Thinking of getting Guineas for me and dc, any advice?

[Purplerainbow2]

Dc are 10 and 7 and have wanted a pet for years. Always hankered after a dog but we live in rented and round here most landlords don't accept them. I had guineas all of my child hood so I know how to look after them, know about cleaning them out etc.

They love Guineas so really thinking about them as an option. Iv not had them since Iv had the dc. What should I be looking for? Iv had most breeds, but are any known more for friendliness? One of mine used to sit on my lap for ages being stroked but my brothers one was jumpy and hated being picked up. I guess that's just luck of the draw with personalities? I'd prefer to have babies really but open to rescue first.

[Purplerainbow2]

Bump

[FernieB]

Definitely go for a rescue. They'll have happily bonded pairs desperate for homes and fully grown pigs are easier to catch and handle than babies. And you won't have to go through the terrible teens! My smooth haired pigs have been very lardy and content to snuggle for hours. My scruffy little Abby is a wriggler, but I think that's a personality thing really.

[FernieB]

Most pigs will learn to sit on laps if they are bribed with tasty treats. Keep old towels to use for lap time to absorb any 'accidents' from over excited pigs.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Guineas are brilliant (mine tell me )

Regarding breeds, I would stay away from the 'fancy' breeds (there used to be 3 types -smooths/Abbys and Peruvians- back in the day)
Now there are huge varieties of coat types but IMO the more Fancy the pig, the more they lose the original guinea-pig.

My DD is allergic to our Teddy and was allergic to our Rex (rashes) but fine with the smooths and Abby fur.

The Satin has a luminous coat , a more beautiful creature you will never find, but.....this beauty comes at a price, they are at risk of bone/joint problems.

The Skinny/Hairless (I was offered one, i declined it) needs to be kept indoors, warm, extra food, great care not to damage their skin. My hogs have most fun running through hay, the Skinny couldn't risk this

The long haired pigs need a lot of care of the fur, I had a Peruvian years ago but kept her fur 'Floor Length' and combed daily.

Their cuddability varies from one to another, I don't think it's down to breed, just The Pig.

My Himmy is very precious, has to be protected from sun and claims (when it suits her) that she can't see things , like her cagemates so she stands on them. (Pink Eyes eyesight isn't as good)

You need to plan where they'll live. Indoors/Outdoors or both.
Have they got run space?
Garden run on the lawn
Have you got space for the hay and bedding?

I recycle all my loo-roll tubes in the shredder and aim to make enough shreddings for their bedding when they need less hay.

Hay can be quite allergenic too, check your DC are ok.

Rescues will have adults- bonded pairs, neutered males+ female groups and they might have piglets. Female piglets tend to get reserved quickly, but boars are lovely, very cuddly but need lots of space and consideration in their Terrible Teens.

We don't feed the piggies while we cuddle them, they have their chat and cuddle then have supper. (No wonder my pigs are so at me )

[Purplerainbow2]

I have a garage (no cars kept in it) so have the space, I would probably get a hutch and then buy a seperate run for the garden. If we have a hot summer the patio outside the back door is always in the shade so I could put them there. Dc want them as inside pets but I don't, the inside hutches seem too small imo and don't really have anywhere to put it that isn't in the way. My do are asthmatic, so the hay could be a worry? But then they have held rabbits and pigs before, and not had any problems and if they're kept outside they should be ok shouldn't they? Perhaps I should ring around try to find any where that rescues them and make a visit?

[Purplerainbow2]

All of mine were boars, is there a difference mentality wise between the sexes noticeably?

[glenthebattleostrich]

My 7 month old boars are sweeties. They are huge balls of snuggly fluff!

They are indoor piggies. I work from home as a childminder so they get a good run out during afternoon nap, then have the run of the living room from 6 til 10. They both love cuddles, big piggie most.

We clean the cage every 2 days as it is lined with newspaper and hay. They need veggies every day, we get through masses of kale as it's their favourite. My boys do get dry skin so we have nice rubs and shampoos for them which they enjoy.

I'm asthmatic and it did get a little worse at first but I'm used to my boys now and take an antihistamine for the hay.

[FernieB]

Is there a window in your garage? Just make sure it's quite light during the day if you're planning on keeping them there.

