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Original poster

Dd2 wants some guinea pigs - good idea / any advice?

413 replies

ElectraInExcelsis · 23/12/2008 23:10

The only thing I know about them is that you should get two because they otherwise get very lonely...

Anyone have them? I had hamsters as a child but don't know about humane ways to keep guinea pigs, etc which is important to me. Dd2 is 5. I don't mind cleaning them out for her etc.

Any advice? TIA...

OP posts:
NomDePlume · 11/01/2009 20:36

It said on the paper that both are indoor pigs so hopefully the person who does take them home does actually heed the advice and house them indoors.

smurfgirl · 11/01/2009 20:55

I really want some more piggies but that would be silly. I think I am very broody for an actual baby and am transferring it to the piglets

NDP we do ours twice a week but I am worried I am a minger with a smelly house. I hope those two little GPs go quickly.

I saw some in a pet shop recently and felt bad for them because they had no hay available and were on their own in the cage (although next to each other).

whispywhisp · 11/01/2009 20:58

I clean ours out every 3 days so that's 2-3 times a week. I have to cos otherwise they honk! I have plenty of air fresheners around too cos I worry too my house might be a bit smelly! I don't mind cleaning them out tho...I actually enjoy it - its not a chore at all.

whispywhisp · 11/01/2009 21:01

smurf - email replied! I will get the willow sticks off to you during the week.

smurfgirl · 11/01/2009 21:37

Thanks whispy! They are carting the sticks around the cage now actually haha! They carry them and chew them, most odd.

I bet our house does smell. I do change the fleece/towels every day though!

sphil · 11/01/2009 23:04

I've just tried sexing the babies. It's impossible! I've found photos and diagrams on the net that talk about y shapes and dots - firstly it's really hard to hold them in a position where I can see their nethers and secondly they all look the same!
Am hoping it'll get easier as they get older...

Meanwhile - any ideas about getting them comfortable with lying on their backs? Atm it's stressing them out, which I don't want - and they wriggle so much I'm frightened of hurting them. In fact they're pretty hard to pick up from the hutch - they run around squeaking madly and seem very frightened. Once they're out and on our laps they're mostly fine - they eat from our hands, which I don't think they'd do if they were afraid. But catching them is a problem - and I think it's getting worse.

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 08:43

I doubt the house smells if you change the fleece every day, smurfy.

Ours don't smell bad. They smell of hay, mainly. I'm still gobsmacked by how much hay they get through.

I keep thinking about those boys. I misremembered their ages, they are 5mo not 15mo old. Bless them. Both are cream with pale grey himalayan markings and albino eyes.

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 09:34

NDP - go and buy them! and I'll meet you half way on the motorway somewhere!!!!

smurf - how many bundles of willow would you like? I've got four bundles. If anyone else wants some please let me know!

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 10:16

LOL. DH would think I was barking.

If they are still there at the end of the month then I'll take one, I think.

Do you know approx how much it is to get a male neutered ?

Jux · 12/01/2009 10:18

Hijacking again! The guinea pigs are now indoors, but we don't have an indoor hutch for them, so just brought the wooden one in. They're not in a hot room, but it's warmer than outside.

I've seen mentions of a pigloo - what is it(googled but get pigloo.net)? Also, goes anyone have any ideas how I can let them run around in that room, given that it is wall-to-wall carpet and that I need to restrict them to a space of about 3ft sq (the rest of the room is full of junk which they'll get permanently lost in).

They have a roller ball with a bell in it which they shunt around and a couple of loo rolls - is that enough for distraction/play or should I give them something else. They had a lovely long, thick stick thing which they could climb about on, but they weren't interested.

Thanks again for all your help - without this thread, I'd never have persuaded dh to let them in

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 10:36

Pigloo.
www.petsathome.com/find/category-is-6+small+pets/breed-is-guinea_pig/product-is-10744/pgs-is-113

2 stick things would be lovely please!

NDP you have got the GP bug BAD!

sphil the breeder I got my boys from said that if they scatter and scurry just scoop in and pick up and they will get used to it. Could you maybe find a local breeder and ask them to see the pigs for you? Its very much a hobby to breed I think so they would be keen to help.

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 10:41

That's great news Jux

The wooden hutch will be fine for indoor use. I use one of these as a ply pen for mine (they are on an old duvet cover with a couple of old towels to protect the flooring). It comes in 6 sections so you can make it as big or small as you like. If you don't want to spend any money I'm sure you could fashion something yourself. It doesn't have to be as high sided as that one as they don't jump very high at all.

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 10:44

I know smurf

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 11:11

I MUST preview, I meant to type go to a breeder to get the babies SEXED not seen, sorry.

NDP, my chester (with the bad haircut) is white with himalayan markings and pink eyes. Gorgeousness. Did you know that the markings change with the light?

We have that run too, I stick a waterproof table cloth (one of the oiled oned?) on the floor when they are in it. TBH mine don't seem to care whether they are in it, or in their cage.

The bath is a good place to let them run around as well, and easy to clean afterwards.

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 11:30

smurf - I'll get two lots of sticks off to you this week....glad to pass them on cos my lot just sit and stare at them.

Anyone else want a bundle of willow sticks for your pigs? I've got two other bundles left.

NDP - you get one of the 5mth olds and post me bring me down the other! Tell me which motorway to meet you on and I'll had you the dosh and you hand me the pig!

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 11:31

Why does the hyphon thingy never work for me?

lets give it another go

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 11:31
Angry
smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 11:41

You need to put the dashes around each word so with spaces:

this strikes through

no spaces:

this strikes through

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 11:50

Ours ADORE the run

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 11:51

Ours just sit in the corner and wee. Well they can do that in the cage! They have a big tunnel and some other toys but they just ignore them.

wohmum · 12/01/2009 11:53

I use the wire cubes as recommended by cavycages ( and I think yurtgirl has done the same) .

you can get a box from band q for £23 and make your own 'any shaped' run easily. link here( I hope) www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=mesh+storage&selected=products.

I've got a question - how do you keep their claws down - i hate clipping them and they don't seem to wear down at all.

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 11:53

Where are you whisp ?

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 11:57

Mine go mad, leaping around, rolling the ball, chasing each other.

tootiredtothink · 12/01/2009 12:03

Oh so excited - have just found this thread!

I am thinking of getting my dcs a guinea pig each for their birthdays (birthdays are 20th and 21st so will be able to get both together).

I had two when I was young but can not remember anything about them!

Dd is 10 and ds 4 (he will be supervised holding them although he's a gentle thing with animals and children - tis just his sister he likes to fight).

We shall keep them indoors as lots of cats in our area.

What do I need? Are there any breeders around the Birmingham area anyone knows of?

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 12:08

Hi tootired

Smurfgirl pointed me in the direction of this site. You choose your breed of choice and then you are given a list of breeders by region/county. cavy breeders