Guinea pigs

[Fatasfook]

I’m thinking about getting my children a Guinea pig. Can you tell me about yours? Tips? Advice? Where you keep them etc?

Hi. My advice would be to get one for you,not for your children. Sure they will be keen for the first few months but most children I find won't be bothered after that. Always buy in pairs, have a nice large run with outdoor space and bring them in in the cold months. They are the most lovely little pets but do live for a while so you really have to be an animal lover

There are some proper pig experts over on the small pets board
I currently have two males. They live in a run on the grass during the day and a two-storey hutch in the shed at night, when it gets colder they have an inside run in the house. They are sociable beasties. I've had some live to be 7 or 8. Agree that you have to like pets yourself, my kids like to talk to them and hold them but I do nearly all the cleaning, grooming etc!

Not meaning to imply that pps on this thread are not proper pig experts, of course! I could have worded that better.

If you can find a guinea pig rescue near you, please consider going there rather than buying. There are always many piggies wanting new homes, and a reputable rescue will have health checked them, and ID'd whether male or female. You do not always get this from pet shops.
For a small pet they really are the best IMO. They are not nocturnal so will be awake when you are, they don't bite a lot, and they talk to their people once they get over any shyness. But they do require certain things in their diet, like vitamin C, so they take a bit of looking after to keep them healthy.

Absolutely find a reputable rescue. They will be able to get you sorted with a suitable pair of bonded pigs (baby ones are cute but scatty as hell and incredibly fast and difficult to handle, where as a well handled pair of adult pigs will happily sit for cuddles and hand feeding etc.). A reputable rescue will also help you get the correct set up (indoor cage of a suitable size is best) and provide ongoing support should you need it. Pigs will also be correctly sexed, health checked and had a suitable pregnancy watch and quarantine period.

A pet shop is likely to sell you two random pigs (same sex and not pregnant if you're lucky!) that have been mass produced (risk of disease) and are likely to be unhandled and fall out once they hit sexual maturity. They'll also charge you a fortune for a woefully inadequate sized cage.

Oh yes, Another, I have my first set of youngsters this year (bonded to my older sow) and they are bloody quick when I want to catch them! Or maybe it's me that is too slow :)

You can only get a pet for you. Not for your dc's.
And you must get a pair. And not from evil pets at home. They should be kept indoors too.

Don't get 1 - get 2.
They are lonely on their own.
How old are your DC?
Do some research.