Anybody know where I can get guinea pigs in Brighton/Hove?

[clovissa]

We'd like a guinea pig but having no car, finding a breeder we can easily get to is difficult.

Also, is it better to get 2 guinea pigs to live together?

Is there anything else I should know about owning guinea pigs?

Two piggies better than one, they are very social animals. Have you got space for them to run about, rather than just keeping them in a hutch?
There are several rescue centres around your area.

OK, we were thinking of 2, don't want to think of lonely GPs .

We have a sort of 3 tier paved garden, they would definitely be able to run about. No grass though.

So long as they get fresh veg every day, they'll be fine and running on a hard surface will keep their claws short. They are prone to overheating and sunstroke, so make sure they get cover too. Got to go, good luck.
Piggies are the perfect pet.

You will love guinea-pigs, they are amazing little animals.

I got mine from a rabbit rescue- I phoned in the hope that they might have had some GPs handed in. My DD wanted a boy (so we were looking for 2 boys as neutered boars are harder to find than neutered rabbits).They had 2 'must go as a pair' brothers and the rest,as they say, is history!

Think about online delivery for things like hay.It can be cheaper if you buy bulk. ( I buy from The Range, huge bags of hay.Mine get through a bag a week.They have a deep filled outdoor box in their shed and hay in their indoor cage for night, even though I hate the smell of hay)

There's loads of threads on S.F.A. to plough through for advice. About what they eat,what's toxic, indoor/outdoor guineas.

They might appreciate some cardboard on the paving to insulate them and to chew.They love boxes to hide in.It's their instinct to hide under or in things (they don't burrow like rabbits and they don't climb like little rodents). Ours have a wide,carpet covered ramp to get on top of their hay box, but most of the time they are under the ramp or playing "Haunted Hay".(They scuttle about under cover, you can just follow the movement of the hay, but can't see the GP)

Definately 2 (or more) they need company, especially if they are not in the house .They might squabble a bit but it usually sorts itself out.

And one of the loveliest sights to me is our GP1 in full popcorn flight. (GP2 purrs like a tiger and passes the most toxic gas) Love them really!

Yes, I'm actually quietly excited, although they are for DN who has come to live with us. He has had one before and loves them. We've looked at lots of stuff online and will be investing in lots of entertainment systems for them. BUT although I would rather rehome, DN is desperate for them to be little new ones, not older ones. I really prefer to buy from a breeder as I distrust pet shops, but I don't know if anyone has more advice on that front.

What is popcorning?

We got ours at the RSPCA in Patcham, but there is a rescue centre in Brighton
brighton guinea pig rescue They have baby piggies from mid April

actually this is the centre I was thinking of lumpy lodge

ooh have just spoken to the first one you linked and we'll be off there on the bus next week to pick two!

DN may even crack a smile when he gets home from school

Rescues may well have pg sows 'donated' when the owners find out they are pg.
(I had 2 females when I was 9 yo but one was a boy- so we got babies.Years later I bought a female- who was pg. My 2 boars were the result of a wrongly sexed GP .The owners ended up with an unexpected litter)

So if you really want babies, you could find out if they have any in the offing?

Popcorning is when they jump around, twist 180 degress in mid air, throw their legs out and make all happy noises. It's lovely to watch. Our GP1 is a big agouti boar and he is transformed into a wild mustang when he does it.He's like a rodeo horse

I'm SO excited!

The lady I spoke to was lovely and has tonnes of baby GPs including the rosette ones that DN has his heart set on.

Just make sure they double double check the sexes.
Or you might end up with a surprise!

The Brighton GP rescue prices their GPs at £18.50. That is a really good price.
Our local petshop sells for £22 each. Pets@Home are £25 or £35 for 2.

You really need 2+.

Be careful about what sex they are. We got two "girls" from a rescue centre. One was pregnant when we got it, the other turned out to be a boy. We didn't realise until the original female and her first baby were both pregnant. Ended up with 7. They were lovely pets though.

I recently rehomed three rabbits. I thought they were a fairly easy pet, but then I joined a rabbit forum, and I have learned sooo much!

I'd def look at rehoming if you can. I found my bunnies via the sister site to this one here , you might be able to find some babies and this is the best place to get all the info you need.

Jsut read some more, and realised you found your babies!

Do come and look at the rabbit forum tho, there are lots of piggie owners on there too.

I'm definitely going to be a superfurry regular

Trying to do a very dry translation but watching gps popcorning clips instead

Type "Guinea-Pig Noises" into You Tube.
There are some really good (and some really rubbish TBH) videos explaining the different sounds and what they mean.
We watched one this week with the DCs cuddling the boars. There responses were really funny.
Our GP1 doesn't purr as a rule, but he responded to some of the noises with a purr .

If you can 'read' their sounds it helps to get to know them too.
(You'll quickly understand the "wheek wheek" sound when the fridge opens or someone rustles a bag)

I love the wheeking! They sound so excited. I'm not really a piggie person, I prefer rabbits, but I do love the noises they make. With buns it is all body language.