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First time owner here. A question about hay, of all things!

34 replies

Dieu · 19/04/2020 14:36

Hello! We have a 7 - 8 month old rescue boar, given to us by a friend who ended up in a tricky position due to the virus (the handover was done very safely, with social distancing etc).
He's on his own, as he doesn't much like other piggies apparently. I think he was neglected in a pet shop before my friend took him in, so perhaps he felt like he always had to fight for food.
Anyway, he now has a permanent living home with us, and we're so keen to get everything right Smile I will post a photo later, but if you could imagine Trump's hair on little legs, you'd get the picture! Grin
It's all going well so far (it has been 6 days) but he's still mega timid. He prefers to hang out in the shelter part of his cage (indoors). I'm not sure how much GPs actually like being caught and handled, but that side of things is going ok. He seems to enjoy going in his little pen on the garden lawn. At first he would stay in the little shelter we have in there, but now he ignores it and snuffles around in the grass. I consider this progress!
He doesn't seem to drink from his bottle, but I have put a small sturdy glass bowl in his cage. And I sprinkle a little water on his veggies.
So this morning, I gave him spinach leaves (in place of his normal kale), a small piece of banana, celery plus leaves, basil and parsley. Does that sound ok? He doesn't like sweetcorn, courgette, pepper, cucumber or tomato.
I also gave him his regular hay, plus a little bit of two other more luxurious types (can't remember the name). And guinea pig nuggets of course.

So, some things I am wondering:

  • do you have insurance for your piggies? I already have my dog and cat insured, so he could probably be added to that. If GP insurance exists?!
  • will he ever show us that he's happy? Blush I'd love to hear him wheak, but maybe it's too early days. Obviously it's easier to recognise when my other pets are happy.
  • his nails are already quite long, and I'm nervous as hell about cutting them. Any nail cutter recommendations and tips?
  • hay getting stuck to his fleece. I really don't want this to bugger up my washing machine, and it's nigh on impossible to pick off every last bit. I've seen pet laundry bags online. Are these any good?
  • at the moment, we're doing a full cage clean/change every 3 days. Does that sound about right?
  • his hair is quite long, and I reckon he'll need a bath at some point Shock Would really appreciate some pointers.

I genuinely came on here originally to ask about the sticky hay thing, and got totally carried away Blush Looking forward to making your acquaintance, and thanks very much in advance for any help.

OP posts:
Dieu · 19/04/2020 14:37

Permanent loving home, that should be, not living Hmm

OP posts:
Dieu · 19/04/2020 14:47

He's also sniffy about blueberry and watermelon. Green veg seems to be his thing (ie kale). The rest he can take or leave. Must try him with spring greens. Apparently fennel is his 'crack cocaine', so I must get hold of some of that. He's already a bit spoilt!

OP posts:
Toottootcar · 19/04/2020 23:48

Congratulations on your new piggie. You are certainly spoiling him with that great choice of food, I hope mine don't get wind of it!
I bought a horse blanket bag, on amazon I think, it's just a big cloth bag with a zip and I wash fleeces in that - tumble dry them in that too. I use puppy pads with hay on top in one part of the C&C cage, and fleece or vetbed in the other (vetbed is thick like carpet I do like it).
I've just started trying to cut their nails, pre Corona I took them to the vets to do it. You can get special curvy scissors for it and styptic powder in case you knick the quick of the nail (look for a you tube video on how to do it)

SoapIsYourFriend · 19/04/2020 23:54

but if you could imagine Trump's hair on little legs

I'm sorry, that's a really hideous image Grin I'm going to have nightmares now and gave forgotten your question. GrinGrin

SoapIsYourFriend · 19/04/2020 23:54

*have

Dieu · 20/04/2020 00:10

Ha ha ha! Yes, it's not the nicest of images. I'll find a photo and come right back! Grin

OP posts:
Dieu · 20/04/2020 00:10

Thanks @Toottootcar
Glad I don't seem to be getting too much wrong Smile

OP posts:
Dieu · 20/04/2020 00:12

Here he is, although my photos aren't the best. He's a handsome fella, in spite of his crazy locks.

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Dieu · 20/04/2020 00:13

He's quite the chunk!

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Cherrychops100 · 20/04/2020 00:14

Oh he is just gorgeous! I have 17 Guinea pigs and they all have their own little personalities, I love them to bits x

Dieu · 20/04/2020 00:23

Thank you! I feel very proud now you've said that Smile
I've come to realise that I'm not especially fond of new pet beginnings. I prefer it when they're like a piece of the furniture!
Can't wait for it to feel like that with Reese Star

OP posts:
SoapIsYourFriend · 20/04/2020 00:55

Oh he's far more handsome than the Donald. Probably talks more sense too.

Dieu · 20/04/2020 08:08

Absolutely!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/04/2020 20:25

Ahh he's lovely and he does have a touch of the Donald about him. But I'm going to overlook this and imagine you called him Reese after Reese Inside No9 / League of Gents Shearsmith.
I am happier in my head now Grin

Sticky Hay Thing - we got some PetBags from Amazon, . Shake as much off as you can, seal up the fleece with a capful of a non scented detergent (I bought Ecover) and all the mess stays in the bag. Hang out to dry , shake the bah, job done . No string smells , no Zoflora , they are respitatory sensitive . No fabric conditioner , it stops the fleece wicking.
Put newspaper under to absorb

His diet needs to be varied , not too much dark green as it can lead to high calcium deposits and bladder stones especially in boars .
If he turns his snout up , maybe let him try a tiny bit of new foods over several days . They go for the favourites first . Ours would be parsley , then spinach. If they had kale it was left till their bums were in danger of slamming shut and lambs lettuce for the day Hell froze over .
Carrots with leaves were devoured . Carrot peelings were stamped and peed on.

