Guinea Pig care - please tell me all I will need & weekly expense

[FrogStomp]

Possibility we will be acquiring a couple of guinea pigs when we return from our holiday in a few weeks time.

We've been thinking about getting another pet for some time, since our dog was pts last year Can't have another dog atm (yearning for one) due to work commitments.

As we were mulling over what we would possibly like in our lives right now, a friend announced that she is giving her young GP away, lack of interest from the dc. She will be giving them away with the cage, run, indoor cage etc.

I will be giving her a firm answer when we return from holiday but until then a few questions (never kept GP).

What do we need each week for them. Hay, bedding, food, toys etc. What kind of costs does this amount to? How often do you clean them out? How long can they be left for (talking 8 hours) do they love cuddles (I need something to cuddle).

In other words, tell me about your GP and what we can expect from them.

I'm secretly excited but still unsure.

[FrogStomp]

There are two GP.

[Morethanalittlebitconfused]

Come over the the super furry animals group in Pets loads of GP and rabbit owners there happy to help!

[FrogStomp]

More, I was not aware of such a group. I will seek you out. Thank you

[FrogStomp]

I will ask for this to be moved.

[skiesmylimit]

I have two guinea pigs, love cuddles, their indoor, well in garage (which is connected to my kitchen with fridge in so regularly go in) I clean them out every three days or I think they get a bit smelly, unless they've spent a lot of time on the garden. I get a hello every single time I walk into the garage. If I go in the fridge I have to get something out for them to. It's quite sweet because they recognise my voice and squeak when the hear me but not anyone else. They were very skittish at first, but do get better and will come round.
My very nervous one, he's very skittish n would always run into his bed when I open cage, has just recently started eating out my hand! Iv had them since they were 12 weeks old, only had them a few months.

They are very cheap, buy hay and saw dust every two weeks or so, big bag of food about once a month (they don't like the mixed leafy veg stuff they like pellets), flea stuff was £5 for two treatments each so couple of months of that.

Fresh fruit n veg weekly. Carrots. Carrots carrots. Mine can't get enough

[PancakesAndMapleSyrup]

They are lovley pets, cost wise inexpensive! You need hard food which is about 6 per bag that will last you 2-3 weeks. They need fresh water daily, selection of veg/curly parley. Ours live on sawdust with newspaper as a liner, complete clean.once a week. Hay 1 per bag, they have some every day. You need an outside run for grass make sure its fox proofed. Ours live in all year they dont smell as long as you clean and go outside when the weather is nice but back in.at night. They cant live out in winter as they will die. Too cold for them. You can leave them as long as they have food and water so even go out for 24hrs they will be fine and also are fine to be left in.the day. Good luck with your piggies they are a lovley (if slightly usless ;)...) pet. I love them!

[FrogStomp]

Skie, thank you. They sound adorable and love the fact that they recognise your voice

[QueenofKelsingra]

we have 5 (were gifted 3 and then came down one morning to find new arrivals!). I agree with everything skies and pancakes said. plus our DC love them. they are great for cuddles - ours snuggle right up under your chin.

they are so chatty, ours are in the utility so everytime I do laundry or go out to the fridge they have a little wheeky chat with me.

plenty of water, plenty of hay and anything veg like - carrots and cucumber are big favourites but also broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower leaves. (not beetroot leaves - poisonous!)

we can easily do overnighters leaving them - just put up extra water bottle and loads of hay.

they are fab pets :)

[FrogStomp]

Pancakes, thank you. We have enough room in the kitchen for them to come in during with winter. They would however live outside for the rest of the year. I've a large garden and friend has a secure run she's giving away with them.

I know I'll have to give them time to settle but with daily handling how long do you think before they settle. I don't want them to be frightened of me. I suppose they will in time associate me with food and cuddles

[FrogStomp]

Queen, ooh a chin cuddle, sounds bliss!

I've heard their little chats in the pet shop. So sweet.

[QueenofKelsingra]

the more you handle, the quicker they will settle. give them the first day or 2 to get used to new surroundings, lots of talking to them when you feed them/pass the cage etc.

then start by a couple of minutes handling, building it up each day. ours still often scramble away from being caught but love the cuddles once you catch hold of them!! food is always good to teach them you are a friend!

