Talk to me about Guinea Pigs

[gemma4d]

I was determined not to get small pets until my youngest was old enough to be responsible, but someone at my work is 'getting rid' of one guinea pig and I am tempted!

Although its a spur of a moment decision, I would be providing a responsible home for life with vet care, regular cleaning out and everything the piggy requires.

Its a singleton guinea pig. I've owned two together when I was a child. I thought they were meant to be in 2s +? Would I introduce another as a companion?

I don't currently have any grass (small patio garden!). I was thinking that I could plant my flowerbed up with grass. It would be an area about the size of an average guinea-pig run but I wouldn't be able to move the run around to another patch of grass when that one got scrubby/dirty. Would this be sufficient for piggy to be happy? The internet tells me guinea pigs can live inside (hence no need for grass) but that doesn't sound like a very fun life to me?

I'm off to keep googling guinea-care. TIA!

Why are they offering you one GP? Have they just got one or is it not getting on with it's cagemates (for a variety of reasons, doesn't mean it's an evil so-and-so, it might be a boy and they're keepin the girls.Or vice versa)

You could get a same sex mate, a baby boar for an adult boar. An adult or baby sow (rescues will have lots of single adult sows that you can match up with)

GPs are fine on patio if they've got a soft mat to rest on (I use rubber car mats topped with a washable bathmat in the Pighouse)
You will need to make sure it's anchored down well to prevent the pig population getting out and any foxes or cats getting in. You don't need a wire base, they don't dig like rabbits,and they shouldn't have wire underfoot (increases risk of bumblefoot).

You could grow grass in the flowerbed area and cut it for them. And let them rotate the grass/patio to allow recovery of grass.

Theycan be indoor/outdoor/both.There's no ideal.
My boars are out in their Pighouse day/night from Easter this year.I got them in October and they came in at night from late Nov, but out during the day in the Pighouse. They need their space and as long as they are warm enough and have private space and sufficient food, they were happy.

It would be lovely if you could give piggie a new lease of life. But ask the owners if there have been any health issues (mites, teeth, respiratory,lumps/bumps) that you need to be aware before you take on a potentially expensive new pet.

I have some indoor piggies. :) I certainly get alot more out of them being inside (living room) than I personally would have done if they were kept outside
Only had them a few weeks but we are getting on well.
They have a big cage which they sleep in and a mahoosive run made out of 3 of these , which they spend all day in. It doesn't need to be that big really, but we have space that we don't use so the pigs managed to weedle some extra space

You will need to get him/her a friend. I bought my boar as a lone pig, I could tell he wasn't completely happy, so I took him to a local breeder and she matched him up to Little Pig and its amazing the difference in him since, hes a different pig!

I pick grass for them every few days. I have a pony so the field I get it from is meant for hay so I know there has been non dogs/cats etc. they also get dandelions from my dm's weed infested lovely garden.

Do you know why they want 'rid'? Is there any health problems?

They are great little animals, I can't believe i have only just discovered them :)

Good advice about getting a companion. Solo pigs are rarely happy pigs unless they have some kind of serious problem that means they have to be kept alone. A piggie rescue can advise on how to match.

I've always had indoor pigs and had the same experience as Bonkey - can't avoid lots of interaction and much easier to spot if something's wrong. Mind you, the lads had a pretty good time out back yesterday. So, it's good to get even indoor swine out for a graze if you can.

My old boar became a house pig after his brother died. After about 8 months of being an only pig he was becoming alittle sad.

I got 2 baby sows and oh happy day . He smelt them before he could see them and came running! They live in a hutch in the garden and he sees them everyday separated by the run or hutch. Old boar free ranges the garden as well.

Just knowing he is not the only pig in the world has given him a new lease of life. Pigs defo need other pigs to talk to.