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Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

We have two new family members

64 replies

Justusemyname · 10/04/2015 15:30

Two boys, four month old gorgeous guinea pigs .

One is black with crazy hair, the double of our last piggy. The other is caramel and white coloured and very cute. They are settled in an indoor cage, biggest they had and we have had a couple of strokes but leaving them now to chill. Currently hiding under a plastic cover thing with stairs. Going to re read my guinea pig book now.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/04/2015 20:44

ours love celery leaves (I'm the mad woman in Sainsburys tutting at the celery if it's not leafy enough)

They love tubes ! Rabbits do burrows, guinea-pigs like to make little trip-trap noises with their claws through a tube.

I've just had lovely snuggles with our new boar
DD was in charge of the two girls (they cannot get together until he's sterile) GP5 and GP6 are very interested in each other. GP5 (my DDs tricolour sow) is un-impressed

Justusemyname · 29/04/2015 20:28

They love the tube! They've been running through it like crazy things. One has had a chew. The cat is not impressed at all the shenanigans and climbed on the table to have a look. The piggies are very happy. Best quid I spent today!!

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Justusemyname · 29/04/2015 20:09

I went to buy milk. I have come home with a dandelion garden and chew tube . I am worried that the piggies are chewing the plastic den so have bought them the tube though they don't seem to know what to do with the hanging chew toy they already have.

For tea they have rocket (first time, loved it, hand fed), celery and cucumber. Weren't keen on celery yesterday but ate a bit.

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Justusemyname · 21/04/2015 21:13

NEWSFLASH!!!!

I have the cleverest baby piggies ever.

Three times I asked boy piggy 1 where daddy was and three times he turned his head and looked right at him!,.

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SomewhereIBelong · 21/04/2015 07:58

I was allergic to ours too- in the end they had to live in a hutch outdoors or be rehomed - they lived to 7.5 and 8, and seemed happy little things so it did them no harm.

Justusemyname · 21/04/2015 07:51

It's the first time he has shown any distress without his mate.

I'm going parsley shopping today as they loved the flat leaf last week. Trying broccoli for tea I think.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/04/2015 21:08

One of ours wheeks madly if the other is away from her. Our GP1 didn't mind being taken away from the Pighouse but didn't like his brother going away from him (he was very protective)

They will look for their cagemate - they represent security ..You can slowly get them used to being apart for a while, we used to give ours cuddles (DD,DH and myself ) until they got fretty.

Justusemyname · 20/04/2015 21:04

Oh no. Took one out for a cuddle and the other one is looking for him seemingly upset.

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Justusemyname · 20/04/2015 12:24

This morning one has their first dandelion. Loved it. One was more brave at trying than the other.

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Justusemyname · 18/04/2015 20:57

Turns out I've been feeding the piggies parsley this week not mint . I wondered why it wasn't as smelly as usual. Tonight they have tried the mint.

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Justusemyname · 17/04/2015 20:26

The boys are currently running like mad things around their cage.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 17/04/2015 18:00

They learn their names but just choose to ignore them

Our pigs have their Real Names, their MN names, their Sunday Names and their NickNames.
And answer to none or all.

Justusemyname · 17/04/2015 16:35

Loving hand feeding them. Not learnt their names or what tea time means yet. .

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millimat · 16/04/2015 20:43

That would be our GPs perfect tea- they'll do anything for mint!!

Justusemyname · 16/04/2015 20:40

Hurray! Piggies have eaten the mint and most the carrot. Softy DH has given them more mint. NaughtyBoyPiggy was put back after trying to eat my cardigan (again) and not sitting nicely. NaughtyGirlCat has lost her collar...

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millimat · 16/04/2015 20:28

That's boys for you!!

Justusemyname · 16/04/2015 17:37

Poor babies. I gave them parsley and carrot for tea and it confused them. They've had another look but not sure they've had any yet.

NOT impressed with DS1 who left the cage open . One of my cats had been having a good look prior to that so I'm not impressed.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2015 20:12

your boys have got a lovely long summer ahead of them to fill their faces.
Enjoy them

Justusemyname · 15/04/2015 18:21

for all your help

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Justusemyname · 15/04/2015 18:20

The run is not in any danger of being blown over. It's big and heavy.

I think I'm too chicken to let them go outside yet. Will see tomorrow.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2015 17:51

The grass needs to be dry for them , (I put ours out after noon but in the height of summer they don't go out till 4pm )

If you get tent pegs, they are good for securing the corners of the run to make sure nothing can lift it.

You can get on their good sides with fresh scissor cut grass and dandelions till then

Justusemyname · 15/04/2015 17:12

I might let them out tomorrow. Need to check the run for holes....

They've been very active this afternoon and just had a cuddle before giving them their tea after cleaning out their hutch.

If only DS2 was as quiet as them .

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2015 16:08

As long as they can't fit through the bars ( DH put extra mesh round our run when we got GP3 just in case he could escape. He couldn't even then. As an adult he would've got a paw through but no more )

IIRC we let our pigletty one out in the small run (with our adult boar) when he was about 10 weeks old (maybe younger) .

Half an hour is ample at first.
Huge run is good, you can put all sorts of tunnels and boxes in , keep them active and interested (well that;s the theory ) it'll give them shade and space apart if they want it.

Buttercups,daisies, any bulbs, are poisonous. Clover is okay in small amounts (our pigs wouldn't eat it though)
Our lawn is prone to patches of buttercups so we need to arrange the run carefully when we move it.
"Wheek and Squeak" Feeding guide has a good list of Pig Foods .

Justusemyname · 15/04/2015 14:51

I do, it is huge but I assumed they were too young. I tried them in the play pen and we all know what happened there!

The grass was wet yesterday and today it's 26 degrees.

I think we had popcorning last night.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2015 14:43

Have you got a run to let your little boys out on the grass?

You'll need to build up their grazing time slowly, make sure the grass is dry and give them a hidey box in the run.
Secure from cats, dogs, foxes (bloody foxes kept waking me up last night with their noise )

You might get rewarded by 'Popcorning' unlike my lardy sows who are hiding under their tunnels

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