had the odd scrap but nothing we couldn't sort.
GP3 was a Rescue (breeder "didn't really like guinea-pigs" ) he was a tiny piglet to match up with GP1.

We didn't want to put GP3 with a tiny boar (je'd bonk it) so I got two feisty sows - and they are feisty.
I don't think anyone looking at a first pig would want my tiny little sow but I'm in it for the long haul and I'm winning her over .

Both my new girls had been taken to Rescue pregnant and rehomed once their babies were weaned.

So - they can be in Rescue for many reasons that are no fault of their own.
Let them know if you are a novice, they'll help you out.

They get used to a routine - breakfast, dinner, cuddles, run time. They rely on it.
We have ours in the Pighouse (It has removeable windows which are re-inforced inside against foxes and flies)
In winter they come in at night and I heat the Pighouse for day (either SnugglePads or a small heater + loys of hay)
They love to scramble through hay and ferret about

We have a fox problem too, but actually, I haven't seen them of late. Hopefully they've moved on, but I doubt it.

Bedding - I use bewspaper and hay )on top of cardboard and rubber mats that they can;t chew)
Puppy pads ( can't get to) under the paper.
Sawdust and shavings can cause respiratory problems, shavings are drying on their feet and coats.

Good Luck.
Happy Reading

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

And have a look at the Guinea-Pig Food Threads too .

[Piggiefan]

A hand held hoover! Honestly, the amount of hay and bits of bedding that end up on the floor... We got two gorgeous sows from a rescue at Easter. Kept them outside for about a month, then we moved them indoors. I love having them around. For the first few weeks they were very very nervous, they were much happier in their hutch than going out on the grass in their run. Eventually they settled down and now they are very happy piggies. We keep them in a Ferplast 120, which is just big enough for two sows but apparently not enough for boars. However, really they could do with something bigger, and I'm planning to add another smaller cage onto the end in a few months when we've made space in the house. We bought both cages second hand from a rescue for £45. When the weather's good they go out in their run to eat grass for as long as possible each day, depending on whether we're in or not. If it's too wet or cold outside I put them in a children's ball pit lined with newspaper just for a change of scene.

For bedding we use Fitch , it's a recycled paper bedding. I started off using Megazorb but it was a bit smelly so after a recommendation on here I swapped to Fitch. It looks very expensive but the bale lasts absolutely ages. I line the cage with newspaper, put down a thin layer of Back 2 Nature pellets (possibly not necessary, i'm still experimenting) then a layer of Fitch. Twice a week I roll up the newspaper with all the bedding inside and spray and wipe down the cage, it's very easy. Some people use fleece as bedding but I have enough washing to do as it is.

I love having guinea pigs as pets, they are adorable. When we come downstairs in the morning they squeak for their breakfast. They know they get more veg in the evening so they squeak then as well. They have hay constantly. In the evening I often bring the friendlier pig to sit with me while I watch TV, she will lay her head on my arm and have a lovely snuggle. The other pig will tolerate cuddles for a short time but then starts squeaking and wants to go back to her cage.

[crocodileshavenoears]

Thanks so much for your advice 70 and Piggiefan, and thanks for the bedding link. Next silly question - is it possible to use paper I've shredded myself? Not that I wouldn't buy bedding, but I have loads and loads of paperwork I have to shred and it would be great to have a use for it!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

croc if it's pig friendly, then I shred it

Envelopes (with the 'window' torn out), non-shiney paper, newspaper, some reciepts, those pesky things that Sainsburys give me to tell me I saved 3p on my shopping, Primark bags.
No staples, no sellotape.

Mine have their own shredder

(it gets everywhere though )

[crocodileshavenoears]

Well we've got them! Two boys, about 8 months old. We collected them from the animal rescue centre this morning. They seem very nervous just now - we went out for a while in the afternoon to give them some peace, and they'd obviously been all around the cage while we were out, but as soon as we come near they run into the covered bit and don't come out. I'm chatting to them every time I walk past, and I assume they'll relax a bit once they've been here a while. I've ordered an outdoor run for them too, but I can't see them letting me pick them up to put them in it for a while!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Ahhhh Welcome New Piggies

They will settle down especially if there's food on offer (it really is the way to their hearts)

Our new sows are still little gits to catch, I put their rubber trug housie on it's side and they run into it (never learn ) but once they're caught, they are calm.
The first few times I cuddled GP5 I had to literally hold her rump and back or she'd be up on my neck .Now she'll sit happily on my lap , so progress.

Getting them into the run is less of a challenge than getting them out. We put the girls travel box into the run, DD goes in and catches them, into the box which I lift. I'm terrified of them jumping out of my hands .



And detailed descriptions.

And they'll need MN names to protect their identity

[FernieB]

Offer them food, food and more food - they think with their tums. Once they realise you are the 'wondrous provider of edible treats' they will love you .

70's right - they need MN names to protect their privacy - pigs are funny like that.

[UterusUterusGhali]

Oh dear, 70.
I've got three boars. :/
Are they going to eat each other?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Uterus three boars need careful handling to make sure they have enough space and let them establish their pecking order.
(There was a PigMum on here a while back -haven't seen her for a while- who had 2 boars then her DD bought another 3 - but one of the pair got a bit over-amourous with a new one. Then one had an injury and didn't fit back in with the group, so lived in the lounge)

There was a brilliant website "Barmy4Boars" (I think it closed but you might be able to Google it) . They said one of the newer problems they encountered were boar trios. Petshops were selling the piglets but the owners weren't giving them what they needed so they were squabbling.

Your boars are still little aren't they?
Have a look at some of the boredom busters, give them as much space as you physically can.
You will know when they go through the Terrible Teens.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Barmy4Boars has merged with The Guinea-Pig Forum.

I see you "aquired" your three boys. Mmmmm, tell more...........

[UterusUterusGhali]

Aah. Thank you.
One (WizzardPig*) seems a bit detached from the others so I'm keeping a close eye on him.

I was thinking of, like you, converting a playhouse. (As yet unpurchaced.)
The kids have pointed out I never bought THEM a Wendy house.

As to the aquisition, we were buying some stuff for the fish and fell in love with these wee chaps. Not big OR clever, I know.

[UterusUterusGhali]

*names have been changed to protect identities.

[crocodileshavenoears]

Hmmm, MN names.... will need to think . They're definitely a bit more relaxed today - staying out from the covered area in the cage for much longer and not running as soon as I'm anywhere near. Definitely not wanting to be touched yet though.