Hello... can anyone help me with Guinea Pigs?

[FanellaFidge]

Wondering if anyone who has/has had guinea pigs can give me some advice?

We have 2 DS's (4 and 2) and another on the way. We also have an elderly cat, who is less than impressed with having playful DC's about, and just wants to be left alone. So we have though it might be a good idea to get the DC's their 'own' pet (that can be caged and out of the way of little fingers when they've had enough!).

We've come up with guinea pigs... DH loves them, and I think I've heard they are friendlier than rabbits? Hamsters and the like are too small... plus we have a huuuge garden with an ideal enclosure to house the hutch and make a suitable run.

So, questions:

What time of year is best to get them?

Do they need to be kept indoors when cold (ie now)?

What equipment do we need?

How much do they cost, weekly, in terms of bedding/food?

How often do they need feeding?

Are they OK left alone for weekends/holidays?

Thank you so much if you can help

I would go for late Spring/Summer. Just to get through this cold period.

They should come inside ( garage will do but in this very cold weather - inside a house is best).

You need to clean them out once a week possibily more if not running on the grass.

A cage/ a run on the grass/ bottles/ dishes.

They need lots of handling at first. Once friendly they are hilarious.

Boy ones tend to fight alot.

Hay/ sawdust/ oats probably works out about £5 a week. Ours used to eat lots of lettuce/ veg and fruit. Ours were fed twice a day.

You cannot leave them at weekends/ hols. A neighbour would be fine at weekends for popping in the food. Many catteries and kennels take in small animals for hols.

Thank you so much for replying!

So if we did get them now, we would need to keep them indoors? Might work best if we need to handle lots at first? Do they need to be let out for fresh air when kept indoors?

mine is indoors now in an indoor cage. you can't really let him outside as it is damp and cold but he runs around the kitchen/house. they do wee but he seems quite good.

In the summer he will go out in a run and have an outdoor cage. I have always had guineau pigs and they are great for children. obviously you will have to supervise the DC handling them as your dc's are little.

we got our first gp when our ED was 6. she loved her then we ended up with some babies but that is another story.

Ahhh the babies.... And they reckon it's rabbits that breed like crazy.....

Guinea pigs are absolutely wonderful. I cannot tell you how much I love my three girls.

They have been inside since November in a huge indoor cage, which only cost about £39, from the zooplus website.

They also have a hutch in the garden, which we bought secondhand for £20, and a big run which a friend gave us for nothing.

They are the loveliest, friendliest creatures. I would recommend getting two girls.

So definately better than rabbits then? I've always liked rabbits, but DH loves guinea pigs.

When do you put them back out bibbity?

Hi Fanella, I think guinea pigs are easier than rabbits. They are less hardy so do have to come in for winter, but much less smelly. I have just been cleaning mine out and now they've got fresh sawdust in their cage the house smells lovely!

We only got ours in June last year, when they were about 8 weeks old. They are already such a part of the family.

They are in their outside hutch atm and I will leave them out there til it gets dark because I think they could do with some fresh air and a change of scene and its not that cold today.

Will probably put them back outside full-time from about end of March, I would think.

Bear in mind that they live for quite a long time (mine were 6 years old when they had to be put to sleep) and no doubt you will be responsible for them as children rarely keep up their interest.

Please please PLEASE don't buy them from a pet shop eg Pets at Home. All their stock is raised unethically on rodent farms and the conditions they are born into are appalling.

Buy your GPs from a reputable breeder who knows their family history in terms of temperament and health issues. DON'T support the rodent farm trade.

(that goes for all other pets btw, not just GPs)

Try this site for more info on care, feeding etc

www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/

Also meant to say, there are plenty of small furries out there in rescues looking for loving homes.

www.cavyrescue.co.uk/

:)

Thank you very much for that NinjaCuckoo... I hadn't even thought to look for a breeder! Will take a look at links now.

Had no idea there were different breeds which is best for children?

Hi Fanella

I think there's over 20 breeds of guinea pigs including hairless ones!

Probably the best type would be a short haired or rough haired one as they require much less grooming. Long haired Guineas are not recommended for children as their coats need daily grooming and if this is negelected it gets matted.

If you get two males then be aware that they can be quite territorial so you will need to provide 2 sleeping areas in the hutch.

Oh, and don't be surprised to see your guineas eating their own faeces, reaching round to 'pluck' it from their bottoms This is called coprophagy and is perfectly normal (for a guinea pig!) as it's their way of extracting additional vitamins.

Here's a site where you can check for breeders in your area

www.cavybreeder.co.uk/

Also, there are soooo many animals in rescue centres just begging for a good home and a decent shot at life. Please consider rehoming too x

www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/

I hope you're not fussy about your lawn!! Our 2 Guineas ate their own body weight in grass every day !! i moved the run to a differnt part of the garden every other day but it was soon a barren waste land. Great pets though. Got ours from a local breeder (cheaper than Pets at Home) They looked like little Dougals from Magic Roundabout.