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Can anyone help me out re: guinea pigs please?

15 replies

Sparkler · 30/04/2008 16:02

We are getting two gorgeous guinea pigs this weekend. Current owner is moving from house to flat and doesn't have garden to take them with her. I'm going to buy them from her. They are coming with double hutch, a seperate run with little mini "box" for them to go into during day if it rains.
I'd quite like to get some sort of indoor run/cage for them to that we could use in Winter/when it rains so DDs can enjoy spending time with them etc but not sure where or if these are available to buy. Does anyone know where I can get something like this for not too much expense?
TIA x

OP posts:
Egg · 30/04/2008 16:03

Not much help with your actual question but when we had a guinea pig when I was young we let it just run round the house, then my sis and I went and picked up the poo . Obviously had to make sure doors were closed etc but it never came to any harm.

Sparkler · 30/04/2008 16:06

We can't really do that Egg as we have a cat.

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lovemyshoes · 30/04/2008 16:09

I know its sounds a good theory, bringing them in out of bad weather etc, but, it can cause them alot of health problems, it has to either inside or outside for them.

We have 2 at present (one died a month ago)

We also have 3 cats and they ignore them and don't even acknowledge them. The cages we have a roomy and often take them out for a run round the room (make sure cats are out) and then love having a cuddle on our knees and hiding in the towels we have on our knee.

Egg · 30/04/2008 16:09

Oh god, so did we!! How on earth did it stay alive, esp as our entire downstairs was open plan and no door even to stairs so hard to be sure cat could not wander in... . It's a wonder the poor thing stayed alive!

Egg · 30/04/2008 16:10

Ours spent a long time in garden inside some chicken wire as well as inside in hutch (and outside in hutch in good weather). Did not realise it was not good for them .

lovemyshoes · 30/04/2008 16:12

It is good for them whichever way you decide, but, it really does have to be one of the other,and, if you decide they are outdoor pigs, there are great ways of protecting them from elements/predators etc.

Whichever way you decide try and get a brick, make sure the corners arent sharp etc, they will love to lay on these if they over warm and will also shorten their teeth on them by nibbling

BexieID · 30/04/2008 16:13

We used to put ours in their hutch in a shed over winter. It had a greenhouse type roof, so let light in.

Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 16:14

We have 2 guinea pigs who live indoors - we got the largest guinea pig cage we could from Pets at Home - but they also have an outdoor hutch with attached run which they go into during the day when the weather is dry. We don't ever leave them outside overnight or take them outside if it is cold or wet.

They are now both over 4 years old and have never {touch wood } had any health problems at all.

Sparkler · 30/04/2008 16:21

Thanks for the tips guys.

OP posts:
Sparkler · 30/04/2008 16:35

now this is just the thing Was hoping for something cheaper though.

OP posts:
silver73 · 30/04/2008 23:13

Hi Sparkler

Keep your piggies indoors if you can and let them go outside on good days. When we got our pigs we had them outside for a couple of weeks but then worried about them getting cold. We have them in an indoor hutch. We also the run that you've posted - we use it as an indoor run.

Have pigs inside is great as they really become part of the family.

S

misselizabethbennett · 30/04/2008 23:26

I've been thinking of getting guinea pigs but someone told me they smell. Is this true?

Egg · 01/05/2008 15:47

They can get a bit smelly but you just have to clean them out regularly, same as any small hutch type pet I guess. I don't remember ours being a stinker .

silver73 · 01/05/2008 21:59

Hi

Our pigs don't smell at all. We clean them out every 2-3 days. They are wonderful pets.

S

christywhisty · 01/05/2008 22:04

We have that run and it is worth it, as it is very easy to move around the garden. We have an outside hutch, but the dc's usually bring them in when they get home from school. We use baby changing mats in case of wee accidents.

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