The best clippers I found were like scissors with a circular notch , so rather than sliding over the blades (like scissors) they were like clippers as the blade in the circle bit met .
You need to trim the dull opaque bit , the cutters will cut neatly without crushing or twisting .
The front paws claws tend to curl in which is trickier .
Guinea-pigs don;t like having this done and will protest , grab their paws back and throw their heads back.

Towel wrap , get someone to hold the body , stay calm and ignore the protesting little rodent . It's sometimes easier to do front legs/back legs on a different day .
If he has any pink feet and claws its much easier to see the 'live' bit . If his nails are very long , trim a bit regularly to shrink the quick back.
If you do catch a quick use cornflour in an eggcup as a styptic. They do bleed but it stops .

He'll need a bath if he gets niffy but meantime you can trim the fur round his rear to keep it tidier . Hold a bit of fur between forefinger /middle finger , keep your fingers next to his skin .

Were his previous cagemates male? He might not like other boars but if you got him castrated he might like a Wife? Something to consider , they do thrive in company .

I didn't have insurance , I looked online , there was a company that insured Exitics but it's ££ . Guineas don't need vaccines . I used Xeno 450 drops ( mites, worming)
Do find a Vet who specialises in piggies , many vets will have a Small Animal Vet ( I used to take mine to a guinea-pig specialist but it was an hours drive each way !)

Enjoy him, piggies are lovely , shy, greedy and noisy little creatures . They eat all the time so plenty of hay to keep them busy , wears the teeth and keep the digestion going.
They pooh a lot .
Mine rarely drank water even in Summer but peed plenty . The water bottle was only used at 3am , to wake me up

twinguineapig · 23/04/2020 20:45

Echoing what everybody else said, esp. the insurance cost £80 a month for four pigs 🙄

This is trump on legs though he's just been brushed here to limit the trauma it would impose on you and him. He's a long haired pig so you can imagine his ungroomed state

First time owner here. A question about hay, of all things!
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/04/2020 22:57

Sticky Hay Thing - we got some PetBags from Amazon, . Shake as much off as you can, seal up the fleece with a capful of a non scented detergent (I bought Ecover) and all the mess stays in the bag. Hang out to dry , shake the bag, job done . No strong smells , no Zoflora , they are respitatory sensitive . No fabric conditioner , it stops the fleece wicking.
Put newspaper under to absorb

You need to put it in the washing machine too not just detergent and shake .......very poor literature there Blush

The way to win your guinea-pig round is Food,Routine,Gentle Chat, Food,

And did I mention they like food?

All animals thrive on routine , they like to know that they can rely on things.

Dieu · 24/04/2020 12:11

Hi everyone. Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help. Star
As a reward, here is a photo of our first piggie bathtime, which actually went rather well Smile

First time owner here. A question about hay, of all things!
OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/04/2020 13:05

Ahh he looks like a slightly Judgey Sonic the Hedgehog Grin

Dieu · 24/04/2020 13:28
Grin Or a slightly judgey 80s rock star!
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twinguineapig · 24/04/2020 16:47

Aww, cute.
Has he had dandelions yet? Not too many as they make them wee a lot.
Our piggies are currently in the garden and have just discovered a long patch of grass which they didn't mow properly now has dandelions. Cue mass excited wheeks and munching.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/04/2020 17:04

our first piggie bathtime, which actually went rather well

His little face is saying Hmmm you got away with it THIS time but don't be making a habit of it Grin

twin they're so sweet with dandelions - ours loved one of the stalks , they hoovered them up like spaghetti until they got to the flower bit ..then the jaws stopped and they either spat it out Ph-too-ey or it dropped , unwanted at their feet .

Treat them like any dark green veg , watch the levels of Oxalic Acid .

Toottootcar · 24/04/2020 17:11

How would I know if my boars has any bladder stone problems? I suspect I give them too much kale.

twinguineapig · 24/04/2020 18:09

I haven't had a pig with them but if they aren't weeing or are weeing with blood it then that can be symptom. Apparently they also have a painful abdomen but how to tell is beyond me, I expect they'd be off their food.

RedRosie · 24/04/2020 18:28

@Dieu he's adorable. He's so lucky to have you.

Also, he's cheered me up no end. Grin

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/04/2020 18:30

TMI alert - Grin

Get to know your guinea-pigs pee and pooh habits . (I know it's a bit Dr Gillian but it gives you a good insight )

Guinea-pig pee is usually cloudy white / pale yellow . When it dries you can see a 'dust' ( White vinegar is good to clear these patches , rinse well but it isn't toxic )

If the pee is blood stained or has 'crystals' rather than chalky , that's a sign.
You pig might hunch themselves - instead of poking their bum to the floor to pee , they're tucked up and usuallly squeal

One of our sows had very blood stained pee one morning (we were cleaning their cage daily so we knew it was literally overnight )
We don't know if something passed out , she had no symptoms before .
She recovered a bit on antibiotics but not 100% and she did go downhill and pass a couple of months later .
we don't know if she had a burst cyst or something . It was quick, the blood showing .

The pooh -more difficult if you have more than one pig ) but we could tell where they'd been sitting . Check for uniform size , no blood, no mucous, not too squidgy (if they overdo veg or grass it can make them loose)

One of my females did weird poohs blunt at one end , pointed at the other Shock She always did ! Weird .
One boar did the odd pooh the size of a Ferrero Rocher . No effort , just deposited it . Maybe once a week them normal.

Odd animals .
But lovely .

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