buying advise

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cochon d'inde

cochon d'inde

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hello , this has probably been asked million times , looking to buy 2 guinea pigs . not had one since the 70s , fast forward my girlfriends son wants one now , what i really want to know is best to get 2 females , as boys tend to fight and don't want a fur fight on my hands :))
i do have a hutch i can split , but really don't want to do this , looking for harmony in the hutch , so would it be better to get young sisters that have not been split up ..
i live in the lichfield area , is there any good breeders or shops in this area who you would recommend to me , as i said I'm new to this ..
any advise on buying guinea pigs would be great thanks mat
 
Boars can get on great in pairs, I have 2 brothers who are fine together. It's also possible to get bonded pairs of boars from a rescue, this will usually be a baby and adult pairing. I really would recommend looking into getting your piggies from a rescue, they usually have babies and adults of either gender and there may already be pigs in pairs waiting for new homes. It's so much worthwhile than getting from a breeder or pet shop, also with a pet shop there can be the risk of any females you buy being pregnant. Hope this helps! :)

And welcome to the forum. :)p
 
Hiya Mat,

Welcome to the forum. I would say either boys or girls can live in Harmony. First things first, you have to remember Guinea Pigs aren't toys and the chances are very high that your Girlfriends son will get bored, what happens when this happens?

Guinea pigs need a minimum space requirement of 2ft by 4ft more if possible.

I would strongly urge you not to buy guinea pigs, and to rehome them bonded from a reputable rescue they will be able to provide the best pigs for your girlfriend son to suit him and ongoing support.

Rescues always have bonded pairs, and once boars get over there hormones they are likely not to fallout.

Please do have a look about the forum, we have advice on everything from diet to housing. Guinea Pig also do better inside, and your girlfriends son would enjoy them much more if he didn't have to go out in the cold to see them.

Guinea Pigs can be costly animals, when sick so please think about who will be responsible for the vet bills, and who will be sole carer as an adult will have to take responsibility for them.

Any questions just ask!
 
i totally agree , ive found 2 rory and ralf in my local rspca which i like the look off which I'm going to take a look at , just need to talk the others round

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They are very cute, and I'm glad your not taking piggy ownership lightly as they can be alot of work but are also fabulous pets.

Although they are very timid creatures, once they gain your trust they are brilliant there little wheeks and squeaks. I wouldn't be without mine but I could do without the Vet fee's. Monday gone I was out £80 for a Dental, unfortunately just becaue they are classed as small animals doesn't mean you pay less at the vets and as they are so complex you really need to find a good vet. Generally rescues use very good vets, so be an idea to ask the Rspca who they use so you are prepared if they get ill. :)
 
flintstones said:
Hiya Mat,

Welcome to the forum. I would say either boys or girls can live in Harmony. First things first, you have to remember Guinea Pigs aren't toys and the chances are very high that your Girlfriends son will get bored, what happens when this happens?

Guinea pigs need a minimum space requirement of 2ft by 4ft more if possible.

I would strongly urge you not to buy guinea pigs, and to rehome them bonded from a reputable rescue they will be able to provide the best pigs for your girlfriend son to suit him and ongoing support.

Rescues always have bonded pairs, and once boars get over there hormones they are likely not to fallout.



Please do have a look about the forum, we have advice on everything from diet to housing. Guinea Pig also do better inside, and your girlfriends son would enjoy them much more if he didn't have to go out in the cold to see them.

Guinea Pigs can be costly animals, when sick so please think about who will be responsible for the vet bills, and who will be sole carer as an adult will have to take responsibility for them.

Any questions just ask!
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hi thanks for advise
i feel my girlfriend son is ready for them as he has great love of animals , he has been walking a friends dogs for over 3 years come rain or shine , I'm sure I'm going to do my fare share off cleaning and caring but they will be his responsibility and i have faith he will do
 
flintstones said:
They are very cute, and I'm glad your not taking piggy ownership lightly as they can be alot of work but are also fabulous pets.

Although they are very timid creatures, once they gain your trust they are brilliant there little wheeks and squeaks. I wouldn't be without mine but I could do without the Vet fee's. Monday gone I was out £80 for a Dental, unfortunately just becaue they are classed as small animals doesn't mean you pay less at the vets and as they are so complex you really need to find a good vet. Generally rescues use very good vets, so be an idea to ask the Rspca who they use so you are prepared if they get ill. :)
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hi do you know how much vet insurance is on 2
 
cochon d'inde said:
hi do you know how much vet insurance is on 2
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To be fair, vet insurance isn't all its cracked up to be you can insure 2 only one company that does it that I know exoctic pets I think the company is called but there is alot of exclusions so not really worth the money.

