Considering introducing another guinea pig to 18month old piggy.

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Piggienewbie

Piggienewbie

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Hi, I have had my piggy since May, when I re-homed her for a friend. She is a lovely girl, very quiet, but I feel mean for her being alone. I have been told that when she did live, very shortly, with another male piggy she responded well.

Because of her age to avoid any mishaps I would like to introduce a girl to live with her.

Do you have any similar experiences, or any advice at all that you might be able to offer. What sort of age should I go for, a young one? Would a rescue piggy of an older age be an option?

I am not rushing in to this decision, but I know I can cope with two Piggies.

We have this cage http://www.petsathome.com/shop/poppy-den-guinea-pig-and-rabbit-hutch-by-pets-at-home-16028 - she has plenty of space, and I have been adding boxes, making sleeping bags, and other features to fight the bordom, but would it be big enough for two. Or would I need an upgrade.
( BTW I won't be buying from them from P@H, it is just the cage she came with.)

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Hi & Welcome

Have you considered rescuing a nuetered boar to live with her? There are so many in rescue, and as a pairing, it would work well, otherwise another female would be a good option, either way, taking her to your local rescue and letting her find and choose her own friend would be the best thing, however you would need a much bigger space for them, i dont know if you have them indoors or not, but C&C cages are brilliant for indoor piggies, they can be made as big as you want and adjusted anyway, (much better than shop bought cages & MUCH cheaper too) Check out the housing section of the forum, brilliant tips, links and pics there.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53210

Good luck, keep us informed.
 
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I would consider it, but having read a few posts, and because of her age I woulf be worried about pairing her with one.

She is an outside piggy, because of the space in our house. So I will need to invest in another cage then, me thinks.

Thank you for the link and response.

Does anyone know of any rescues in Birmingham?
 
Sorry do you mean you'd be worried about pairing her with a boar or sow? Her age wouldn;t make any difference hun.
 
With a boar. If she was to become with child ( some posts have mentioned the neutering not working) she hasn't had babies before, I would be worried.

Probably a very stupid reason to be worried, but I obv want to make sure she is not put in any danger.
 
Aw, dont worry, i have never heard of the op not working......i wonder if anyone else has? I think it would be a really good option, however as i said you could always take her to a rescue and let her choose a girl friend, sorry i am not sure about your area but i;m sure someone will be able to recommend a rescue to you.
 
I can only say that the following guinea pig rescues are all of a very good standard. I have rehomed both sows and neutered boars from them (after dating). None of the boars is allowed to be rehomed before his full six weeks of post operation wait is up and he is 100% safe. The rescue in Rugby uses one of the very best guinea pig vets in the country.

How old is your girl actually? I have dated mature single/bereaved/cataract affected sows with either gender on several occasions over the years at several rescues, always with great success. But you can never tell beforehand who they will get on with! Piggies have a way of surprising you... and always with a very affectionate bond!

I can warmly recommend these rescues who all allow you to bring your girl to make her own choice:
Redditch: http://www.hopperhaven.org.uk/
Rugby: http://www.rngp.org/
Stoke-on-Trent: http://www.thepotteriesguineapigrescue.co.uk/

Your nearest reputable guinea pig rescue would probably be the RSPCA Walsall, but to my knowledge they don't offer piggy dating.
http://www.rspca-walsall.org.uk/
 
Toffeewoffee said:
... however you would need a much bigger space for them, ...
Click to expand...

Sorry but why?!

The Poppy Den, as the OP has linked to, is one of the very few commerically available hutches that is a full 2ft x 4ft. I have three, the build quality is not great but the size is far more generous than a lot of other 'nice' hutches - it's one of the few things P@H get right this hutch!
 
Doeylicious said:
Sorry but why?!

The Poppy Den, as the OP has linked to, is one of the very few commerically available hutches that is a full 2ft x 4ft. I have three, the build quality is not great but the size is far more generous than a lot of other 'nice' hutches - it's one of the few things P@H get right this hutch!
Click to expand...

Sorry i misread the dimensions :red
 
Doeylicious said:
Sorry but why?!

The Poppy Den, as the OP has linked to, is one of the very few commerically available hutches that is a full 2ft x 4ft. I have three, the build quality is not great but the size is far more generous than a lot of other 'nice' hutches - it's one of the few things P@H get right this hutch!
Click to expand...

