A Very Important Message Regarding Grass Time

[gizzy]

I just cut and pasted this from cavy corners face book timeline,


A caution about guineas going out in runs on the grass now the weather is warmer. Guineas shouldn't be allowed to graze all day at first. They may get serious tummy upsets or even bloat. Build up an hour or so at a time increasing gradually over a couple of weeks. Also avoid wet or damp grass, as it can cause chills and bloat. And give water bottles and some shade from the sun, remember too that darker coated guineas can overheat quickly. Watch out for birds pf prey, foxes and neighbourhood dogs who may be a threat to your guineas.

 

[sport_billy]

A great reminder, thank you. I am going to edit your title so it reflects the message and make it a sticky for the next few months.

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I made this mistake and left them on the grass for longer than usual. Although they had grass almost daily (hand picked) it was still a bit much for them and they had soft poops.

Thanks for the reminder x

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

My boys are at risk from neighbours cats, plus no grass and I don't want to smother them in sun screen.. it's just not right! As we speak I have grass free from any chemicals and pesticides and other animal poop growing on my window ledge. Thanks to @Wiebke for this one

 

[Stewybus]

I find a good test for telling if the ground is too wet is to kneel down on it. If my jeans get a damp patch at the knee then it's too wet for them.

 

[Iloveanimals87]

Great thread i hardly ever take my guinea pig outside or maybe a occasional time if so then i always supervise them because of neighbourhood cats which is the main risk and there are a lot neighbourhood cats around where i live

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Thank you for the reminder

 

[SnuffBunny]

I lost one of my boys to bloat... I've only recently realized it was caused by this.
Great sticky as it is not common knowledge.

 

[Stewybus]

Fortunately or unfortunately we only have a lawn at the front & it's open plan. One of us as to be out with them so they tend to get not much more than 90 minutes at the most. Usually they're all resting by then & had their fill of grass. With this winter being so mild we've been able to get small quantities of fresh grass throughout the winter baring the odd week that had a few frosts.

 

[rosie and bramble]

Pleased we have loads of grass to keep them out all day and a secure garden especially with having boarders too. I always remember to build them up slowly but just as i do, the weather changes lol

 

[Henry's Mum]

Hi, My piggies were out for about 2 hours last Thursday, now one of my boys is in a lot of pain when trying to poop, do you think this could be related even though the pain only started today?

 

[SHAZZIE]

Great thread i hardly ever take my guinea pig outside or maybe a occasional time if so then i always supervise them because of neighbourhood cats which is the main risk and there are a lot neighbourhood cats around where i live

hi,,, i have 2 cats and 3 piggies and when out on my garden the cats sit and guard the girls while they play ,, weird or what, and they chase off other cats from our garden too , securicat services lol.

 

[Katy Stanley]

I've just moved into a house with a garden am looking forward to letting my piggies play outside for the first time this summer. Thanks for the advice! I wondered if the grass could upset them.

 

[Guinea Whisper]

Great thread i hardly ever take my guinea pig outside or maybe a occasional time if so then i always supervise them because of neighbourhood cats which is the main risk and there are a lot neighbourhood cats around where i live

There are almost no cats where I live, (Arizona) but my piggies outside cage does have lots of spiders. I don't know why.

 

[kelly Marie x]

My 3 piggies have been building up grass time over the past 2 weeks and we now leave them in their own run all day (weather permitting) and they come back in at 5! Never had more sleepy content pigs in the evening's. But I am always worried next door cats might have peed on the grass, or a hedge hog or squirell! Anyway to prevent that? Or do they know not to eat it? Should I hose down the grass every couple of days if we haven't had rain?

 

[kaycdee]

I was wondering what happens when you have built up the grass time over days or weeks, getting piggies used to the grass and then the wonderful British weather takes a turn for the worse (like today!). If the pigs can't go outside for a few days, do you then have to start from scratch in building up their grass time?

 

[Tewdric]

Mine usually spend all day out in their secure run in the warmer months. Today they've been left in their hutch, but I have picked a bag of grass for them (yes I got wet piggy slave that I am) to munch through. That and their usual veggie ration seems to keep their systems moving whilst they can't go out.

 

[kelly Marie x]

I was wondering what happens when you have built up the grass time over days or weeks, getting piggies used to the grass and then the wonderful British weather takes a turn for the worse (like today!). If the pigs can't go outside for a few days, do you then have to start from scratch in building up their grass time?

Myself personally I don't if its only 2/3 days, but then my pigs will lay down and nap if they have had enough, but if I'm away for a week on holiday I reintroduce mine. Not sure if I'm correct per say but, I've not had any bloatupset stomach issues with any of my 4 previous or 3 current piggy's this way

 

[BossHogg]

Mine have access to the garden all day, they don't spend all day grazing. They'll have 15 minutes or so - then sleep for a couple of hours before having another nibble.

 

[Sid and Henry]

I have a dog however she isn't aggressive towards my piggies. She just lies next to their run because she gets very jealous of any other animals getting our attention. Is this ok? Because she has NEVER tried to harm them, she just stares, even when we're not watching for an hour or maybe even more.

 

[Squeak Dreams]

hi,,, i have 2 cats and 3 piggies and when out on my garden the cats sit and guard the girls while they play ,, weird or what, and they chase off other cats from our garden too , securicat services lol.

I have 2 cats and 3 piggies lollol

 

[Melanie07]

I wasn't aware of this so thank you, this is helpful. A couple of weeks ago we had a secure run built for them so they can go outside on the grass now it's a little warmer. We've not had any problems though

 

[Pat Shields]

I wish that every one of you could bring your GPs here to my place; I have enough greenery to feed every guinea pig in the world! It is so lush here. Yet, I have been really hesitant to allow Salvatore grass time because the temperatures are fierce, so he has not had more than half an hour this entire season. Also, I have had to spray for fleas on the patch nearest the house, so that eliminated the area that I did occasionally use. Anyway, thanks for this; I really did not take his coat color into consideration before now, but I will because he is mostly black, and his skin is black as well..

 

[Caviequeen]

I'm always super careful whenever i put my pigs out and i only let them eat grass for about 3 hours plus birds of prey and other animals would not dare harm my pigs my dogs are around and would attack them, not my pigs just other animals who would harm them we have 4 big dogs so beware.

 

[SHAZZIE]

There are almost no cats where I live, (Arizona) but my piggies outside cage does have lots of spiders. I don't know why.

Hiya, my mum used to use lavender oil to keep spiders out of the house if you rub some on the inside corners of the cage it may work on the ceiling of the cage so they cant lick it xx

 

[SHAZZIE]

Hi, My piggies were out for about 2 hours last Thursday, now one of my boys is in a lot of pain when trying to poop, do you think this could be related even though the pain only started today?

It may be if the grass was cold or there was a plant or weed hidden in the grass that your piggie nibbled on it says in my book to feed lettuce and cucumber to help it poop xx