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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 · 12/01/2009 12:18

You need to get 2, either 2 same sex or a M/F pair where one is neutered. I have 2 girls. I think it is generally thought that females make the best first piggy pets, supposedly they are more laid back than males.

You will need a big enough indoor cage, preferably kept off the floor because of draughts and vibrations from the hoover etc which could freak them out. They will need a water bottle, a constant supply of fresh hay, access to fresh fruit/veg every day as well as normal pet shop guinea pig mix. You will also need a 'hidey house' for them to retreat to / sleep in, preferably one each as the more dominant pig could bully the weaker one and kick them out of the house . You will need to be able to clean them out at least twice a week and be able to give them plenty of handling time.

tootiredtothink · 12/01/2009 12:43

That's a great link - thank you. Have had a quick look and the closest breeder is about an hour/hour and half away .

Is it really worth while getting them from breeders as apposed to shops? If that's the case then we may go for a little 3 hour drive.

Can't tell you how excited I am ! Just wish their birthdays were this month not next!

I am looking for a cage with wheels as the place I am thinking of putting them is in the hall in front of cupboard so will need access. It's only my vacuum in it though so not used very often!!!

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 12:49

You can buy a stand for the cage I have (I also have the stand) which come with castors. I haven't used the castors on mine but they come with. My cage is the Savic Nero 4.

tootiredtothink · 12/01/2009 13:00

Thanks NDP - that's the cage I shall get [stalker emoticon].

I shall be back.

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 13:03

oh I see

hope this works then

I've never got the hang of it

Perhaps I have now!!!!

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 13:04

nope!

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 13:05

Oh it did work! I'll just stick to being sensible normal

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 13:07

wohmum....at this time of year you've only the option of trimming the claws yourself - I use a really good pair of clippers from PAH which cost a couple of quid. I absolutely hate doing some of my pigs because they've got black claws - the white ones are a lot easier - but all I do is just take the tips off. In the Summer I make sure they go out on the patio/concrete so that them running around keeps the claws down naturally.

Last resort is to take them to the vet but ours charge £15 per pig to trim and with 5 of the little devils I simply can't justify the cost when I can do them myself, although I am not keen!

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 13:08

NDP - I'm in Hants.

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 14:23

Bloomin 'eck whisp 1 You couldn't be much further away from me !

wohmum · 12/01/2009 14:28

Thank whisp - I've used human nail clippers - are the pah ones any different/easier? I lterally only tookof about a millimeter or 2 - too scared to do any more and got nipped when i tried again!

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 15:03

tootiredtothink, we travelled for over an hour for our pigs and it was really really worth it for us. Our boys are incredibly tame and she gave us lots of advice. She also sold us our cage for £20 (we have the same one as NDP). We had a good choice and spent around an hour chosing the boys.

We were recommended that boys make better pets (PAH say the same thing) but other people say girls are best so its about personality I think.

Boys can fight so you need to get ones that have been together since they were babies - a breeder can offer you this though.

BUT I have no children and had the time to go and get them etc, it might be different if I had a busier life with kids etc.

Why don't mine like the run? They popcorn and go mad in their own cage?!

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 15:06

mine are happeir and more tame in their run than they are in the cage !

NomDePlume · 12/01/2009 15:29

happier

[spongebrained halfwit emoticon]

whispywhisp · 12/01/2009 16:40

wohmum The clippers at PAH are brilliant - they're only a couple of quid and are ideal for tiny little pig claws.

tootiredtothink · 12/01/2009 18:16

A drive it is - thanks for all the advice.

I may have to get their pressies much earlier than planned.

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 19:10

This is birmingham cavie club
pic7.piczo.com/BirminghamCavyClub/?g=17160127

There are some links to cavy studs down the side and some of them seem to be local, so its worth looking there? I am from oop north so no concept of distances in the midlands sorry .

If you e-mail a breeder they can tell you whats coming soon as well as whats available now so you can reserve if you want?

Good luck getting your piglets.

Alambil · 12/01/2009 19:23

The piggies are going to be held tonight!! I'm a bit nervous!

By the way, can I use shredded paper (ie bills!) for in their bedroom?

I have newspaper and hay on the rest of it; not sure what other substrate I could use?

I have some hemp stuff left from the mice I could use for the floor which would make the hay last longer, but is it too harsh for their feet? It's like wood shavings...

smurfgirl · 12/01/2009 21:51

How did holding them go??

sphil · 12/01/2009 22:42

Success with sexing!!! My sister came over - she used to be a vet nurse and it shows! They weren't half as wiggly with her, though I still wouldn't say they enjoyed it...

So we have 4 males, 3 males and Runty, who appears to be a mixture of both . Odd - the others were pretty straightforward once we got a good look, but neither of us could tell with him/her at all. I am praying she's a she, because then they fall into natural pairs.

For those who are keen followers of the Sphil piggy clan (Whispy) the males are: tan Aby, black Aby, brindle and white (all Furball's) and white with grey nose (Sarah's). And possibly Runty. The females are: white with black spot on eye, brown and white stripe, brown and white spot (all Sarah's) and possibly Runty.

Still don't have a clue about which ones we'll keep, apart from Runty who is definitely staying. Especially as I was looking at breeders' photos last night and think he might be a Rex!

sphil · 12/01/2009 22:44

That should read ' four males, three FEmales...' sorry!

SpongeBrainedHalfWit · 13/01/2009 08:53

Best not to use shredded normal paper as the edges can be sharp and they can get paper cuts on their little feet .

I use straw as flooring/beddign in the cage. I'm trialling a mix of carefresh & straw at the moment. Not gone fully carefresh as it is expensive - £3.99 for enough to do one cage and when they are cleaned out twice/three times a week it gets a bit £££. Whereas the straw I buy is £3.99 for a bag that lasts 3 changes. The main reason for me trying the mix is because I find that straw isn't that good in their toilet corner. The carefresh looks a bit more absorbent.

SpongeBrainedHalfWit · 13/01/2009 08:54

(btw, 'tis me NDP)

whispywhisp · 13/01/2009 09:32

No! Don't use normal paper...only ever use shredded newspaper. Normal paper to little guinea pig feet is razor sharp and they could very easily end up with paper cuts. Newspaper is much softer. Don't use magazines either because apart from it being useless at soaking up wee it is also very sharp.

SpongeBrainedHalfWit · 13/01/2009 10:20

sphil, can you mate siblings without a raised risk of abnormalities ?