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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:
smurfgirl · 31/12/2008 19:19

We use a mix of carefresh and fleece (half and half in the cage) it works well. We change the fleece every day and the carefresh twice a week. You can get carefresh from PAH, we pay £13 for a big pack that lasts us just over a month. We have a HUGE cage as well!

thumbwitch · 01/01/2009 13:02

chopchop, I used the industrial shredder at work - I would take in a pile of newspapers and shred them after hours into a big black binliner. The pigs never seemed to eat the paper and none ever got sick, they just got black feet.

I think there are potential problems with all types of bedding - even hay can cause the piggies to get seeds in their eyes which can cause blindness unless you get them out again!

chopchopbusybusy · 01/01/2009 14:25

smurfgirl when you say fleece what do you mean? I do need to go to PAH, so will try carefresh.

thumbwitch thanks. I know ours would eat the newspaper because they always nibble it when I put it on the floor for them when they are out of thier cage.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 14:28

I get the feeling we could become a bit piggy obsessed chez NDP. Even DH (an ardent rodent refusnik) thinks they are sweet and has even stroked the braver of the 2.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 14:29

Lots of US owners seem to keep their piggies on fleece. They seem to just be normal fleece blankets cut to size and laid on the bottom of the cage.

whispywhisp · 01/01/2009 15:08

That's a lot of washing tho isn't it using fleece blankets? Guinea pig wee and poo is quite honky!

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 15:27

I think they use those puppy training mats underneath (strikes me as a v expensive way of doing things!) or newspaper, so that the wee goes through and the fleece just sort of wicks it away.

I suppose if you have a few sets of fleece then you can wash a couple of loads at a time to save water/energy.

Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 01/01/2009 15:49

Lovely pictures

I spoke to a friend last night who has kept loads of guinea pigs and she said that she would deffo get two girls.

Sounds as if yours have been a real success at home, NDP

OP posts:
NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 16:16

Oh they have ! Electra they are so sweet natured.

DD has left a DVD on for them so that they don't get bored. I've agreed in the hope that it will get them more used to human voices

whispywhisp · 01/01/2009 16:54

I've got two girls living together - they are fine. I've had boys together in the past and they were fine initially but I've had to split them because they fought. Male hormones I think!

smurfgirl · 01/01/2009 17:09

Its fleece blankets, we also use towels which seem more sucessful tbh, we just fold it over and stick it in one half of the cage. Shake it out and change every day and then wash when we have enough to fill a wash. Its really easy and quick.

Our boys fight less these days actually, they have two places to hide in their cage and two water bottles which helps and they have been together since they were babies.

smurfgirl · 01/01/2009 17:11

NDP we found ours settled well when we sat them on our knees on a piece of fleece or towel when we first had them, they love soft things to sit on! Ours are still quite skittish but we reach in and grab and they are fine once we hold them nice and securely.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:16

Well, the girls have just enjoyed a nice refreshing salad

Carrot, celery, lemon thyme and apple. Went down very well !

DD had Hattie on her lap (on one of DH's golf towels) earlier, she seemed quite content and even had a little nibble of a bit of veg whilst she was there. I think Moondust (the scaredy one) needs a couple more days to settle before we try to handle her. I don't want to rush and scare them for good!

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:16

I took a piccy actually. Will upload and put on my profile.

thumbwitch · 01/01/2009 18:33

chopchop, mine would always chew whole papers as well when they were out and about but they never seemed interested in the shredded bedding.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:34

Hattie is on my profile

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:34

bolleaux. Cocked up uploading the pic. Hang on. I always bloody do this.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:34

bolleaux. Cocked up uploading the pic. Hang on. I always bloody do this.

sphil · 01/01/2009 18:47

We have babies! Furball had four this afternoon - she'd had two just as we were about to leave for the panto and there were another two when we got back. All very sweet - one brown/white, one all black, one light brown with dark flecks (I think - may be other way round) and one a sort of greyish brown with a white stripe. All rough haired as far as I can tell. Will get pictures up in a day or two - but they're already running about. Was a bit worried initially as Furball seemed to be ignoring them, but she was just having a good post-natal scoff and is now back in the nest feeding them.

Am ridiculously excited (perhaps you can tell?

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:47

Seems to have worked now.

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:48

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww !

Congrats to sphil (and furball, of course!)

What are you going to do with the babies ?

sphil · 01/01/2009 18:52

Keep two females and a male (if we get that mix, which we should from two pregnancies). Two to Ds1's best friend. If possible two to DS2's lovely hairdresser. Notices up in staff room at school if we have any more to home - though Whispy's keen I think!

NomDePlume · 01/01/2009 18:53

Do you breed as a matter of course then or were these accidental pregnancies ?

(that's a whole new twist on the 'was it planned' question! )

sphil · 01/01/2009 18:56

Btw Electra - we bought a furry pad sort of thing from our local pet centre which is brilliant for children to hold guinea pigs in. It fits on a child's lap, is made of fleece and has a raised edge. Ours just sit there - it seems to make them feel secure. Although Horris (the least tame) makes the occasional dive for the sofa!

smurfgirl · 01/01/2009 20:14

Congrats to furball! Hattie is gorgeous NDP.

When we got our piglets we saw some brand new babies - gorgeous!!