Hello all the new guinea-pig owners

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There are lots of new piggies arriving on SFA (and welcome to all of them)

While you are getting to know your new piggies (and they are getting to know you) start a weight log
In your diary or (if you are a computer buff like my DH I'm not techie you can start a spreadsheet)
Some good kitchen scales.
A bowl or plastic box to pop them in.

Weigh the bowl/box to subtract from the total
Try to weigh every week and monitor.

It gives a good idea of how your pig is progressing.
Check their overall bodies for lumps and bumps.
Eyes
Ears
Claws
Teeth
Bottoms
(Each time you cuddle them)

Guinea-Pigs are complex little mammals and if they do change bodily, the quicker you pick up , the better.
And you'll find all us guinea-slaves getting very excited about pooh - the texture,colour and quantity of our cavies pooh
And pee

I weighed our piglings today :
GP3 is 3lb ( one year old Rex boar)
GP4 is 1lb 14oz (ten month old smooth sow)
GP5 is 1lb 8oz (ten month old smooth sow)

I weighed our boys today. Now have a new respect for Scruffy. At 2lbs 1oz he punches well above his weight when he tries to take on the might of the 3lb 4oz Smooth.

He has never yet defeated Smooth who is most definitely top pig but still likes to try from time to time.

I'm sure it's a boar thing:

"Y'know, I'm a tad bored. I think I'll go and hassle my cagemate........"

Cagemate turns, food falling from their open mouth as other guinea does a " Heeeeeeyyyy- yah " Kung Fu style leap across the hutch.
Just for a laff

That's pretty much how it goes Chez Fernie. Smooth is able to silence Scruffy with a glare - no wonder given his more robust stature.

GP3 however may have the size advantage but he won't stand a chance against 2 girls.

I have a Quality Street tin kept aside for weighing the pigs

There are other benefits of weighing your pigs regularly. You get an eye for how much they weigh. About three years ago I won DD2 a huge cuddly dog in a guess the weight of the hedgehog competition yes a real live one. It was at a museum in Colchester having a wildlife awareness day.

On the way out the security guard "Oh what a lovely doggy. What are you going to call him?" "Woof," replied DD2. She doesn't over think choosing names