Another Guinea pig thread, URGENT

[Sookeh]

A friend of mine on a whim bought 2 boy guinea pigs who she has now decided she no longer wants. They have not been together long as she has only had them a couple of weeks and has said that she'd be fine seperating them. If they don't get picked up today she will take them to a rescue.

I would quite like to adopt them but am generally clueless. Should I split them up? The cage was bought at pets at home and looks only big enough for 1 but friend said all pets at home guinea cages are suitable for 2 as they usually are bought as a pair?

DP has said he'd prefer to only get 1 to keep costs down, is it really that much more to have a pair?

They are both males, could this cause problems?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as DD and I have sort of fallen in love and need to know what to do ASAP!

Aww!

DP probably won't ever really come round. He's a kill joy about most things. They are so sweet though

The cage is much too small but they're quite tiny right now, we shall have to upgrade very soon though!

I've put them in the hall way but left them to it. They can hear everything but they'll be alone to settle. Tonight I'll give them a quick cuddle before bed.

DD burst into big sobs, I asked her what was wrong and she said "I just love the piggies so much!!"

When your DD cuddles them wrap the GPs up in a towel -it makes them easier to keep hold of and helps with the inevitable wee-ing.
They have very sharp claws as babies too and they can jump out of your arms, from you stnding full height (not the sharpest tools in the shed is how my DD describes our hogs ).
They'll probably spent their first few days trying to dive into your sleeve -cute when a tiny GP does it but less so with an adult hog (Yes you GP1)

Be prepared for lots of noise, standing on each other, pushing each other out of the way (GP1 inserts his head under his brothers belly and flips his head up. That's GP for "Kindly excuse me".
Popcorning, rumblestrutting, sudden mad dashes across the cage if you cough.
Their natural greed inquisitive nature will win.

And they will give you a warning (we call it Dancy Dancy Stamp Stamp) which you'll recognise as "I want a pee".
Took us a few times to read their signs, now they very rarely piddle on us.

Pooh with abandon though.
(Do you know they eat their pooh? They do the firm long dropping that you'll see in the cage.And a soft pooh that they eat straight from their behind so you'll hardley ever see that. Usually when they are resting, they do it to digest their food properly)

But I'm a vegetarian and I don't do that

Ned is chewing at the fleece I've put down for them. Should I be worried about this?

Also, Tyrion hasn't come out of the hidey house all day, whereas Ned is running around like he's been here forever.

they have very different characters. I have one who is very adventurous and also very quick at understanding what I want (which is not to say that she complies). If you pick her up, she stands stock still and goes completely limp. On your lap she twitters away non-stop. She was a panicky, panicky little thing when she was new. THe other is more sweet in character and lazy. She only moves if it is towards food and then she moves like a flash. Pick her up and she wriggles and kicks like mad. She settles more easily on my lap and is more comfortable to be with. THey have had a fair few fights too but the quieter one is the boss and not the adventurous one.

they will have a go at nibbling most things. I have caught them sneakily having a go at my scholls (the leather bit). If he persists, you might have to switch to something else. I have never used fleece, just hay on paper but I think what you are noticing is not uncommon behaviour.

Aww that's so sweet. Agree to keep an eye on the fleece.

Have they got hay?

My dh is a grumpy old sod too, but still loves the buns!

dh was dead set against getting the gps but now he comes in from work and goes more or less straight out to see them. He suspects me of not feeding them enough and when he does a weekly food shop on Saturdays , he always comes back with a treat for them. They grow on you

Have they got plenty of hay? .Cardboard of clean ,undyed paper is safer .
If he still continues then take it out of the bed, it's warm enough that they don't need the fleece.

Non natural fibres might get bunged up in his insides. (Make sure there's no plastic on his food-like the cellophane cover on cucumber) or staples or sticky tape.It can cause a fatal blockage in the intestines.
Mine don't chew things luckily. They save all their efforts for food.

Bribe Ned with carrot or a little bit of apple.Tyrion will find his feet,in time.
Early days still.

Yay! We rescued some of our guineas from here on a complete whim a year and a bit ago and I have to say its one of the best things I've ever done. Guineas are fan bloody tactic pets. I've had rabbits,meats, gerbils etc before and guineas kick their arse!

