another newb here :D

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yummymummy_20

Hey all!
My name's Corrinna, I'm 23, i live in Blackpool with my other half, Gary and our 2 daughters Alesha 5 and Alyx 4. We have just rehomed 2 4 year old piggies called Buffy and Angel who are adorable!
I've never had a guinea pig before so i'm still learning!
You've probably all had to answer these questions a million times before for other newbies before me (sorry!) but ive got a limited amount of time on the internet at the moment (the joys of having kids) so was wondering if anyone could give me a quick few answers. Thanks in advance!

I've been sticking to 'safe' veggies for the last few days, but I'm sure my piggies would like more of a variety, i'm just too scared in case i make them ill. Are there any veggies a guinea pig should definately NOT have in their diet?

I'm keeping them as indoor piggies, but have bought a big wooden hutch for them which is in the kitchen. even though i put plenty of shavings and paper down, their piddle still manages to soak through to the wood floor. I have an old yoga mat i put across the sofa for when their sat with me at night time (god reading that back.... i need to get out more!) so i dont find suprise droppings down the side of the cushions the next day! would it be safe for me to put a cut of it in the cage underneath the paper and shavings? I wouldnt want them to attempt chewing it and choke.

We only have a small back yard and no grass, so when the piggies are outside in their run i worry about them getting cold. Should i be putting hay in the run with them?

One last question! I'm thinking of getting a new piggy but not having kept them before i don;t know their reaction to newcomers. Mine are brothers and have been together all their lives, and the fact their little old men and probably set in their ways, i don't want to bring a baby in if its going to upset them or they'd hurt it. Any advice on this would be great.

Thanks for reading and look forward to chatting with you all

corrinna xx
 
I'm pretty new myself so theres only one question i can answer for you right now is the first one about veggies.

well ones to avoid are potatoes and lettuce (some types are ok)

for a bigger list go to the shopping list in the food section
 
Hellooooo!
That is lovely rehoming older piggies, well done you :)
I have a hutch indoors too and I got some cheap as chips stick on vinyl tiles and cut them to fit and stuck them down on the floors of the hutch, no more pee leaking into the wood and easy to clean!
Have a look on the shopping list for suitable veg/fruit, it is at the top in the food section :)
As for introducing a baby to your boys, a probable no to that one. One boar could take to a baby but two and at their age would probably not work, it would be like leaving the grandkids with grandpa all the time ;D Could upset their bond too. Others may disagree but thats what I think...if it isnt broken, dont fix it ;)

Don`t have them in the run if it is wet/very cold, you can let them exercise indoors in the run instead, put old mats and towels down with newspaper underneath. If it is a nice mild day, maybe put an old blanket or fleece in part of the run outside and some hay, so they can snuggle if the concrete gets chilly!
 
Hey Corrinna :) Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy it here :D

There are not many vegetables that they can't have - potatoes, onions, garlic, leaks etc. are no nos...also don't feed iceberg lettuce. Most other vegetables and herbs are okay - have a look in the food section if you have time. Mine enjoy; cabbage, cauliflower, brocolli, kale, spinach, carrot, pepper, celery, sweetcorn (they love the leaves too)...and much more ;)

In the hutch I would put down lino. If you go to a carpet shop they often have offcuts of ugly lino pretty cheap which you can cut to size and put on the floor of the hutch ;)

I wouldn't put them in the run outside at this time of the year - they will be fine to go out in the run when it's warm in the summer but not at the moment. The temperature difference between going outside and coming inside is a lot and it can cause them to become ill. So really, keep them inside all the time or outside all the time (which I really recommend you should not do - it's very cold outside especially at night).

It's really up to you whether you get a third. If you plan to, please do not go to a pet shop or similar. Get in touch with a guinea pig rescue and they will let you take your boys along to try and get them to live with another piggy. If you buy one from a petstore, bring it home and they fall out then you have a lonely piggy. I personally wouldn't add a third incase it makes the pair fall out but it's up to you.

If you have a read around you will find lots of info :) Hope we hear more of you soon and maybe see pics of your piggies? :smitten: :smitten:
 
Thanks so much for your quick replies and i will bear all your answers in mind. really appreciate it O0
 
welcome Corrinna! :D thats great you decided to rehome 2 old men ;D ...well done O0

I'm the same as you - I have indoor piggies (in a Nero cage though), and I only have a back yard.... definately put lots of hay in their run to eat and snuggle up in so they are nice a comfy on the harder surface. Too much hay in the height of summer can be a bit too warm for them though O0 Fortunately my girlies run is under a carport so it doesnt rain on them and is cooler in the summer... and I can have a layer of newspaper to protect the ground from wee stains! I give them an oportunity to run around inside as well, in our utility room - where I put down tubes and boxes etc - I supervise them though. ;) This time of year they arent outside for long as it gets quite cold - but just enough time to have a change of scenery! My 2 tend to be more active inside anyway - outside, they are more lazy! ::) ;D

Hope you enjoy the forum and being a piggy mum :) cant wait to see some piccies of your boys! :D
 
Hi Corrinna
Welcome.
There is a post in the food section at the top, with an extensive list of foods for piggies.
I am sure someone will add a link if you can't find it. O0
Lokk forward to some pigtures. ;D ;D
Anne. :)
 
Hi there and wlecome to the forum from us in OZ :)

Sounds like you're doing a great job, and well done for asking all the sensible questions O0 O0
I see some of our lovely people have already answered you :)
Enjoy your piggies they're ever so addictive and rewarding :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
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