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Small pets

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Original poster

Guinea Pig

27 replies

ProtegeMoi · 23/08/2013 11:27

Right I'm getting a guinea pig, just reserved one at the local rescue.

I've got a cage and am going out to get some supplies today ready to collect him tomorrow.

Any must haves that I might not think of?
Tips to keep him happy?

I don't have a lawn so was going to get a paddling pool so he can free range indoors, will that be suitable?

He's a year old, nameless yet and so cute!

OP posts:

guineapiglet · 23/08/2013 12:58

Good luck it sounds like ur prepared. Lots offolk on here have indoor guineas so will be able to help you settle him in. He will need time to get used to you snd will be nervous at first. Hay and fresh grass will help!

If you have space do try and get him a friend. Guineas are such sociable animals and are much happier in pairs or a larger group. You will get lots of advice and help re boar matching and dating from experienced boar owners!

guineapiglet · 23/08/2013 13:02

Ps water bottle and bowl
excel guinea pellets
lots of hay
igloos to hide in
fresh fruit and veg

are your main needs to get going

thwinka · 23/08/2013 14:34

So that you have a gorgeous little Boar arriving!! guineapiglet has outlined the main things you need. As a treat I also find my Boars love something called 'Redigrass'? It is dried grass basically and they can't get enough of it!!
In terms of making sure he's happy, aside from fresh food/hay/water and lots of love from your self, I would definitely try and get him a friend. Piggies love to have a friend to squeak to/chase around etc. If mine are apart for just a few hours then they mope and just lie in their cage looking so dejected. They really know how to get the sympathy vote

If you do decide to get him a friend(please, please consider this ) then there are a lot of misconceptions around that Boars can't live together if they haven't grown up together/will fight etc. Even some rescues that I know still believe this but it really isn't true so don't let it put you off if you are told this!! Decent, knowledgable piggy rescues will allow you to take your piggy 'Boar dating'!! They will introduce him to various other Boars to see how they get on/allow them to bond with each other. It's quite comical to see

Good luck!!!

FernieB · 23/08/2013 15:01

Definitely get him a friend if you can. The rescue should be able to help you find somepig he likes.

Then, empty your fridge and refill at least three shelves with fresh veggies (4 shelves if you plan on eating any yourself) . When I shop now, my trolley is full of veg and half of it is for the pigs! They can pack a lot away. I always thought salad was a healthy option until I got pigs and saw how much of it they eat and how portly they are .

Sounds like you have everything sorted. If you have a couple of old towels, they are handy for pig to sit on for cuddles (so he doesn't wee on you). And claw clippers for pig pedicures. Did you fall in love with a black clawed pig like most of us fools on here? Their claws are hardest to clip but we loves them anyways

Floralnomad · 23/08/2013 15:03

Parsley ,parsley and more parsley !

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 23/08/2013 15:06

Thanks for all that, great advice!

Unfortunately he is going to be a lone piggy. The rescue I'm getting him from run a speed dating service to pair up piggies but they have had this guy for 8 months and haven't managed to find a single piggie he will take to. He has been neutered but still no luck, the rescue lady thinks to due to him once living with a rabbit ( poor guy has a missing toe and a chunk of his ear missing from being beaten up).

Have already stocked up on fruit and veg and got a couple of herbs growing as well, luckily I have a big fridge.

How often do you trim their nails? I know they have just been done and they are definately pinkish so should be ok to do it. Only noticed the colour as I looked at his missing toe but my dog has black nails so I know what a nightmare it is.

OP posts:

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 23/08/2013 15:10

In terms of cage location, will an indoor porch be too cold?
It's not drafty or damp but isn't heated so is colder than the rest of the house.

No room in the living room or kitchen for the cage so it leaves me with putting him upstairs or in the porch. I figure that as the porch is off the living room and we often have the door open he will be more part of the family and hear household noises etc. more than he will upstairs.

Didnt realise how big this cage was until I got it home and can't fit it anywhere!

OP posts:

FernieB · 23/08/2013 19:49

Should be okay. How cold is it in there on winter nights? You will probably have to provide some insulation for him. My indoor boys are in the utility which is not the warmest. Their cage is on an off cut of carpet to raise it off the cold floor and on colder evenings they will have a blanket over the top to keep the heat in. They will get extra hay stuffed in their houses in the winter as well.

Good idea to have him where he can hear you all. Maybe he's just a loner. My previous bun resisted all attempts to meet other rabbits - she preferred dogs. Current Bun is an only bun as well as he fought with other rabbits. He is, however, very gentle with the pigs when they free range together. Some animals just like their own company.

Get him a pet parsley plant and he'll be very happy

FernieB · 23/08/2013 20:01

Claws just need clipping when they look quite long. I do my boys every 3-4 weeks - the little and often approach. They don't always really need it though. GPs (esp' boys) can get a bit stinky, so mine are bathed from time to time but this is not essential - just if you feel like having stinky pig water slopped all over your kitchen floor

Enjoy your pig - they're lovely little things.

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 23/08/2013 21:09

It's not that cold, colder than the rest of the house but not freezing. Certainly a lot warmer than outdoors where he lives at the rescue.

The cage will be on a unit so raised off the floor which are ceramic tiles so do get cold and I will put a blanket over the cage at night and take care to provide extra warmth in winter.

I figure its a better option than having him upstairs.

I will have to get him a little teddy so he has someone to cuddle up with. Can't wait to bring him home, I'm all set up ready for him and have just spent the last few hours making a couple of toys, snuggle sacks etc. so he has lots to keep him busy.

