We may have some piggies arriving

[Daisybell1]

My friend is moving and can't take them with her. There's two of them and they come with a hutch. That's all I know!

I'm reading lots of threads on here about food etc but are there any good websites or books etc?

They may only be with us a short time (if she can find a permanent home) but I'd like to be prepared!

Squuuueeee you could be a Guinea-Mum (or Guinea-Auntie if they move on)

What'da ya mean good websites or books all you need is your fellow Guinea-Slaves here on SuperFurryAnimals

Guinea Lynx (forum , lots of posters, you need to register to post but if you type in a subject there will be a discussion forum)

Rodents With Attitude

There used to be Barmy4Boars but it's incorporated into another site now.

There's a few American Cavy sites (interesting but completely different climate in some parts of the States and different foods)

Peter Gurney books are very good , he does do a lot of home treatment , interesting to read but obviously he's confident (was confident, he's no longer with us) in his knowledge and most likely knew more than most vets about piggies.

The pigs Mum will let you know what they eat, what they live on (bedding) their strange little quirks. Any changes need to be gradual.

You'll need to come back and update us when you get them or are preparing for them. Have you decided where they'll live? Are they indoor or outdoor ?

I asked about all other sites as I didn't want to try all your patience with my endless questions but if you don't mind me asking then I'll stay here

Ask away Daisy we can all yak about guineas for ever

There are loads of food/bedding/cage threads to give you ideas.
Some "should I get boars or sows" but you don't need to worry about that- I got no choice with GP1 and GP2 as my DD wanted boars, so boars we got

Currantly, I have GP3 (who was adopted as a tiny piglet to boar match with GP1 when GP2 died)
And now GP4 & GP5 , two sows who we adopted to match with GP3 (now neutered) after GP1 died.

They are IMO the loveliest of the SuperFurries.
Enjoy them

Thank you. I'm still waiting to hear if they're definitely coming. After being nervous, I really want them to now

They're coming!

Yay! I'm a converted gp fan after dd got some in January.

Yay! I'm a converted gp fan after dd got some in January.

Very exciting news Daisy . Prepare to make endless trips to the supermarket for extra veg and to become a mad GP lady who goes out at the crack of dawn to cut fresh grass with scissors

mad GP lady........scissors.........dawn

Cannot imagine who does that ...........

Grass is not a problem (we're farmers)! A quick read suggests they eat nettles and crab apples, both of which we have in abundance. They have a 2 level hutch, so maybe not too much mad dawn grass cutting needed?

OH has also donated a hay bale which should be ok shouldn't it? And can they have wheat straw? We have two wagon loads of that

I've never tried nettles (but they are on the edible list) I've found various Things In Hay including nettles, thistles, twigs (anything jaggy or liable to injure, I hoik out) and a birds wing with feathers once vom.

Apples you need to feed small amounts, cut up small (can cause mouth sores) and not too often. Guineas need to watch their sugar intake from fruits.

Hay as long as it's dry but not dusty.Hay has been really harse and coarse the last couple of years , I've had trouble with some brands, then another brand I liked had a fire in one of their depots.
I bought some lovely green hay from a local supplier but it was very seeded and my GP1 got a huge seed in his eye. These things do happen, though the hay was lush, smelled lush and my pigs enjoyed it.

Straw- has minimal nutritional value for pigs but I use it to insulate their winter accomodation outdoors. I bought a pack of soft barley straw by mistake once and it was really soft, so I bank the sides of the haybox with straw wrapped in newspaper (like a bolster pillow)
I did this for my lardy boars but I won;t use until my GP5 settles a bit, there's a small risk of injury with straw, but you need to consider any potential for injury.

in my garden, why do the nettles and the dandelions grow side by side?
DH strims them all, the 'lions grow back...so do the nettles.
I can guarentee, when I pick a handful of 'lions, I get stung.
I'm sure the pigs laugh "heh heh, daft bat. But Mmmm these are nice "

I'm going to get covered in stings aren't I?