Hi all,
Long time lurker on GP threads, after much consideration and research we are planning on bringing 2 GP into our family.
I would like as much basic starter advice from you lovely experts as possible please 😁
So far we have settled on 2 GP, indoor, and a C&C cage.
I'm looking for advice re bedding, the variations reported on these boards have me a bit muddled.
Food wise pellets, hay and fresh veggies/fruit.
I have looked at GP rescues nearby but there's only 2 (NE) and most of their piggies seem to be reserved. So would probably be looking to store bought? Is that terrible?
Do I need to worry about socialisation issues? Or does anyone have recommendations re pros/cons coupling? 2 boars? 2 sows? One of each?
We have a 3 yr old DD who we hope to involve with GP as much as possible.
Do I need to consider flea treatments or anything like that?
Can anyone link to handy supplies sites? Hutches? Food link?
Any advice much appreciated.
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Small pets
First time GP owner.
TickTockBaby · 11/04/2019 15:18
OKay , buckle up and prepare to be dazzled (as Bart Simpson would say)
I'm looking for advice re bedding, the variations reported on these boards have me a bit muddled It depends what works for you and what your piggies like . I use cardboard as a base ( if you use C&C you need a good base layer , they cannot walk on the grids) Puppy pads (mine don't chew things thankfully) , newspaper , fleece and hay .
I don't like Megazorb (equine bedding paper based) much but I've used Ecobale (equine chopped card).
Sawdust and shavings can be drying on the skin, feet,fur , respiratory agrevating.
Lemon and Lavender shavings 
Help me God just clean the bloody cage more often. They are not meant to smell like a Glade plug in!
At the moment we're using fleece with solid hay cookies as our piggie has a wounded eye . She'd much rather have a cage full of hay so she's very judgey 
Food wise pellets, hay and fresh veggies/fruit Pellets not muesli , start with what they are eating and if you have to change it , do a gradual swapping. My guineas all had Burgess Excell in rescue so I kept with that mainly , I gave one of my guineas some Selective too when we had to watch her calcium levels .
Hay , good quality , fragrant, non dusty . Mine like Jolleys or one from The Range .
Loads of food threads on here there are things they must never eat , things they can occasionally have and the more regular. They eat pretty non stop, but they cannot be sick, so if it goes in, you cannot get it out .
I have looked at GP rescues nearby but there's only 2 (NE) and most of their piggies seem to be reserved. So would probably be looking to store bought? Is that terrible Maybe put your name down to reserve when they have some . Sad to say the holiday period and children going back to school is prime time for these little animals to get dumped . A Rescue gives you back up and advice and they'll have a better idea of the temprement . Sadly the main pet retailers (you know the one ) get the animals from Rodent Farms where they are just bred for quantity . I'm sure that's why a lot of piggies now have health issues they never used to have ,, breeding for mass retail.
Do I need to worry about socialisation issues? Or does anyone have recommendations re pros/cons coupling? 2 boars? 2 sows? One of each- it's a matter of preference , there are pros/cons. Mixed sex only if your boar is neutered and sterile ( sows don't tend to get spayed , they aren't prone to hormone problems like rabbis and its a tricky surgery for guineas)
I like boars , they are complete Love Sponges but with male animals they can be a tad more potent though my sows are messier and whiff a bit in season.
You need to allow boars loads of space . 99% of boar issues start due to space restrictions
We have a 3 yr old DD who we hope to involve with GP as much as possible Guinea-pigs are shy and very fragile so your DD could chop up veg (if she's ok supervised) or chose food for them, scoop out the pellets (give her a little cup the right size ) usually 30g/50g per pig
If she cuddles them, wrap the pig in a towel to make it a bigger bundle (and they pee until you get the hang of their warnings).
I've only ever had one pig that was a bit bitey and it wasnt a 'bite' more a gnaw. They are gentle creatures. If they wanted to bite they uld , they are rodents but they don't have the ability to climb, kick, jump, snap their head round quickly, they are pretty vunerable but still very gentle. Even when my pigs are ill and I'm doing things they don't really like , there's no malice ..
Do I need to consider flea treatments or anything like that Your main worries are mites which are common in piggies but an ill or stressed GP can suddenly be affected by them. They can get intense irritation , scratch themselves raw and bleed and can have fits . You can get drops for them (Xeno) . They can get ringworm (which can pass to humans) you are best to go straight to your vet for ringworm. Lice can be treated with shampoo . Guinea-pigs don;t tend to carry fleas .
Cages/hutches they need a load of room, more than you'd imagine . Cages in store tend to be too small. C&C are good because you can adapt the sizes . I did a massive run in the small bedroom for ours . Mine are too lazy to climb so we don't use double decker cages but some pigs manage . There's a risk of injury or the pig not using both levels though, a lot of the ramps are too steep and narrow
They need protected from temperature changes , damp, wind, noise, predators. They are not the brightest animals but that is part of their charm. When you win them over with food & routine (usually with food) it is lovely. Then you slowly realise that you are a complete Cavy Slave and they pre-empt you going to the fridge , hear you open a bag of crisps and give you the chorus of wheeks.
They have a variety of noise from purring, chirruping, wheeking, rumbling to singing (like a bird ) All mean different things .
DD wanted guineas when she was 9yo which was a good age but I always did 50% of the pig care . As the adult it will fall on you .
We started with 2 boars then got into the Guinea-Pig-Spiral until 8 years down the line we have our old girl who is the last in line .
Mine are all rescues. All have a story. None were cruelty cases thankfully . They've had as good a life as we can give them and in return they've given back 100x over . They are a responsibility. When they're ill. When you're on holiday.
Get a good rodent savvy vet , you might never need one but know where one is .
Dive into the threads on here and see if you fancy being a Pig Mum .
I'm allergic to hay it turns out. But at this point i'd sooner give up my DH than my pig boys. And thats 100% true!
Piggies are more work than you'd think (daily poo patrol and then a full clean out about every 3 or 4 days here) but they are so worth it!
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