Just my boys or is there a general Autumn madness?

[FernieB]

I think Scruffypig has realised it's Autumn and the outdoors is not an option for a few months and he's takin it out on Smoothpig. Poor Smooth has never been humped so much. My DDs are calling Scruffy the 'gay pig' and wondering about his sexuality. Smooth is taking it well but at one point this evening Scruffy followed him into his igloo and there was a scuffle. Scruffy exited followed by Smooth with a mouthful of ginger and black fluff . Peace reigns at the moment.

Is it just mine or has some Autumn madness set in?

Mine are still able to go out when it's dry (only for an hour or so, with newspaper in their houses and a waterproof/windproof cover on their run)

They really enjoy their Time Out but I know it won't last long.

I've noticed (sadly) that my GP1 is changing day by day.
He's still a lovely friendly boy but he seems smaller and frailer next to GP3 (who is a flipping solid beast now). I know last year I worked hard to keep weight on GP2, and GP1 was always bigger.

GP1 still greets me judgily by the empty food plate in the morning (they are fed breakfast/supper veg. Night pellets and fresh water + fresh hay).

He does that little "rattlesnake" ticking noise (so he's wearing his teeth down well)

The bonking seems to have calmed down now, GP3 will get short shrift from GP1 if he tries.

I'm still planning their indoor accomodation. I saw some interlinking panels to make a run but it's only 10" high and our little boy can leap out of the carrier box if he sees fit.

At least with "gay guineas" you don't need to worry about unwanted litters

Oh and Guy Fawkes night is when my GP1 and GP2 kicked off.
They were in DD room last year but ran out of food at 4am. She woke me up to tell me. We gave them veg and they settled.
But DD had been cuddling and chatting with them, instead of saying "Guineas belt up, sleep "

Mine have spent the day in their indoor run with Current Bun staring at them from his perch on a toy box. So they have had lots of time to exercise and lots of things to play with and chew but have decided to kick off tonight for some reason. I've given them extra veg and am hoping they settle down.

It's always Scruffy who kicks off. Smooth is a gentle soul who just wants to curl up quietly. He's also a lot bigger and heavier than Scruffy so is quite able to put him in his place if need be, but he'd rather not have to . I think Scruffy has a Napoleon complex .

Well, I have just been to visit the guineas up the road, and all three are now in separate cages eyeballing each other and space is rather limited to say the least!! The arsey alpha pig is really lovely, with his little pink lip, and squeaks wildly when you enter his kingdom. Autumnal madness or not, he is definitely in line to be Napoleon as well!

Other two boys very sweet and docile, rescue Boris is doing very well, he is utterly gorgeous. We have devised a plan where, as autumn sets in and he is no longer able to be outside, he will come and be my house guest occasionallyand get utterly spoiled to death

Autumnal snuggles to them all, they do know when they are being reigned in!!

or reined in?

Actually with the Napoleon boys, it is probably the former!

Your 3 guinea nephews sound lovely. It's such a shame they can't just get along with each other - would banging their heads together work?

Mine are still being grumpy with each other and have themselves turned their igloos around so they have their backs to each other. I've just booked them and their long eared brother in at the vets for an annual health check. I like to make a vet cut their claws from time just so I can see someone else struggle to do it (makes me feel better about my efforts) . Current Bun is due his booster vacs, so I thought I'd take the pigs too. Hopefully they'll have settled down before then as they'll have to spend some time together in the carrier.

OOh Fernie If you are off to where I think you are, say hello to the vet nurse whose name begins with K ( tall and blonde), she is coming to stay with me next week. Tell her to be nice to your guineas and current bun, she has cut my guinea's claws in the past and they were very scaaaaaaaaaaaaared of her!!

I will be going there - mine are scared of everyone there and Current Bun in particular is very naughty . Last time he escaped, ran round the floor and tried to hide behind cables. I was very embarrassed

I bet his bunny raisins are still under the cabinet.

You were but I reckon the guineas would be .
Guinea-pigs behave like gentlemen (and ladies) at the vet (apart from when GP1 tried to chew the Rodentologist's glasses)

I'm sure that was a misunderstanding and probably the Rodentologist's fault.

GP1 was smugly on a cushion being admired, the glasses just happened to be in reach . Her fault obviously.......

My boys are out on the lawn (mooved their run near the house where it gets more light) with cardboard in their housies and a waterproof cover.

They are filling their rodenty faces as quick as they can with long grass.

Apparantly they're planning to Hibernate this winter

Mine hibernated last winter. They did it for half an hour after breakfast every morning .

Jealous of you being able to let your boys out. It's too wet and cold here. They are in the kitchen with a brand new cardboard box and Current Bun. They are supposed to be working off their excess energy but are actually curled up asleep.

Mine are calming down a bit! Got them some gorgeous guineas shampoo and bathed them. I think they just needed a common enemy - me :)

Oooh yes there's nothing to beat the solidarity of a Post-Bath-Sulk for guineas.
Go for gold and cut their nails.
Then they really won't speak to you and they'll need to rely on each other for company.

(I haven't bathed our new pig yet - he smells all warm fur and pigletty. DD and I cut his nails but he's very judgey)

Haha! I cut their nails and rubbed ointment on their bites - they were fuming! I'm so glad your new guinea is nice, my new one is stinky Satan.

My boars were being a bit In your face yesterday.

We took the ramp out of their Pighouse (they never use it) so it frees up a corner.
I covered the whole of the floor in cardboard and newspaper and put a trug of naice hay in the 'new' corner.

They had a scuttle about the explore but at suppertime kept getting in each others way, GP3 invading GP1 bodyspace.
Bit of a boar tussel ensued.

This morning GP1 emerged from the trug ("My housie" ) . GP3 was parked in the haybox.

It's mainly the foodplate. They have big 12" plastic plates but still feel the need to eat from the exact same place.
The water and pellets are spaced apart but if I give random piles of veg, they'll go off. (They hide bits in their bed. Banana after 24 hours of being guinea-sat-on isn't pleasant)

Lovely! They are completely mad. People give me a 'hmmm' face when I say how absorbing and fun GPs are, but they really are a non-stop soap opera :)