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Small pets

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Original poster

New to Guinea Pigs. What do i need to know?

77 replies

SomethingNarstyInTheWoodshed · 29/03/2018 17:44

I have raised 2 children, numerous dogs, cats and fish but not ventured into the world of pigs until now.

We have a hutch (nice and big). A run for the grass. Hay, food, a nice house, tube thing, and a fridge full of vegetables (for the humans, but the pigs can share).

All that is missing is the pigs. I’m waiting until it is warmer so they can go outside and then plan ahead for winter quarters.

What else do I need? What do I need to know?

OP posts:

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Snailgirl4 · 09/04/2018 17:38

Lots of cuddles from the moment you get them, to keep them really happy with humans. Not that its a difficult job to keep cuddling them, they are such lovely pets .

heidipi · 17/04/2018 21:51

Hello, another novice here - we just got our two baby girl pigs yesterday! No pics unfortunately as they are ninjas at the moment and only sneak out when we're not looking to get snacks.

I have a fleece bedding question - at the moment they only have hay but I'd like to try them with fleece (aspiring to lowdoor's incredibly tidy pig home). Is fleece bedding as used for dogs ok? I'm worried they will eat it!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 19/04/2018 18:48

Mine has both polar fleece and vetbed and has never tried to eat either.

I do find fleece much better for mess control. I use puppy pads underneath. If you invest in a horsebag for the washing machine, fleece is really easy.

New to Guinea Pigs. What do i need to know?

toffee1000 · 19/04/2018 19:04

This is a photo of three of ours (sadly all dead now) when they heard the rustling of a bag of parsley.

ChinwagCharlieBear · 19/04/2018 19:35

Hello :)

I got 2 little piggies the day before yesterday, both girls. They have a big enclosure outside and have settied in really well already. They are obviously quite timid at the moment but I have managed to stroke them both and pick up the least timid one. So far they have tonnes of hay, a bowl of guinea pig food and a bit of apple, some carrots and swede.

Does anyone have any tips on getting them more tame? Also, what are their favourite foods? Everything we've given them so far has seemed to be a winner! They are such friendly, squeaky things.

Those fleeces look ace so will definitely be getting them one of them. They haven't ventured upstairs yet, are they okay with little stairs? The upstairs is full of hay and all enclosed and quite big, so I thought they'd like snuggling up there.

I will try and upload photos, they are beautiful, one is a smokey grey with red eyes and the other is a light chestnut/beige.

toffee1000 · 19/04/2018 19:40

Just keep handling them, talk to them so they get used to your voice. You don’t have to sit there for hours but chat to them like you would any pet.

Mendeleyev · 19/04/2018 19:51

We seem to have fussy pigs who only like carrot, corn on the cob and apple! They will have a little nibble at cabbage and salad leaves but they aren’t keen. And they only eat the stems of parsley.

Mendeleyev · 19/04/2018 19:51

Toffee and Fudge!

toffee1000 · 19/04/2018 20:21

Aww we had guineas called Toffee and Fudge! Not at the same time though. Fudge was one of our first two. She got ill and had to be PTS which was v sad. Toffee came as a replacement for Fudge’s cagemate, along with another guinea. (So we had three guineas at once).
First photo is Fudge, second is Toffee (the one eating).

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 19/04/2018 22:03

I have just contacted a breeder with some 6 week old boars about getting a new friend for my fellow.

I am very nervous about bonding him, but the breeder says she will have the baby back if it doesn't look good.

Crossed fingers.

heidipi · 19/04/2018 22:20

Thanks for the fleece info and taming tips. We've swapped the quite big sheltery-bit inside the cage for 2 smaller houses - they still seem happy but it's easier to see and stroke them so will hopefully help with taming.

They are tucking into everything we feed them so far but seem to particularly like spinach and cucumber.

Here they are - cuties - the ginger one practically has a mohican :)

Missingstreetlife · 19/04/2018 22:25

Get two females, boys may fight. Make very sure they are both female or what flump said will happen. You can't believe how fast or how many.

Missingstreetlife · 19/04/2018 22:29

There is a fab video on utube, Guinea pigs eating sprouts.
Can't find link, but google it

ChinwagCharlieBear · 20/04/2018 16:53

Thelma and Betty!

EastMidsGPs · 20/04/2018 17:51

Ohhhh lovely looking piggies 😍
We had a Betty, the cartoon version of her became the pin up for a children's IT project ... from rescue to superstardom 😃

scrumpymummy · 20/04/2018 23:15

Just be wary of heat with outside piggies....they can quickly succumb to heat stroke. Ours are more in than out as its either a bit cold or a bit warm but I think they appreciate the change of scenery!

ChinwagCharlieBear · 21/04/2018 10:00

Thank you, will keep an eye on them. They have an upstairs which is all shaded but they haven't ventured up there yet. I put them up there yesterday but they then wouldn't come downstairs! So put them back downstairs where their water is.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 21/04/2018 11:45

Chinwag get a wine crate or similar from the supermarket and jerryrig their ramp as a tunnel. It may also help to attach some soft or grippy material to it- hacked up bath mat is good.

That should help them start to use it. Guinea pigs are wusses and rubbish at ramps!

ChinwagCharlieBear · 21/04/2018 17:01

Thank you, will give that a go!

Thelma has gone upstairs today and has been there most of the day, in the shade. Betty is downstairs but is in her hut for shade.
All of this talk about piggies indoors is slowly convincing me to turn the spare bedroom into a guinea pig room! They would definitely be more part of the family then.

I'm going to try to bring them indoors later (if I can catch them) to see what they think of the bedroom and to hopefully have a little play/handling session.

QueenCornflower · 13/05/2018 14:22

Hi all, were thinking of getting piggies but have a few questions I hope you can answer:
We’ve got 2 cats and also next door have 2 which frequently wander into our garden. Will this stress them out if they’re homed outside?
We also get badgers and foxes at night so is it safe for them to housed outside and if so what cage would you recommend.
Thank you.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 14/05/2018 18:12

None of my piggies have been in the slightest bit bothered by cats. My childhood ones were bopped on their noses, once, by my cat through the wire of their pen. Since their only reaction was to run away, and then come back for more my cat soon tired of it

Of the ones I've had as adults, one was convinced the cat was his best friend and, as such, would never leave her alone. Another used to ignore all creatures bigger than him in his bids for freedom, and would run right under her, much to her bemusement. My current girls don't move enough to interest her!

PLEASE NOTE, I never leave the cat in the same room as the pigs without supervision. As much as she's never hurt them, I don't trust her.

As for foxes and badgers, my girls' new pen is going to be completely sealed, with wire under the turf, to ensure that nothing can dig in. They'll be shut in a shed overnight. If you're going for the moveable run route I'd have their hutch in a shed, just to make sure they're fully protected.

lolalotta · 26/05/2018 20:19

Following

CoffeeOrSleep · 26/05/2018 21:52

We're just in the buying piggies stage - we'll have to have them outdoors. Would a run and hutch combined or 2 separate things be better?

DustandRubble · 29/05/2018 20:49

Quick question from me about piggie homes as well. Mine will live indoors and I am getting a C&C cage. Should I get the loft extension? Will the guinea pigs use it? I thought they were often not keen on climbing ramps so I was thinking of not bothering. But if they might like it then it is extra space for them.

Toottootcar · 01/06/2018 22:44

We have the loft bit. If I bought it again I would get one but only the one square size (we have the two, ie 2x2 but I’d prefer 2x1). They spend more time downstairs and the large loft gives them quite a large area under it that is hard to reach into to clean, or to catch pigs to stroke! But after a few days they certainly had no bother with the ramp.

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