Guinea pigs

[richteaftw]

Evening all

Really after some advice. I'm looking at adopting two boars, they are around 18m - 2 years, described as 'nervous but sweet boys'.

I have two children, ones nearly 3 and the other 7. Goes without saying they would never be left unsupervised with them.

Have currently got a 5ftx2ft hutch and run (also 5ftx2ft) in my shopping basket.

DH not overly happy about getting them but I've told him he will not be expected to lift a finger with them.

I grew up with rabbits and so did DH, we can't have a dog really as we have too much on. I want to be able to spend time with my eldest caring for the Guinea pigs, and I know he will lose interest and it will be me, but I would love to look after them.

Plan would be to keep them outside summer time, then bring them in during the winter.

Am I biting off more than I can chew? I can just imagine my children being delighted and them being a real joy to us. I know even DH will come round eventually.

TIA

Hi,
I've got lots of animals, dogs, donkeys, ponies, a parrot, rabbits and Guinea pigs. I'm an adult, no children and a long suffering partner, but do the majority of the care myself, which suits me fine.
I love the Guinea pigs, they're dead cute squeaky little critters, with adorable mouths .... however .... I have to say they're the dirtiest little oiks imaginable! Rabbits do there 'toilet' in one corner, even a litter tray. Guinea pigs do it everywhere - beds, bowls, laps .... everywhere. Huge amounts, so be prepared for lots of cleaning out. They're not as hardy as rabbits, they suffer from respiratory problems, so must be kept in sheltered positions that aren't prone to damp. They don't live as long as rabbits, 4 - 5 years on average, although some owners do manage to get them to 8 years. Finally .... Two boars. Not always the easiest. Many people try it, many people end up having to split them up when they reach adulthood. They often fight, and if blood is drawn the advice is always split them up and keep them separate as they will often fight to the death. Also, you won't be able to add to the numbers. A pair of boars may be OK together, but introducing another one will often break the pair up.
Obviously there are exceptions, and if you have a super huge pen you'll be more likely to get away without fights, but it's doubtful with the space you're talking about. Sows (girls) aren't usually as much trouble with regards to fighting.
I do hope this helps. Enjoy, if you go ahead! x

Sounds fine to me. They don’t need a super lot of looking after. Keep them clean, fed/watered, right temperature. They don’t particularly want or need stroking.

One of my favourite things is a Guinea pig squeak when they come running for food!

Thank you both very much.

I'm very torn. I'd like to have them in the kitchen in the winter but DH has said absolutely not, they can go in the garage at a push but this wouldn't be above 15 degrees in the throes of winter. He's worried they will smell.

I know my son would love a pet. It is a tough decision!

I used to keep female Guinea pigs and had a slightly larger hutch than you are looking at and an ark (run and house in one) for the days. They lived in an out building at night. My children would like Guinea pigs but we’ve got chickens which are easier and friendlier.

I brought my first ones home one November about ten years ago. They'd previously been kept in hutches in a shed and I didn't have that set-up, so kept them in a Ferplast cage in the lounge until the following May, when I put them outside in a beautiful hutches my carpenter boyfriend made for them. I have to admit that they did make the room smell. I cleaned them out really often - but they do smell. Mine did Winter out for the first three years, and I never lost one in the winter. With care, they're fine - lots of bedding, a smallish sleeping area stuffed with hay. I insulated all around the outside of the hutch (back and sides) with the lagging that keeps hot water tanks hot, then covered the hutch with old horse blankets, then a tarpaulin. They were in a secluded, draught free corner of the garden, and the tarpaulin and blankets was lifted up at the front during daylight hours. I have a better set-up now, and they come into the shed in a big hutch in the winter, but are out on the lawn in a huge, strong (I have five dogs!) run with sleeping area. They'll stay out until September/October, depending on weather. But even in these warm months, they shouldn't be moved onto damp grass - they really do catch chills when exposed to damp.
I like having them, they're cute .... but they're not 'born tame' and without lots of handling they stay a bit wild, and tend to scuttle off.
I've painted the worst picture of them, so you know what you may be taking on!

