Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

hello, potential guinea pig owner here.

32 replies

fishandlilacs · 08/05/2013 18:46

I started a thread in chat about getting some guinea pigs. A freind of mine as developed allergies to hers and wants to rehome her 3 yr old piggies. I'm seriously thinking about it.

anyway thought i'd pop in and say hi, any advice will be welcome.

OP posts:
fortifiedwithtea · 08/05/2013 22:46

Welcome to Superfurries. I posted on your other thread. Actually allergies is a good point. Have your DC been in contact with the guineas at your friend's home. It's worth making sure none of your family have allergies before you commit.

Fingers crossed it all works out. Guinea pigs are lovely pets Smile

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 09/05/2013 16:22

good point, I dont think so, were pretty much an allergy free family, no one is particularly sensitive to anything but I will see if we can get out and have a play with them. I'm pretty sure dd isn't because shes handled guinea pigs before but I wont know with ds.

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 09/05/2013 16:32

Hi there fish welcome to the guinea world! Lovely of you to consider rehoming your friends guineas I'm sure we will all be a ble to offer help and advice.....if needed ! I am a bit sensitive to the allergy issue as my son developed allergies to our guineas and they had to move out to the shed and basement so not in contact with him, they are very allergenic animals. Hay is also a factor , if they are indoors hay can get everywhere and cause problems for some humans who are sensitive, do have a few practice runs with them just to check. I do hope all will be well, where will they be living? They are lovely pets, do let us know if you want any help!

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 14/05/2013 22:04

Thank you, they will live in an outdoor hutch and run when its mild and the garage when not I think. I'm going to take my son and daughter over to visit them if i get a chance soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
fishandlilacs · 01/06/2013 14:01

They are here! They seem to have settled really well, they have eaten a load of dandelion, celery, apple and carrot.

we couldn't fit the hutch in the car, we'll be getting it in a few days when a man with a van will be able to help us. So the cage is in the conservatory for the minute-if it gets too hot i'll put it in the kitchen if we have to go out. They are in their outdoor run in the garden for now, and as long as it's dry I see no reason why they cant be out there if we are home and it's reasonable weather, they have shade, water and food out there. Will that be ok?

OP posts:
Original poster
fishandlilacs · 01/06/2013 14:02

..and in the cage at night indoors ofc

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/06/2013 15:56

Grin lovely to have guineas in the household.

Pictures will be essential.
WRT them being out- were they out in their previous home (on grass).
You need to limit their grazing to begin with if they are not used to it otherwise they'll gorge themselves which can give them a bloaty gas filled belly.
And keep an eye on their droppings too. If they have grass don't give them too much veg at night.I give fresh hay, pellets, water and maybe a carrot and a sweetcorn cob to stop them being judgey Hmm
Mine have been going out for a couple of weeks once the lawn was dry enough (they have hidey boxes and fleeces in their run).We started with an hour at a time then built up the grass time.
Shade, water, hiding spaces. And make sure it is completely predator proof, foxes are brazen and evil.

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 01/06/2013 16:29

i'll bring them in at night, but the conservatory gets a bit hot in the day.

OP posts:
FernieB · 01/06/2013 16:36

Welcome to the piggie world fish. They should be okay in their run so long as it's secure and you're home. Mine are only allowed out if I'm home, so I can check on them every 5 minutes and also move their run to a different patch of lawn so they mow it evenly (and then I don't have to!).

WRT the conservatory - my rabbit (free range round the house) stays in there all day no matter how hot it is. He has free access to other much cooler rooms but chooses to stay there (sometimes, you could fry an egg on him!) When my pigs roam around indoors, they also choose to wrap themselves in blankets in the conservatory, even if it's boiling in there. They are contrary animals! Yours should be okay in there most of the time, but I would move them out on warm days - they are probably more sensible than mine.

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 01/06/2013 16:43

thanks all, i'm rather taken with them already. I love thier squeaks. These 2 are a little nervy at mo, they haven't been handled frequently for a while because the original owners developed allergies. I'm hoping some tlc and a few of those honey treat sticks will help them to be calmer. They freak a bit at mo to be moved or handled, but they don't know us yet.

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 01/06/2013 16:57

Verrrrrrrrrrrrrry jealous!! :)

Hope you have lots of fun with them! Would echo everything that has been written, go easy to start with particularly with grass and green stuffs, get them used to certain things and then introduce another veg or fruit once there are no adverse effects!! They will enjoy being outside, but limit this to start with as they need to get used to you and your routine, - they will need a couple of weeks to truly settle and get used to your voices, your smell and for them to work out how to get you wrapped around their paws.

We would love to see photos when you have time!

guineapiglet · 01/06/2013 16:59

PS - handling - suggest you get some cuddle cloths, so they can be swaddled a bit on your lap to start with, offer them grass stalks or parsley whilst you are petting them and then they will associate you with food and cuddles....... birbery, it works every time.

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 01/06/2013 20:22

photo should be up on profile now

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/06/2013 22:29

food and cuddles Grin

I've been away so DH has been looking after the boars (very well IMO but they are very judgey).He couldn't let them graze because only DD can get into the run to catch them.All those ££ on gymnastics classes not wasted.

Bribed them with watermelon today (and 2 days worth of grazing)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/06/2013 22:30

Oh and the pigs are gorgeous BTW- are they both cream/white- red eyes?

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 02/06/2013 09:27

yes, they are-one has a mohican though :)

One further question, can you put the bedding and droppings in the compost or wormery when you have cleaned the cage?

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 02/06/2013 09:55

Oh they are really sweet are they brothers? They llok happy and healthy. Hope u have lots of fun with them. I used to put the top layers of poop and old veg into our compost as it does make good manure/compost. Not sure about wormery......!

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 02/06/2013 13:32

yeah, they were litter mates

OP posts:
MadeOfStarDust · 02/06/2013 20:28

lol 70is.... - we have "bucket trained" ours - we put a bucket on its side in the run and they go straight in to be ferried to the hutch.. but I suppose it would be fun to borrow a gymnast..... Grin

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 03/06/2013 16:05

so cheapest place to buy sawdust and hay please?

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 03/06/2013 16:09

Never used sawdust, found it expensive and unecessary, plus some guineas v allergic to it. Got all our hay from a friendly farmer, who delivered straight to my front door, HUGE great bale which lasted a couple of months and cost a fiver. Try local farms/farm shops etc for a regular supplier.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/06/2013 18:19

Alot of GP people use Megazorb (it's an equine bedding, fine in texture like sawdust but it's not got the irritant potential, though I'm sure some GPs are sniffly with it)

I use newspaper and hay for my boys (with cardboard, furry safe litter and rubber mats underneath. The newspaper and hay gets changed every 2 days) I tried Megazorb when I got the hogs, it lasted ages but it wasn't a repeat buy.

Be wary of shavings too. You'll see lots of petshops putting their mammals on shavings but they can dry fur/feet and irritate the breathing.
Bear in mind their little noses are right in the bedding.

Original poster
fishandlilacs · 03/06/2013 19:45

well they aren't new piggies so I was just following what the previous owner did, layer of newspaper, shavings and hay.

OP posts:
Original poster
fishandlilacs · 03/06/2013 19:46

so I meant to say they aren't allergic.

OP posts:
Original poster
fishandlilacs · 04/06/2013 08:20

argh so much conflicting info out there.

RE toys, I have read they dont play with toys, I have also read that they need as many toys as varied as possible rotating them round a couple at a time.

Food, some say cabbage a lettuce ok, others dont.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread