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Original poster

Do we take the plunge with new guinea pigs?

18 replies

AFS1 · 02/01/2023 18:13

Our 2 guinea pigs died within 2 weeks of each other over Christmas. We swore we would not replace them, but I’m now rethinking it!

Life will be immeasurably easier for me without guinea pigs to look after. We can go off on holiday or weekends away without worrying about arranging care for them, there won’t be hay all over the house, I won’t have to clean the stinky cage out. But the kids are heartbroken and home feels very quiet without wheeking whenever we open the fridge door.

Has anyone been in this position? Did you hold firm and were you happy not having more pets or did you give in and get new ones?

OP posts:
SilentHedges · 03/01/2023 11:20

I'm sorry for your loss OP.

As I volunteer in rescue and see first hand how many perfectly good pets are abandoned or handed in, I would always advocate rescuing pets. In your case, as you're querying the commitment long term, while missing pets and the joy they bring, older rescue pigs would work well perhaps?

Original poster
AFS1 · 03/01/2023 20:15

Thank you - I wondered about some older pigs, which might fit well with us. Part of the reason I’m undecided is that they were only 4 when they died. In my mind, I expected them to live for at least another couple of years, which I think is why I’m not ready to give up on having pigs….but I’m not sure I want to give up another 6 years to guinea pig care!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/01/2023 10:19

@AFS1
Hello , have you been lured along the More Guinea-Pigs Road yet ?

We had guinea-pigs a few years ago , started with two brothers. One died then we got another after the mourning period (or a couple of pigs to join the herd Grin ) then it goes on a while till it happens again.
You can see why its called The Guinea-Pig Spiral !

We got to the last three (all about 4-5 yo) 2 sows that were bonded when we got them and our castrated boar who had lost his 2 wives so lived beside them. When the feisty sow died ( read as the One Who Wouldn't Bond With The Group) died we had the boar and the other sow .
They bonded happily till he died then we had her for another four months (kept her in the bedoom so DD could be with her ) She wasn't one I;d want to bond again !

I do miss them , their noise and the character . Even cleaning and preparing their Pighouse for them to ransack GrinBut I don;t miss the hay all over the place , they are messy and it gets everywhere

My DH wanted cats/cat which I wouldn't have with piggies .
I hae to admit (grudgingly) that the cats are easier . They don't need protecting from everything . I don't need to work out if its too hot/cold/damp/windy for them to go out . They get two meals and I don't need to make sure they have 24/7 hay and food .
But I miss the gentle nature of the pigs .

It is 100% true if you do get back in Piggy Keeping there will be hundreds of little rodents waiting , and they do appreciate being rescued and having a new life .

Chasingdopamine · 12/01/2023 10:21

We have 3 and I will never have them again, there is hay all over the house as you say, and it always smells no matter how regularly they are cleaned.

they are sweet creatures but I so look forward to being free of them!

GabrielAgreste · 12/01/2023 10:25

Haha @Chasingdopamine are you my sleepwalking pseudonym? We have three and although they are sweet, I keep thinking about how much longer I have to keep them clean and give them house room! Ours are very nervous and prefer each other to us, so we don’t handle them much as it seems cruel to frighten them. I feel like I’m the butler to three small creatures!

menareallthesame · 12/01/2023 10:33

I have no experience of Guinea pigs but we had 2 rabbits. One died at age 7 in summer 2021 and we assumed her brother would follow soon after. Anyway he’s still going strong, now almost 9. The vet said recently we need to get another to bond with him. I said well they may not bond. He said well that’s ok as then another will bond with the new one! No chance am I restarting that cycle! I love my remaining bunny but he’s now very old and I hope he lives a lot longer, but I won’t miss the hay everywhere and cleaning him out constantly!

system2319 · 12/01/2023 10:41

Your post is exactly what happened to us, we also had 2 guinea pigs that died within 2 weeks of each other over Christmas! Daughter heartbroken, partner also had some when he was a child. They survived for 5 years. Yes, we also miss all the noises they made when they saw you, (especially when it was time for veg)! No more for us, we have all agreed to this though so all ok for us.

Original poster
AFS1 · 14/01/2023 12:14

I’m holding firm so far! The longer I’m holding off, the less I want to go back to having some. I know the kids would absolutely love to have some more, but I am enjoying waking up on Sundays knowing I don’t have to clean out a cage! But I do miss the wheeking when I open the fridge door, or rustle a packet.

OP posts:
Brendabigbaps · 14/01/2023 12:18

Ours died, we ended up with a dog!
I still miss those cute little scamps, best guineas ever.

Original poster
AFS1 · 14/01/2023 12:25

We would all get a dog in a heartbeat but we don’t have the space or lifestyle. Really wish we could!

OP posts:
KnittedCardi · 14/01/2023 12:32

Would outside piggies suit you better? We had two outside pigs for 8 years, and yes the cleaning was a pain, especially when it was raining/snowing/blowing, but they were still part of the family, ate all the veggie off cuts, got lots of attention, and spent all the summer months running around the garden and eating dandelions 😁 I could never have had indoor piggies because of the smell/mess.

TheMousePipes · 14/01/2023 12:35

We lost a piggie just before Christmas when we had them castrated (two boars who bickered constantly). Poor ginger pig has been alone for six weeks but tomorrow we’re taking him on a play date at a local rescue to meet the ladies! We’re going to adopt the lady he gets on with best.
I think we’re firmly in the Guinea pig spiral!

TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 12:41

How old our your DC? Can they not do more?

I find our indoor GPs which we got in Nov much less stressful than our DCat RIP. I think because they aren't in the living room, and DD does most of the looking after.

Original poster
AFS1 · 14/01/2023 14:55

The pigs did start life outdoors, but we felt we neglected them a bit out there, so they moved indoors before their first winter with us. My daughter is 14 and has been really good at feeding them and keeping them topped up with hay and water. I tended to take over cleaning them out because it was quicker and easier for me to do it. I think we would still keep them indoors if we got a new pair. It’s their wheeking when we come downstairs in the morning that I miss the most!

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 14:59

I think if your DD is 14 and wants GPs she could be tasked with at least helping clean them out? What is your main bedding? Ours are on fleece with a bathmat in the kitchen area.

TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 15:20

That said, I haven't tried the 'find someone to look after them' bit yet, so i can see that might be a problem.

Original poster
AFS1 · 14/01/2023 18:20

Ours had newspaper then wood shavings and then hay. They had a 2-storey cage so it was as a bit of a faff to clean out. Usually took an hour including the endless sweeping up of hay!

OP posts:
Original poster
AFS1 · 14/01/2023 18:21

Daughter was prepared to help out, but we tended to let them roam around the garden while I was cleaning it out. They needed constant supervision from stray neighbourhood cats, so she tended to be outside with them.

OP posts:
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