[Purplerainbow2]

There is a window in the garage but the landlord has a board on it from the inside for some reason? Looks very thin glass but that's irrelevant. I could wedge open the door though, there is a side door from the garden.

Glen why did you chose to keep them indoors? Not judging just curious, and when they 'have the run of the front room' do you have carpet? Literally they just run around the room? I know you can get those pop up runs for indoors.... I could get one and put it in the kitchen for when it's too wet in the winter?

[PurpleDaisies]

why did you chose to keep them indoors? Not judging just curious, and when they 'have the run of the front room' do you have carpet? Literally they just run around the room?
I'm not glen but we have indoor piggies who have the run of the dining room a lot of the time. We chose to have them indoors because we got them for company for me in the daytime. The piggies love it-they get loads of attention and squeak to me when I come in after work, when I'm coming down the stairs to make breakfast, whenever the fridge opens or a bag rustles and whenever anything gets chopped. Mine don't really chew things apart from cardboard so the dining room was easy to pig-proof. They wee in one place (we have an old hutch they like to hide in so they go back in there) and poo in a little pile that's easy to sweep up. It stops them from getting bored when they can't go out in the garden run. It isn't any different to having a cat or dog around the house (except less hair)!

[Guiltypleasures001]

I've just read this as

I'm think of getting Guinness for me and the dc

[Purplerainbow2]

Purple (nice name ) do you have a lot of space for a hutch or do you have one of those indoor plastic ones? I love the idea of indoor ones..... But my downstairs is only 2 rooms, a carpeted front room and a big dining/kitchen/hallway in one so they would affective be in he kitchen and no where to put a hutch!

[Purplerainbow2]

Guilty, I don't think you should get Guinness for your dc

[Guiltypleasures001]

My late Nan used to share her mackersons with me

[Purplerainbow2]

Anyone else?

[FernieB]

My boys are indoor pigs and live in a large indoor cage in the utility. Initially they lived in the kitchen and they were lovely to have around despite the cacophony of noise every time I opened the fridge. They go out in their run on good days, otherwise they pootle about the kitchen on an old blanket.

[Purplerainbow2]

I shouldn't feel bad homing them in the garage should I? It obviously wouldn't be heated in there.... But I would make sure there are plenty of blankets and no drafts in the winter. Mine as kids were in a shed and had no problems at all? It's just that everyone now seems to keep them indoors? I'd like them indoors I hrs don't have the space?

[FernieB]

They'll be fine in the garage provided there's plenty of natural light - it's not good for them to be in the dark all the time.

[Purplerainbow2]

There is a window but has a board on it for some wierd reason, I think I could get that off. I can also wedge open the side door during the day, they would come out daily for a run, thT would be ok won't it?

[glenthebattleostrich]

Just coming back -

My boys are indoor piggies because I'm to soft to put them outside!! We are semi rural so I worry about foxes and I don't like the idea of them being cold! They are brilliant company and total little chatterboxes.

I do have carpets but they have blankets they tottle around on and tend to wee / poo close to the hay pile so it's fairly easy to contain.

[notagiraffe]

We had two rescue guineas. One was tufty, Abyssinian style. The other, his brother, had longer hair, more like the Peruvians. Both were so gorgeous. The Peruvian was placid. I had one as a child and he was placid too. The tufty one was more aggressive at first and tried to bite us and head butted us away when we handled him, but responded so well to bonding. I just lay on the floor with him on my chest and he soon melted and became snuggly. They are gorgeous creatures. So easy, with great personalities. it's lovely when they sing and whistle to you if they want feeding or in the morning when they wake up.

the long haired one needed grooming and trimming often. You have to keep a watch that the hair doesn't get matted underneath.

Was just saying to DH yesterday that I miss them a lot and would love more, but DC are teens now.

[notagiraffe]

Ours were indoor too. (Foxes nearby.) they lived to 6 and 7 years. not ancient but not bad. They went for runs in the garden every day in summer. Great lawn trimmers.

[notagiraffe]

The advantage of having them indoors is you get more fun out of them. they chat to you and the DC are more likely to play with and cuddle them. In garages they can get a bit neglected.

[FernieB]

Bump