What your best to do is put money aside into a vet pot. They don't always need a vet but it does happen I have spent around £500 in Vet Bills in the last year between UTI's, Diabetes and now a Dental I don't have much luck, which is why I always warn people about Vet Bills as I never knew they could cost so much!

How old is your Girlfriends son?
 
Ive met and cuddled both Rory and Ralph and they are simply gorgeous x)x)

There really is a lot to think about when looking to re-home guinea pigs

- Firstly as flintstones has already said if you are looking to get piggies for the children - THEY WILL get bored! My first guinea pig was a pet shop purchase for my son who wanted one for his 11th birthday - only a few wks down the line and he was bored and it was all a bit too much hard work! Piggies are not really pets for children, they need careful handling and most piggies i know don't enjoy being picked up

- They are not the cheapest pet in the world. Sure any pet shop will tell you they are cheap to feed/look after - but trust me they are not! i spent £41 alone the other day in Pets at Home (and that didn't include any of their daily veg - that was a separate cost) and i'll be back there again in two weeks time to purchase another two weeks worth of hay at a cost of £16.00. Also one of my girls had a growth inside her ear - the total cost of 3 vets visits and an operation and within 4wks she'd cost me over £180 in vet costs!

- Housing - where will you house your new girls or boys? A pair of guinea pigs will need at least a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft cage/hutch (obviously if you can provide bigger than this, then your pigs will benefit from more space in the long term). Also some pigs are not used to outdoor living (at the moment it's too cold anyway) so do you have adequate housing indoors either on a temporary basis or permanently?

- Lastly, you said you were looking for just two pigs - i bet you end up with more than that ;) Guinea pigs are extremely addictive little creatures and each one is very individual - i started with one and now have 7! If i had more room i'd most certainly have more!

I'm sure you'll find the right piggies for you and it's really great that you are looking to rescue as opposed to purchasing from a pet shop. I'm sure you'll make great piggie owners and join the ranks of us other piggie slaves :))
 
flintstones said:
To be fair, vet insurance isn't all its cracked up to be you can insure 2 only one company that does it that I know exoctic pets I think the company is called but there is alot of exclusions so not really worth the money.

What your best to do is put money aside into a vet pot. They don't always need a vet but it does happen I have spent around £500 in Vet Bills in the last year between UTI's, Diabetes and now a Dental I don't have much luck, which is why I always warn people about Vet Bills as I never knew they could cost so much!

How old is your Girlfriends son?
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he is 14
 
I would also say that adopting from a rescue is a good idea for you and for the pigs. It's very rewarding to give an animal a second chance and many rescues are having problems rehoming pigs because of the economic downturn. Whereabouts are you based?
 
Hi. I just wanted to add a positive aspect on having pets as a child.

We always had rodents, my mum grew up with rabbits and I can recall having either hamsters or gerbils at some point, even fish as well and we had 2 cats at all times. At a young age the responsibilty was with mum to clean and look after them but as we became older myself and my brother (who is younger) wanted to become more involved in looking after the pets and I even as a stroppy teenager would take solice in grooming and feeding the cats. At 14 I ws allowed my own pet and she was my complete resonsibilty, I had a hamster (who sadly had wet tail and only lived 18 month), she bit me always and I still loved her. My brother had a rabbit, he has a learning difficulty and mum would help him out with cleaning out but smudge was his responsibility, when smudge passed my brother then had fish and again he helped with the cleaning and was extreamely responsible.

I sit here now having been responsible for over 600 goats on a farm as herdsman, a job I loved and I have my own dog which I have looked after through all sorts of illness. Would I let children learn the responisbilities of pet ownership - yes, would I also be prepared that they will find them a chore - yes, but I loved that I got to grow up learning the right way to look after animals - our previous rabbit daisy could only be handled by mum and myself. I have been bitten, scratched and covered in poop and I wouldnt swap the experience for the world.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum, your girlfriends son sounds very similar to my daghter and i just want to put across the other side of the story that not all children get bored of pets. We have 4 dogs and my 14 tear old daugther has also come on walks with us come rain and shine and never bored of helping us. I also brought our first 2 pigs for my daughters birthday several years ago and although it is me that has become the guinea pig fanatic, now have 15,some living indoors, some living outdoors. My daughter has never got bored and although i am a bit obsessive about cleaning out the pigs myself, my daughter helps with every other aspect. When i work long days i am unable to feed the pigs so every morning my daughter goes out and feeds them before school and then feeds them again as soon as she gets back home from school, she never forgets, she never complains. She will unwrap the cover on the outdoor hutch if its going to be a nice day and then wrap them up again if its going to be wet.

She always takes out the indoor pigs and gives them a brush without being asked. Bear this in mind with the fact that my daughter suffers from epilepsy which has led to learning and behavioural problems. So i have every faith that there are children out of their that dont get bored and it can actually be really good therapy.