I expect he will hide away at first, do I just let him do this and wait until he comes out of his own accord or should I go in to get him for his free range time etc?

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FernieB · 23/08/2013 21:24

For the first few days leave him be. Just let him hear you and see you delivering his food. Try offering him some veggies to take from your hand and then progress to picking him up. Take it slowly at his pace. He'll soon get used to you.

FernieB · 23/08/2013 21:25

I give mine the inside tube from kitchen roll and boxes to chew on. They love to chew.

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 23/08/2013 22:01

Will do thanks.

Will update tomorrow when he's home :)

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Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 24/08/2013 13:04

Well piggie is home and he's so cute!

I've kept his cage really simple for now while he settles in.

Popped him and and he hid straight away, he's got some salad and parsley in the cage so hopefully he will pop out for a snack soon.

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guineapiglet · 24/08/2013 15:09

Really pleased you have got him and he is settling in - would echo everything Fernie says, give him lots of time and space, he needs to get to know his new environment and feel confident to come out. In a short space of time he will come to associate you with food and kindness.

Definitely get some cuddle cloths, so he can come and be part of the family watching TV with you or listening to the radio - some quiet cuddle time will give him chance to get to know you as well. Beware of letting him near the dog though to start with, it might frighten him too much, these little souls easily get scared, so build up your time with him and don't expect too much to start with. As long as he is eating, can hide away, and wee and poo in peace, he will be content. It might be you are able to find him a friend once he is settled, as it is sad to think of him as a lonely boy, if you give him plenty of attention he will start to become part of the family.

One of my friends had a very jolly singleton boar who had his own mat by the fire, and basically thought he was the family dog. He would run squeaking to the door when the bell went. The postman loved him!!

Good luck, hope all goes well.

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 24/08/2013 17:20

That sounds amazing.
I'd love to get him a friend but the rescue said they had tried everything with no luck. He was living with his brother but they fell out.

He's not come out of his hidey hole yet, bit worried that he also hasn't eaten or drank a thing either. Have just ccovered his cage over in the hope that he feels brave enough to eat then.

Oh and don't worry, dog and cat are well away from him!
Not that they would bother with him at all seeing as they showed no interest in the gerbils and hamsters we have had over the years but don't want to terrify him even more.

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guineapiglet · 24/08/2013 17:38

He probably wont make an appearance whilst you are watching for some time - he may sneak out in the night, he is unlikely not to eat - but they do get terribly anxious and jittery, so it will take time for him to get used to his new home.

Guineas are very temperature sensitive, so try to keep an 'even' temperature, where he is sounds ideal, but keep him away from draughts as their bodies are not good at dealing with constant temperature changes - you can add bedding and insulation when it gets colder.

Guineas also have an amazing sense of smellespecially when it comes to cucumber so the smell of your other pets might be another factor he is reluctant to come out at first - the thought of two predators in the house might be a bit scary. Try and keep 'his area' neutral smelling and you are right to keep the dog and cat as far away as possible, he will find them petrifying if he is not used to their smells. I sound a bit paranoid, but one of my girls, literally, died of fright...

I am sure he will be fine, time, space and parsley should help!

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 24/08/2013 22:10

How awful, don't worry I'm well aware of how scary the other animals will smell and keeping them well away.

They never go in the porch as we use the back door to take the dog out and that's where the cat flap is, the porch has just been storage until now really.

Slightly worried now you've said about consistent temperature, the porch does get colder at night. Not really cold but certainly colder than the daytime as like I said its the only room not heated. Will it be ok or will the drop in temperature be an issue?

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FernieB · 25/08/2013 00:58

The night time drop in temperature should be fine. Make sure he has lots of hay in his house to snuggle in. I'm sure he'll be running to greet you soon - they soon learn that people = food

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 26/08/2013 17:44

That's good to hear.

He is coming out to eat now so that's good, only when no one is around, if he sees anyone he darts back into his hidey.

I haven't noticed him drinking water but he has had cucumber and grapes so maybe hasn't needed it.

He goes through shocking amounts of hay already.
I fill his hay rack 3 times a day at the minute!

Looking forward to having a cuddle with him, at the moment working on getting him to come out for his food and then see if he will take some off me.

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Sawdust · 26/08/2013 19:20

My piggies always drink much less when they've had something like cucumber - don't worry!

FernieB · 26/08/2013 20:35

Mine don't drink much either. Hope your new boy is settling in

Methe · 26/08/2013 20:38

If he's been neutered gone can have a wife surely?

New pigs are always exciting

Original poster

ProtegeMoi · 27/08/2013 13:19

I assume she tried that, as why else neuter him.
Well have to give her a ring and ask her.

OP posts:

AilidhHarvey · 06/09/2013 11:56

It is very rare to find a piggie that is truly a loner.
You should be able to bond your new boar to a friend if you have a cage of the recommended size (8sq feet, 10sq feet for boars), and the introductions were done properly,
ie. put neutered boar and potential (neutered) friend in a large open space, like a kitchen or bathroom, that neither of them have ever been in before, with a giant pile of hay and salad and leave them to it.
It can take hours and hours of this, so patience is key!
Biting/nipping/growling/mounting/rumblestrutting etc. are all perfectly normal behaviours. As a general rule, the pigs should only be separated if blood is drawn. Something else I have found to work is having no hidey houses with only one exit, as pigs can get trapped and in each others faces in them.
www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm#Introductions

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