My boars don't smell, they live inside but in separate cages because of a Battle Royale phase they had going on. I brush their fleeces clean and replace hay daily, and wash fleeces twice a week. One piggie does all his toileting in one corner so is super easy to clean. Both boys are quite affectionate now but are a lot of hard work - daily cleaning, frequent grooming, nail cutting, getting exercise, one had mites, one needed his teeth cut - and it took a long time for them to.not just run and hide when we came into the room. Plus they're fragile, they can't cope with temperatures outside the 15 to 25 Celsius range, don't like wind, not good in direct sun, can't be in the damp.

Guinea pigs absolutely should not live outside. A hutch is not big enough.

They should only go outside in weather above 15 degrees c.

My Guinea pigs live in our dining room in a cage 1.5 x 1.5m.

Mine live out all year round, the hutch is against the house wall and sheltered. Lots of hay/fleece plus an old carpet over the top for insulation in Winter. All live to a ripe old age.

This is my experience too. A hutch of the size you describe and a run for the day will be great. Your little fellows can enjoy the grass when you move the run around.

Guinea pigs like to hide away so a shaded 'mini hutch' in the run will enable them to escape the sun and satisfy their need to tuck themselves away.

We love our guinea pigs. We had 2 boars from about 3 months and they lived together with a bit of bickering but no serious fighting until 1 died when he was 3. We then got 2 young sows who are living very happily with the remaining boar, who is neutered. I do think how they get on with each other is down to luck really, if you can get a pair that are already bonded that should increase the odds that they can live together. Your living arrangements sound fine. We keep ours indoors mostly but they do get to go into a run on the lawn in the summer when it’s not too hot, cold, windy or wet! They do need lots of cleaning out and you need to clip claws and be careful with their diets. They have quite clear strong and very different personalities and are fascinating to observe. We have a boss pig, who chivvies the others about and is far more alert and active than the others, a lazy pig who likes to bury herself in hay and our older male pig who loves chewing and gradually destroying their hidies. Of the 4 pigs we’ve had, 2 have loved cuddles and sitting on laps (on towels just in case) and 2 are indifferent to this, though all are friendly and are used to regular handling. They naturally hide and we’ve found it best to provide at least 1 hidey for each pig in all hutches and runs. Ours like exploring our lounge in the evenings, doing laps around the edge in a cute piggy train nose to tail. 1 of the ones who isn’t so keen on cuddles always comes over to watch us and chats away whenever we go into her room, she loves attention. They live to eat and love their food. Neither my DH nor DS like pets generally but both have been won over by the guinea pigs and go in to talk to them and watch them multiple times a day and have become very attached to them.

We have 2 boars. Ours are nearly 5 now snd had them since babies. There is definitely a more dominant one and we have had a couple of "handbags a dawn" squeaking between them but nothing major. Any animal is work and they poop something like 300 times a day. I'm very fond of them, even though they sometimes smell. They seem quite sturdy little things. Non plussed by our dog and during lockdown got to know all their little noises and wheeking well. Our are in a 6ft by 3ft cage inside. 5*2 might be a little small for 2 boys but ok for girls, google the guidelines and add a foot. I've bought 2 of everything to minimise potential fighting.
Love them lots, but I'll not be replacing them.

Thank you so much for your insight.

I have shelved the idea for now - I wouldn't want to take them on and not give them a lovely home or not do it properly.

We have quite a full on home life so I think I would be biting off more than I could chew.

I really appreciate all of the replies, thank you x

They don’t particularly want or need stroking.

Whilst this is true for most guinea pigs, we've got a couple of weirdos! One that will follow DD round the place until she gets picked up & buries herself in DD's hair and another who like cosying up with DD to watch Anne with an E - I'm convinced she recognises the theme tune & starts wheeking to get up 😂

They do smell though OP - you get used to it & go a bit nose blind but I definitely notice it when I go into DD's room & if her door is open you can smell them.

They are fab don't tell ours I said that but I wouldn't get them if your DH isn't keen as what would happen to them if you were unable to care for them? If DD is on holiday/had to go into hospital for any reason I take over their care & I'm happy to do it, while I certainly don't provide the same level of care as DD (I don't like Anne with an E for a start) I don't just chuck food in & give them clean water, I engage with them & let the snuggly ones sit with me on the sofa etc.

