Advice for when I bring new babies home :)

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Arnie

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Hi all! So I will Be getting a pair of female 7 week old babies in sept. is there any special care they need being so young? They will be in an outside hutch. I'm soooo excited for them to arrive and want to make sure they are happy :)

Many thanks

Sacha
 
The most important thing is making sure they are happy and healthy and both actually female! It is not uncommon for pet shops to mis-sex babies then have surprise pregnancies. If you are getting them from somewhere with loads of experience or a good rescue then this should all be ok.

In terms of settling in, they just need to be warm, dry and safe so make sure your hutch is in a sheltered spot and you can cover it if the weather gets awful. I think someone posted links on your other thread about food etc. If your hutch has a ramp then it will take them a bit of time to get used to using it but babies are quite bold and I am sure they will figure it out quickly! also make sure there are no gaps in the hutch or run that a little one could squeeze out of! It's also worth giving them a day or two to settle in before you start getting to know them.

It's all very exciting!
 
Please make sure that your hutch is in a protected place and that it can be well insulated. Guinea pigs are not very good with big jumps in temperatures (including day/night swings), which are generally highest in spring and autumn. Young guinea pigs with their low body mass are even more vulnerable.

Here are more tips on how to settle in your babies. Make sure that any food water and hay is close to their hiding place at first until they have got their bearings, which can take several days.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?36239-FAQ-How-do-I-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs
 
We have a 6/7 week old baby boar from a rescue to join an older boar and it has reminded me of what little ones are like!

My three top tips would be 1) patience, dont expect a lot from them in the first few days - as MerryPip says, they need time to settle to the new smells and sights
2) hand feed - right from day one offer bits of veg from your fingers - they probably wont take it at first but they will soon - our new little one is now after a week. This hand feeding teaches them that hands are good things and makes them easier to handle and builds the trust. 3) Transport them in something ie use a cosie or fleecy sack to carry the piggies in eg to a run or for a cuddle. Little piggies are v skitty and you will make them feel safer if you carry them in something, not just hands.
exciting times for you! Hope you will post some pics when they arrive.
 
Thank you all so much! All this info is very useful and I will take it all on board :)
 
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