N
newpiggies
Hi, everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I have been a frequent visitor. We became proud carers for two guineas two weeks ago. They are now almost 12 weeks old, both female, called Scamper and Pip. We got them a multi-storey hutch - top level has their covered bedroom and a small open area, the middle level has a large open area and the lowest level is open to the ground but contained on four sides with a clear front panel. We are not presently using the lowest level.
When we got them we were told they are on Gerty Guinea pig food, and advised to use dust-extracted wood shavings on the middle level, where their food and drink is located, and hay and newspaper on the top level and in their bedding box. We were also told they should be fine in the shed, covered with a blanket at night.
The first week we got them the weather turned very cold so we got a snugglesafe heatpad for use at night and covered the hutch. They seemed fine. However when temps dipped below zero we decided to bring them indoors because they are babies, housing them in an indoor hutch. We also have a portable enclosure we can use for playtime indoors or in the shed. When the weather improves we hope to acclimatise them to the shed again gradually. Generally they seem more active in the outdoor hutch in the shed.
My reason for posting is that I am confused about a number of areas where there is a lot of contradictory advice. For example, Gerty Guinea pig food seems controversial. I've started adding a little bit of Science Selective gp food to their Gerty with the aim of trying wean them off it. I know it is alfafa based and thought it would be good while they are growing. They don't seem to be touching the Science selective stuff yet.
Then there is the matter of wood shavings. These are dust extracted. However there seems to be a lot of advice against using wood shavings. Peter Gurney advises hay and newspaper. We get a long hay for them but I've also got some shorter hay, called Meadow Hay - the make that seems to be in all the pet stores. I'm disappointed with the shorter hay - it seems very poky/sharp. I had hoped to use it as the litter base instead of wood shavings, with the longer hay for eating and bedroom. When we were using just the longer hay (ie not the meadow hay) Scamper had an eye injury - either from hay or from Pip (more about behaviour later). The vet advised using a paper bedding, not hay, but then changed her mind and suggested sticking with hay but discontinuing if she gets another injury. Her eye is now fine.
I notice that their droppings get mixed up with the hay and am not sure how often hay needs completely changing. At the moment we spot clean daily, do a complete change and clean once every 6-7 days (weekend) and when using the outdoor hutch we were changing one level every 3-4 days during the week. We get through a lot of hay.
There seems to be advice against using straw but some say the short soft straw - same make as the meadow hay - is OK. I'm asthmatic with a straw sensitivity but had wondered whether soft straw was better than this sharp meadow hay stuff.
I tried carefresh - took the whole bag to fill the indoor hutch so I imagine it would take two bags to fill the outdoor one. I like Carefresh esp indoors but it seems expensive for one small bag. I had wondered whether to continue using hay and newspaper with some carefresh in their toilet areas.
Any advice on the bedding would be gratefully received.
Behaviour-wise, the guinea pigs began shoving each other and making rattling noises last week. They also give each other the occasional nip. They have the same birthdate so are suspected litter mates. However I think they both want to be top pig. I thought two females were supposed to get along? We wondered whether the eye injury was a scratch from Pip. i now serve food in two bowls but they seem irritable with each other.
I'm sorry this is a long post - wasn't sure whether to break it up into different topics or whether this one general one is OK.
Is there any advice as to the maximum mesh gap for outdoor runs? I've seen one that looks good but the mesh gap is about 2" square. Is that too big or OK?
When we got them we were told they are on Gerty Guinea pig food, and advised to use dust-extracted wood shavings on the middle level, where their food and drink is located, and hay and newspaper on the top level and in their bedding box. We were also told they should be fine in the shed, covered with a blanket at night.
The first week we got them the weather turned very cold so we got a snugglesafe heatpad for use at night and covered the hutch. They seemed fine. However when temps dipped below zero we decided to bring them indoors because they are babies, housing them in an indoor hutch. We also have a portable enclosure we can use for playtime indoors or in the shed. When the weather improves we hope to acclimatise them to the shed again gradually. Generally they seem more active in the outdoor hutch in the shed.
My reason for posting is that I am confused about a number of areas where there is a lot of contradictory advice. For example, Gerty Guinea pig food seems controversial. I've started adding a little bit of Science Selective gp food to their Gerty with the aim of trying wean them off it. I know it is alfafa based and thought it would be good while they are growing. They don't seem to be touching the Science selective stuff yet.
Then there is the matter of wood shavings. These are dust extracted. However there seems to be a lot of advice against using wood shavings. Peter Gurney advises hay and newspaper. We get a long hay for them but I've also got some shorter hay, called Meadow Hay - the make that seems to be in all the pet stores. I'm disappointed with the shorter hay - it seems very poky/sharp. I had hoped to use it as the litter base instead of wood shavings, with the longer hay for eating and bedroom. When we were using just the longer hay (ie not the meadow hay) Scamper had an eye injury - either from hay or from Pip (more about behaviour later). The vet advised using a paper bedding, not hay, but then changed her mind and suggested sticking with hay but discontinuing if she gets another injury. Her eye is now fine.
I notice that their droppings get mixed up with the hay and am not sure how often hay needs completely changing. At the moment we spot clean daily, do a complete change and clean once every 6-7 days (weekend) and when using the outdoor hutch we were changing one level every 3-4 days during the week. We get through a lot of hay.
There seems to be advice against using straw but some say the short soft straw - same make as the meadow hay - is OK. I'm asthmatic with a straw sensitivity but had wondered whether soft straw was better than this sharp meadow hay stuff.
I tried carefresh - took the whole bag to fill the indoor hutch so I imagine it would take two bags to fill the outdoor one. I like Carefresh esp indoors but it seems expensive for one small bag. I had wondered whether to continue using hay and newspaper with some carefresh in their toilet areas.
Any advice on the bedding would be gratefully received.
Behaviour-wise, the guinea pigs began shoving each other and making rattling noises last week. They also give each other the occasional nip. They have the same birthdate so are suspected litter mates. However I think they both want to be top pig. I thought two females were supposed to get along? We wondered whether the eye injury was a scratch from Pip. i now serve food in two bowls but they seem irritable with each other.
I'm sorry this is a long post - wasn't sure whether to break it up into different topics or whether this one general one is OK.
Is there any advice as to the maximum mesh gap for outdoor runs? I've seen one that looks good but the mesh gap is about 2" square. Is that too big or OK?
(i no longer have free-range pets!)