Fwiw I wouldn't worry to much about the cage at the moment. As long as its not tiny they will cope. My 3 guineas cage isn't huge (2x3) ish but when they are in there all they do is sleep and eat. They save their energy for free ranging and spend their days in the garden. The majority of people do not have space for an enormous cage and I genuinely don't thing guineas need it. They need lots of out of cage time and cuddles everyday and you absolutely will need a big run for the garden but they don't need a mansion inside less they are getting no time out of it. It's quite easy to tell if a guinea isn't happy ime. I think of it like a stable for a horse.

You will fall in love with the little beasties. They are fabulous!

Rats.. Not bloody meats

Rats= Meats.
Freudian Slip.

Ned is chewing everything but if he's still chewing at it tomorrow I'll remove it as it seems like it would be quite easy to tear even though it's thick.

I've given them a little Apple and Banana and I've looked and most of it's been nibbled.

DP thinks they're cute but said "remember they're your responsibility" like I'm a ten year old who got bought a puppy, miserable arse

I think I'll wait til tomorrow to give Tyrion a cuddle as he's a lot more skittish and quick as lightning.

Ned seems much more laid back.
They've got a bunch of Timothy hay and they love it.

Would newspaper be alright instead of the fleece? I'd like them to have something cosy for their bedroom though...

My DH was the same and he's utterly smitten now and I often find him watching the tv with a guinea on his lap. He denies he likes them of course

Of and 70, I do a mean carrot, broccoli and dandelion salad. You are welcome any time

Newspaper under and a bed of hay on top would be piggy heaven. They will burrow into it, it will keep them healthy, and they wil be happy as larry.

Apple and banana are great in small quantities.

Just had my first cuddle with both of them. They are almost too docile! Ned seems to like burrowing into my neck and making little snuffly sounds whereas Tyrion just sits on my lap looking up at me menacingly

They're so cute!

It doesn't look like they've drunk anything all night

I didn't notice them drinking yesterday either. Their water bottle is easy to get to.

I've put a water bowl in right by their hidey house as well but they're not interested.

Getting a little bit worried.

Check their bedding- are there any wet areas?

My adult boars never drink water (they like gin ) -Well I've seen GP2 at the bowl once.
But they always have fresh water daily.
They definately get enough fluid, their wee spots are testiment to that. (BTW GP wee isn't clear, it's milky/cloudy. Absoloutley normal)

24 hours ago you were posting about "Should I take these pigs"?

Now you're a Guinea-Pig Mum

and worrying like a new mum too!

There are a few milky wee spots but not many. I'm just worried they're willingly dying of thirst

Fleece is fine as long as you change it regularly and they don't eat it. My piggie. Got burnt feet from the urine on her fleece, though she does wee a lot. Just keep an eye on it. Newspaper is much easier IMO.

Your piggies sound lovely btw!

They are so lovely! proud parent

I've just changed their bedding to newspaper and hay instead. The hay smell is really strong though so not sure DP will let them stay in the hallway

Still haven't seen then drink but I've taken out their hidey house for a bit and they've found their pellets finally!

My hogs winter cage is in the dining room area of the kitchen/diner.
I hate the smell of hay as well (and it gets everywhere )

I did try fleece and hay cookies (little solid hay biscuits that are sold as Boredom Busters) but eventually settled on Catsan, newspaper and a load of hay for winter indoors.

I had to seperate the boys indoors after a fight (they'd had loads of coriander and it's like "Guinea-Pig Crack Cocaine"- just a one-off thankfully).
Their 4x2 cage has a thick grid barrier to make it two 2x2 cages. If they have all the hay to burrow in it keeps them happy (it's only for sleeping in really).
Outside they are fine because they can choose to walk away from each other (or have a squabble -why not? Passes the time!)

They'll start to come out of their shells soon.
BTW, the little snuffly hog sound is adorable isn't it? GP2 does it when he smells something interesting. Like a little grunty pig noise!
Must be the GP equivilant of Om Nom Nom Nom

We have a whole area of the garden given over the growing parsley and coriander for the guineas

I have read that guineas don't drink much but mine drink loads so it must be variable. They don't drink if they have had cucumber as it' mostly water but drink more if they have had dandelions as it is a diuretic. I wouldn't worry about the water, as long as it's there if they want it they will self regulate.

I reckon different GP are affected differently Methe.
I'm not 100% sure that the coriander was completely to blame, but it was such an out of character act for GP2, so I won't risk it again.
Parsley- now you're talking. GP1 would raffle his own granny for parsley.
We have to limit his intake .Judgey pants were hoisted and the bag was nearly packed.