[lizzzyyliveson]

If you can secure your garden they love exploring on sunny days. Mine is hiding in the hedge at the moment. She pops out when she hears the fridge door, though, so she won't be going native any time soon. Enjoy, they are little darlings.

[Sleepingbunnies]

Recently had a birthday party for ours! You will love them! Great pets!

[Meglet]

You won't have to mow the law so often. They'll eat up the last bits of cucumber / celery / lettuce in the fridge.

If it's still hot when you get them then give them slices of chilled watermelon to munch on.

[skiesmylimit]

My piggies

[skiesmylimit]

Their called Ben and jerry :o

[storeonashelf]

One of my friends keeps them in a converted Eglu. Another keeps one as an indoor guinea pig, with home made indoor run. I didn't know you weren't supposed to keep them outdoors during the winter?

[FrogStomp]

Oh my, your piggies are too cute!

I think my mind has definitely been made up.

I can't wait and it will give us something to look forward to when we come back of holiday.

Thank you all

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

We have them too. A pack of hay and a bag of feed every couple? of months or more? No ideea, I can hardly feel the cost. They are fab and we love them to bits. Clean every 3-4 days. Mine live outside all year round, we cover them in the winter and give extra fleecy bedding.
They're really smart and fun and they talk to me. DH is absolutely besotted. DD adores them.

[blueskiesandflowers]

I have 2 guineapigs they are fab
Hay every day it is 80 percent if there diet, dry food every day, fresh water every day
Put them in run on grass 4 ish times a week they luv and need grass
Clean them out once a week
I use newspaper, sawdust hay
Give veg once a day mine luv baby sweet corn, broccoli and apple
They luv daily cuddles

[gobbin]

Just a small point but if you haven't already it'd be worth visiting and handling the GP before you take them home to check none of you are allergic to them.

Over my lifetime I've had the pleasure of loads of different pets and am a current cat-lady but I had a very severe, totally unexpected reaction to a friend's GPs. I had been picking them up and holding them on my chest and within a few mins my chest, neck, face and throat had gone red and swollen, borderline anaphylactic (had to ring doc).

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Come over to SuperFurryAnimals there are loads of GP threads and we can blether about piggies for ever

At the moment, we have GP3 (large 1yo recently neutered boy) who is side-by-siding with GP4 and GP5 who are rescue sows (10 months old) until he's sterile, then they'll Pig Date

GP1 and GP2 (both now deceased) were Smooth coat and Abbysinian (rough coat) DD fine with them.
GP3 is a Rex (wiry) DD is allergic to his fur (red rash not respiratory) they are quite allergy-inducing some some. Could be the hay (no way round this yhey need hay ) or in the case of DD fur .
Our new girls are smooth - no problem. DD still cuddles her boar and doesn't seem to mind the rash.

So - SuperFurryAnimals will tell you all you need to know

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh, if you are being given the piggies, check the size of the cages/cages.

Most are woefully small, that is one of the main problems with GP getting arsey (especially teenage boars)

Are you keeping them in/out/mixed
Is the run secure (not one of those mesh pens unless you are right beside them. They are prey animals, foxes,cats, magpies, birds of prey will have them)

Get the biggest accomodation you can, even if it means buy on eBay and eBay her cages to sell and recoup.

C&C cages are good. (There's lots of threads on SFA)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My three piggies
brown fluffy Rex is the boar (recently neutered so seperate)
Himalayan and tri-colour are sows, our new additions

[FrogStomp]

Ahh they're beautiful

I have plenty of room outside for them. I'm not sure how big the outside cage is. I know she's had a run custom made for them. How often do they need to be on concrete for their claws?

Good point to pp with regards to allergies. Might have to pay a visit first, although I know once I visit I will want to come away with them.

You've sold them to me. I'm yearning (almost broodily) for something to look after and give a lovely home too. Think they're 5 months old. Two females. One black one brown and white.

I hope she doesn't change her mind now but we had a good chat a few wks ago when I was thinking about giving them a home and she seemed pretty keen that they needed to go. She has a lot on her plate atm and that added with the lack of interest by the dc means that she hasn't got the time to look after them.