We have two Guinea pigs...

Meet Bobby & Tommy

We went to a rabbit petting farm and DH was besotted...

Im having a little panic but trying to remain calm.

This is totally outing for people I've messaged about them today 😂

Have ordered an Eglu with covers etc so they can remain outside all year, it has a 2m run

They have dry skin around their eyes so getting some parasite stuff

Tell me I haven't done something wrong 🤪

Currently they are in a C&C set-up, a great friend who is Guinea pig mad has kindly leant me the bits until our hutch comes next week

C&C cage is the ideal and best option for guinea pigs imho. Certainly offers the best option space wise 3x5grids is best if I recall correctly - 2 gps need more space than a hutch can offer

They will have a 2m run and only shut in there of a night

They are so lovely!

We have our girls in the eglu with the 2 m run. They are four and a half now and it’s worked well. They have a thick fleece basket thing with a hood they sleep in so we keep them out most of the year. We might bring them in a bit more this year however as they are old ladies now. Most important thing is to keep them dry.

They have dry skin around their eyes so getting some parasite stuff

I've missed your other posts but I was a long time poster on Small Pets .
We started off with two boars when my DD was 9yo ( I'd kept them as a child from 9-22)

I would really recommend you get your piggies seen by a Vet with Exotics Experience , not all Vets are good with guinea-pigs
The skin round their eyes does look dry and I would want to rule out ringworm which you'd need something specific to treat .
Guinea-pigs eyes are very fragile , don't take chances .

Your little boar at the back looks like a Rex or Teddy , they do tend to have a dry skin naturally so keep an check on that .

They are beautiful little pigs

We have Guinea pigs - three now, but have been up to seven at one time in the past through adopting older piggies needing a home. They have always been our (the grown ups) pets in the knowledge that we’ll do all the caring for them, but the children have grown up helping to care for them. Little ones particularly enjoy feeding them veggies and as teens mine do now clean them out if asked. They have such a range of personalities, but you can definitely spend time handling skittish pigs to calm them. They are wonderful pets and do bring us great joy. I love that they’ll happily sit with you for a stroke and shout for food when they hear the fridge being opened. A dog would be too much for us, I’m allergic to cats and my husband had a very aggressive rabbit as a child - so our piggies fit the bill perfectly. They live indoors all year round, but go outside in a run when weather permits.

Thank you. I'm taking them to an exotic vet on Thursday. I think it is ringworm sadly.

The one at the back seems to be the most confident one so far.

I'm looking forward to getting them out in the hutch & run this week

Can I ask do you shut them in the hutch of a night? I'd be worried about them getting cold if I didn't...

I'd advice always shut piggies in at night .
They are very vunerable to damp (so wet bellies from dew) and predators .
Guinea-pigs can't dig out but a fox or badger could dig in

We had a wooden playhouse for ours with on-floor hutches or hayboxes with doors cut so they could get out onto the floor but were still safely installed .
I did think about adding a run but it was far safer for us to put them out in their runs when we knew it was dry .
We had big rabbit runs that we moved about . Secured with tent pegs , a cover over the top and some boxes inside to play in.

Part of the guinea-pigs charm is they aren't very clever

When you put them out on grass build up slowly . An hour on the first day then increase gradually .
They can get bloat if they stuff themselves .

While you're waiting for the outdoor runs pick them some grass and dandelions - they;ll love you !
My neighbours got used to seeing me in the garden with scissprs and a metal plate , usually in the rain

@richteaftw with the Eglu it totally depends on the weather. I don’t really bother May to September unless it’s bucketing down. When it gets nippy at night then I do shut it up and I bring them in overnight once the temp gets near freezing. Most importantly though I keep their indoor cage in an unheated part of the house as going from high to low temp and the other way around probably isn’t great.

it’s fox / badger / cat proof. So not worried about that.

Just an update, they cost nearly £200 at the vet.

Antibiotics, some F10, a hair and skin test. They have the antibiotics, F10 & canestan twice a day.

They are in the eglu now but it rained all night and I could sleep worrying about them, they didn't come out much today. I'm now thinking of returning the eglu and getting an indoor C&C thing with a run for outside.