Rabbits of guinea pigs?

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

DH wants 2 rabbits, I want guinea pigs.

Having talked to someone on holiday he has gone off rabbits (they said they can bite and are no good for kids) but still doesn't want a guinea pig. Says they look like big hamsters.

I really want a new pet but are stuck.

We will be away for 2 nights, can they be left? |If not, we won't get them until after we get back.

[silver73]

Another vote for guinea pigs - we have three adorable indoor piggies. They are absolutely fab and part of the family and seem to take all the children's noise in their stride.

Do a search but it is recommended that you don't put rabbits and guinea pigs in together. I think rabbits can accidently kill piggies.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Oops

I meant Rabbits or guinea pigs. That is what happens when you are doing 5 things at once.

I am off to see some today, hopefully.

[TheIroningLady]

We got 2 baby guinea pigs yesterday and I think there is nothing cuter in the whole world. They are the tiniest, sweetest little things.

They were absolutely terrified yesterday but we got them out today and after a while they were so relaxed one was going to sleep on my 5 year old DD's lap, and they were squeaking quietly and eating out of our hands.

I think I am in love.

[MANATEEequineOHARA]

Guineas for sure!!! I have had both and the rabbits are not great for kids to hold cos their kicks are very strong, guineas however are perfect pets

[Chatkins]

Another vote for guinea pigs, only because they are easier. Had lots of bunnies growing up, (they kept breeding . They ended up taking over the whole garden, we had so many runs and hutches ! Some had the whole garden to run free in, then we had two fenced off pens, for each sex. It was bloody hard work, but they are lovely clever animals.
At the moment my kids have 3 guniea pigs, (we adopted 2 new ones last week !) and one little dwarf rabbit. He lives with one piggy, as he is not much bigger than her, and also has no teeth ! (long expensive story, and another reason against rabbits!)
Piggies are naturally shy, but easy to handle and catch, will sit nicely on kids laps for stroking !

[danthe4th]

We've got 2 of the cutest bunnies they're a year old lionheads crossed with old english we got them from Adam Henson's(country file) farm park in the cotswolds, They had been handled by children before we got them and they are the softest, cuddliest bunnies ever. My ds's love them, they're toilet trained, but we did have to get them a big run as they dug huge holes in the garden. Can't you get both as bunnies can live with gp's can't they?

[southeastastra]

title is trippy

Rabbits of guinea pigs

[Missy8c]

FabBakerGirlIsBack,

Here are a few other Kent based rescues in case you don't get any joy from the one you mentioned. Do let us know how you get on.

www.gbhrescue.co.uk/

www.freewebs.com/daisiessanctuary/

www.aprill odge.co.uk/index.htm

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Missy8c - I checked out your link but they have no animals and it wasn't the place I had in mind. I think I will just to see them as they are not that far away.

Thanks.

[themachinist]

I have 2 of each. All lovely.

My rabbits are much tamer and cuddlier than the pigs (but need more input; probably as they are brighter) and have had them all since babies (rescues).

Would have a rescue centre myself if i had the space and time. PLease dont buy from a pet shop.

Lovely animals.

[Missy8c]

Lunsford Park is Kent yeah? I think you might mean the RSPCA centre then which is near Chatham!? Check out this link:

www.rescuedb.com/Rescues/View-Rescue.php?r_id=33&ct_id=20

They have some cute rinny rigs (our pet name for them...sad but true)

Awwww....I want some now too

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Missy8c I would love some help as I know there is a rescue centre near by, I have driven past it but I can't remember the proper name. It is near Lunsford Park.

[Missy8c]

Both are cool but whichever you choose, please get from a rescue centre not a pet shop. There are so many little critters out there needing loving homes and too many pet shops making money out of keeping animals in cramped and unnatural surroundings and often dispensing with them if they aren't profitable. If you need help finding a local rescue let me know. There...I'm off my soap box now!

[Tinfoil]

Yes, guinea pigs

[Merle]

We've had rabbits as pets and I don't think it was that sucessful. I think that they need lots of space to run around, so we always had them loose in the garden - this resulted in a few mishaps/escapes which meant that they did not last long.... I've come to the conclusion that keeping rabbits in cages is cruel so I wouldn't get one again, even though they are so beautiful.

Guinea pigs are much more suited to domestic life. They only waddle around and so don't seem to be deprived by being kept in a cage and run. We have 3 now and I no longer feel guilty/

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I think I have run out of time to get the piggies today.

Friday.....

[GodzillasBumcheek]

Guinea pigs seem tamer, but our rabbit is almost dog-like in it's friendliness and playfulness! I'd have a hard time choosing too.

[BigGobMum]

Sausage we have only had girl pigs but apparently two boys wont fight if they are from the same litter.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I never thought of the RSPCA. There is a local centre but I don't know if they do piggies, will call them.

[BigGobMum]

Our vets are brilliant with piggies. One of ours had a hysterectomy and she went on to live another 2 years. (I think we would have lost her otherwise).

[SausageRocket]

2 boys in together will fight once they reach sexual maturity. 2 females will get on well and keep each other company (they get lonely and bored if kept singly unless you have lots of time to give them).

If you do get a male and femal then you can get them neutered. It is expensive though. My local vet wanted £65 to 'do' a male pig (boar) ! Apparently the price is so high because they are a huge anaesthetic risk (like any small animal) and so the odds of them not making it through the op are fairly high. Hence the vet prices high to try to put people off having it done.

[stealthsquiggle]

Rabbits are lousy pets for children IMHO - they kick and bite. Guinea pigs or something smaller (I used to have Russian Hamsters) would be much better.

[Meglet]

If, or it sounds like when you get some piggies then the Peter Gurney g-pig books are fab and Cambridge Cavy Trust is the place to go for medical care, but I think they also train other vets around the country. Some vets a very dismissive of treating g-pigs and think they are disposable. Our local vets have a small animal care certificate thingy and they put 100% into looking after mine when they are poorly.

See if your local RSPCA have some piggies. They will be able to tell you the sex (unlike a lot of pet shops) and possibly have neutuered males so you can have a boy / girl pair.

[BigGobMum]

Piggies - without a doubt!

[SausageRocket]

Pigs

Rabbits are not great pets for kids, they kick and bite and scrabble away. Guineas are much more placid and sweet natured. Get 2 females