All the best, i do agree with the other views that rescue pigs are the best option xx
 
hi and thanks for advise

i have left a message with rspca , and waiting for reply , I'm not sure rory and ralf would be suited for us , as we plan to have them outside in summer and bring them into my garage in the winter in the colder months , whats your thoughts on lizzy and dizzy , to me they are perfect , if they are still available , fingers crossed

a bit more about my set up

hutch is a up and down with ramp 3x3 and 2 deep .. I'm currently building my own run so wont know size on that yet , any advise on that would be great as well .

there will always be somebody in the house at all times , as the girlfriend does not work

would like 2 guinea pigs is one for the son to learn the value of keeping and caring for an animal ,, and me and the girlfriend also want to care for one .

we are both very interested in having a rescue guinea pig , i feel this would be best all round ...

ill keep you posted how i get on ,

thanks again mat netty and jordan


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oh they are adorable! I hope they are still available and find their way to your loving home soon x)
 
From a mum's point of view not all kids get bored of animals, my 7yr old thinks she's a vet or Animal Psychologist.
Every morning she goes out to the shed and feed the piggies, she helps clean them out, she's always in there playing with them.
The inside piggy, well no ones allowed to go near her without my little girl being present lol, she helped to administer the medicine on her fur when it was needed, she calms her down in fact she even reads her school reading book to the poorly piggy (:{).
My youngest loves her animals and she is always (this is gross lol) wanting to bag the dog mess up off the garden (it is cleaned everyday) but it's like she waits for them (strange child lol).
Our guinea pigs give a lot back to my daughter, unlike our dogs (who can be a bit mad) they'll happily sit on her lap for cuddles and brushes and my daughter seems calmer for it.
If he really wants a pet then I'd say (providing you accept overall responsibility) a guinea pig would be a fine choice :).
Just don't forget to upload loads of pictures when you get them xx
Oooh and welcome to the forum xx
 
I think when it comes to children and pets sole/ultimate responsibility should lie with the parent/carer because when the child does have more important things to do, then there will always be a person present to take on the animal's care - and let's face it guinea pigs are not the easiest animal to look after, in my opinion they require lots of care - far too much for one child to take on all by themselves!!

cochon d'inde - do you have space indoors for a permanent cage setup? Only reason i say this is because you and your children (and of course the piggies) will be able to have much more interaction. Plus from reading the re-homing adverts - most are indoor pigs any will require indoor accommodation only!

I'm not too 'up' on outdoor piggie lifestyles but i always thought that a pair/group of piggies that had always lived indoors had to remain that way as temperature changes could have serious complications, and likewise those that have lived outdoors should stay that way accommodation wise...

Is your garage used by you (i.e do you use it for your cars)? I'm sure i read somewhere (on a rescue site) that housing guinea pigs in a used garage was a big no no due to fumes etc...

All you need for a pair of piggies is a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft indoor cage - ive read somewhere that this cage has been approved by the RSPCA for re-homing requirements (plus it only works out at just over £39.00 with your 10% first order discount):

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/209457

Looking for piggies is always exciting - i'm sure you'll find the perfect piggies for your family :) Don't forget to keep us updated! We actively support picture spamming of the piggie kind ;)
 
Sodapops said:
I think when it comes to children and pets sole/ultimate responsibility should lie with the parent/carer because when the child does have more important things to do, then there will always be a person present to take on the animal's care - and let's face it guinea pigs are not the easiest animal to look after, in my opinion they require lots of care - far too much for one child to take on all by themselves!!

cochon d'inde - do you have space indoors for a permanent cage setup? Only reason i say this is because you and your children (and of course the piggies) will be able to have much more interaction. Plus from reading the re-homing adverts - most are indoor pigs any will require indoor accommodation only!

I'm not too 'up' on outdoor piggie lifestyles but i always thought that a pair/group of piggies that had always lived indoors had to remain that way as temperature changes could have serious complications, and likewise those that have lived outdoors should stay that way accommodation wise...

Is your garage used by you (i.e do you use it for your cars)? I'm sure i read somewhere (on a rescue site) that housing guinea pigs in a used garage was a big no no due to fumes etc...

All you need for a pair of piggies is a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft indoor cage - ive read somewhere that this cage has been approved by the RSPCA for re-homing requirements (plus it only works out at just over £39.00 with your 10% first order discount):

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/209457

Looking for piggies is always exciting - i'm sure you'll find the perfect piggies for your family :) Don't forget to keep us updated! We actively support picture spamming of the piggie kind ;)
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hello , they will be outdoors as no room in the house , the garage is mainly for if we have bad weather like we did this year , garage is not used for vehicles it has power and lights , this i would thought would have been a good time off year to introduce gp's to outside living , interesting point about house and outside gp's , i have not spoken to them yet at rescue centre to see what will be best suited to my situation ... thanks mat
 
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