Guinea Pig novice!

[ceeveebee]

Hello - my DC are desperate for a pair of guinea pigs and I’m starting to relent but I haven’t a clue where to start. They’re 9 yo twins so think it’s the perfect age for them to start looking after an animal?
Firstly I wasn’t even sure where to buy - do people generally get from local breeders? Or pet shops?
And is it better to get two males, two females or one of each (neutered presumably)
And then where to put them? DH would prefer them to be outside, we do have a large garden but can they be out all year round? And how would we protect them from foxes? We do have a children’s playhouse which is quite big so perhaps the hutch could go in there?
The other alternative would be in the utility room with the washing machine, but would that noise bother them?
So many questions! If anyone can give me the basics, or point me to any websites or resources that would be great
Thanks

There is a guinea pig rescue called cavy haven in winsford, you could search for it on Facebook, I'm not sure but I think they also have a website and adopt Guineas out to suitable homes. I also follow a group called tees valley Guineapig rescue on Facebook which have some helpful resources on there.

I use newspaper as a base layer. I find mine always try and eat the puppy pads and they don’t seem as absorbent as the newspaper (under fleece etc).

After a bit of looking about on the internet, would the washable pads with lots of layers work on their own in the bottom of a indoor cage?
I'm a bit sick of wood shavings sprinkled by DD all over the carpet! 😂😂

I have got three of those washable pads and planning to put a fleece on top. I had thought of making my own with fleece then mattress protector then water proof mattress protector. Sewing them all together! Haven't got any guinea pigs yet - still looking/ planning. It's knowing how often we will need to change as the cage is in a bedroom so needs to be pretty fresh. I have also bought a small cat litter tray which I am going to fill with hay.

@Moonflower12

Hello. We have one layer of incontinence pad with one layer of fleece on top. (I did go for high absorbency level pads.) Works really well and quick to clean out.

We have 2 boars that we rescued together, they were 2 1/2 when we got them so past the very frightened baby stage and easier to handle/ interact with. Ours don’t love being picked up but happy to sit on a lap for a pat or run around the dining room floor and come over for pats/ food (food really is the key to winning their little hearts 😂).
We have a slightly ridiculous cage set up now as started with ferplast 160 cage then added a ferplast 100 to give them some more space so it currently takes up a fair bit of our dining room. We have it sitting on IKEA toy boxes though with kids and piggies stuff stored underneath so not too intrusive. They have a covered run for the garden in good weather but only when we’re around.
We use washable pet incontinence pads with fleece over and bath mats in high use areas. Sweep poo daily, change bath mats every 2/3 days and swap out the whole lot with every second change. The end of the ferplast 160 has a separate 40cm area which we use for hay, cat litter tray with wood cat litter pellets and piled high with hay. The hay gets changed every couple of days, we also have 2 hay racks on the cage so they have options. They’re really lovely pets, I love them at least as much as the kids if not more. I would definitely recommend them inside as could easily imagine them being bit forgotten about outside.

Bit late to the party here but we have 2 guinea pigs which we got in the first lockdown. We were advised on getting 2 girls or a boy and girls, apparently 2 boys would tend to fight. I have to admit they are great pets. My children are 8 and 11.

Just to add, my 3 girl piggies live outdoors but have a large reinforced, adapted, heated and properly insulated playhouse to run around in. Plus a separate run for summer. They are on fleece bedding, with lots of hideys. Keeping them at 15-20 degrees is the aim, no matter what the weather. It's so, so much easier to keep them indoors if you have room. No worrying about predators, frost, gales, hot summer sun. You cannot just bung them outside in all weathers.

They are gorgeous pets but nervous. Pet shop ones have not been handled and are just churned out for money. You're better off getting them from rescue or from a home breeder where they have been frequently handled. Finally, unless you are 100% committed to caring for them when your daughters lose interest, don't have them. Their welfare depends on you, not 9 year olds. They need lots of looking after and you will be doing it a lot!