Guinea pig 101 please

[MrsFogi]

We are looking after the nursery guinea pig this weekend. Can anyone tell me everything I need to know to make sure we look after it properly and it has a happy weekend (and it doesn't die whilst I'm responsible for it )?

plenty of hay.

Mine love kurly kale, baby sweetcorn, cucumber and carrot.

I'm presuming guinea will have dried food with him/her.
So you just need - hay, loads as shehowines said. They eat practically all the time.I clean our boars outdoor house every 3 days completely, pick up wet bedding daily.Inside mine have cat-litter and newspaper with a little fleece in a box each, and nice hay. You'll probably get away without cleaning the cage over the weekend, depends how messy your GP is.
Water bottle /bowl, make sure it's topped up with room temp water (I leave mine in the kitchen overnight rather than straight out of the tap)

There's a GP veg list on here to give you ideas but just avoid iceberg lettuce, potato, onion, not too much apple, grapes-only one or two.

The little monsters can escape, so if you let him 'free-range' make sure he can't make a break for it or chew anything.And they will chew- books,papers.clothes,electric cables, they don't discriminate!

Lots of cuddles, and if they do a little dancey-dancey- stamp routine, they want a pee. They'll just pooh with abandon.
Pick them up so they feel secure, hand under the stomach and under their rump., then hold on your shoulder or on the crook of your arm.
One of my guineas jumped out of my arm to get into his outdoor cage, so hold tight when you put them back.You wouldn't think they are capable of acrobatics but they can surprise you!
Enjoy him, you'll love him. You might even want one yourself

Cor that was an essay.

Of course when I say you'll want one they are best as a pair.

Thanks for all the replies. A couple of stupid questions (don't flame me for being clueless ) - do I keep the gp inside all the time in its cage or would it prefer to be outside (we don't have a great garden and I'd be a bit worried about foxes)? Also, how long would it be okay on its own for (I ask as I need to go and see my father who is ill on Sunday so I'm trying to work out if I go on my own and leave dh and dds in the house to keep the gp company or if it will be happy enough on its own for a day)?

If GP is an indoor GP then it would probably be too cold to let him out. He'd need a secure run anyway (don't trust them!)You could let him run in a secure room, providing there's nothing to chew.
My GPs are out in their shed during the day ( I think even in the winter they were out every day with heaters and hotwater bottles, but in at night)

If you can pick him some clean fresh grass-make sure there's no weedkiller or dog poo- he'll love you.

We give ours 30 minute cuddles (any longer and they pee) at a time. Ours are alone during the day, so yes, they are fine to leave, as long as they have plenty to eat.

I've just bought a huge run for mine, they are hoping to go out this week to scoff spring grass!