So would you say it is adequate for 2 piggies at the minute then?

Thanks for everybodies help. I am going to speak to the Redditch shelter a call tomorrow to find out the process.

Hx
 
2ft x 4ft is the minimum size requirement for 2 piggies, but if you have the space and funds bigger is always better :))
 
Piggienewbie said:
So would you say it is adequate for 2 piggies at the minute then?

Thanks for everybodies help. I am going to speak to the Redditch shelter a call tomorrow to find out the process.

Hx
Click to expand...

It is adequate size wise BUT you will need to seriously winter proof it or ideally bring it indoors or in a nice snuggly insulated shed. The build quality is really poor and I am surprised it hasn't leaked yet, mine leaked within two weeks so they all have the proper rainproof covers as well as my mum's DIY additions.

Most of my pigs are outdoors but it takes a lot of work (and bubble wrap) to keep them this way all winter, if you get two solid weeks of rain, thats at least three times you will be cleaning out with your raincoat and wellies on.
 
Hi, She is covered with layers and waterproof coverings, and the hutch is fine. I am not making excuses but she made it through last winter with much less I believe. Inside or a shed is not an option we do not have the space or a shed.

I am going to focus on making sure we are all sorted for winter before moving another piggy in, so i may now wait until spring.

Thanks for your advice.
 
If you are happy with what you have done, that's your call. My piggies that live outdoors are in very well built, not plywood hutches, with a layer of bubble wrap, then radiator foil insulation stuff, perspex over part of the doors, snugglesafe pads, lots and LOTS of bedding, and then a tarp over the whole lot. And I still worry!

A rescue will want to see similar measures before they rehome to you if they will at all, understandable some rescues will not rehome to me as I unfortunately don't have shed facilities or room indoors as yet (one day...)

I only speak from experience of these hutches, and the fact she has no other piggy to share body warmth with as yet.

Useful tip - a head torch is perfect for cleaning out on those dark nights when you can't see into the back of the hutch with a normal overhead light! Love my head torch (neighbours think I am mad, but that's what you have to do when you don't get home til it's dark, lol)
 
Useful tip - a head torch is perfect for cleaning out on those dark nights when you can't see into the back of the hutch with a normal overhead light! Love my head torch (neighbours think I am mad, but that's what you have to do when you don't get home til it's dark, lol)[/QUOTE]

I bought one for gardening before I got her. Thank you for the advice.

I have decided to leave this forum as I feel that rather than get advice about my question, the way in which I have chosen to house my guinea pig has been judged when there has been no evidence other than a link to the hutch that I was using to refer to for size advice, that she is not adequately looked after.

Everyone is different in their choice, and set of circumstances, but I feel there is a particular bias on indoor housing being the right and proper way, and anything else is not considered looking after our beloved animal.

Sorry if this seems out of line, but the fact that this has made me want to leave must say something about the way in which the approach to some responses has been.

I wish the forum all the continued success, but it is not the place for me.
 
Hi piggy newbie, I just wanted to say I know what you mean! I too have felt as you have and a bit like I have to justify my answers at times, but maybe that's just my intereperatation, who knows? I can't see or hear the way things are said, no mkore than people can see or hear the way I say things - the downside of reading what people say :/

My first 2 piggies (and I was all grown up by then lol!) were from rescue and housed in a large, brilliant quality home made hutch. It was January and they went straight outside into it. The rescue had no problem with this and vetted us. They lived well into their 7th year! I went on to have various other piggies over the last 10 years rehomed, rescued etc BUT that said I have learnt an increadible amount on this forum from my posts, posts by others' and the sticky's and I've only been here a few weeks having had a GP break for 3 years ish.

I would ask you to reconsider and stay with it/us, people on here at the end of the day have only the best interests of gp's at heart end of :)

In response to your initial thread I say go for another GP for sure to keep your girlie company AND help to keep her warm on cold lonely nights ;) best wishes xx
 
I feel you are taking these replies the wrong way. As you can see doelyicious keeps piggies outside. This is not a problem as long as adiquit measures are taken. However she is correct in saying many rescues will not rehome to outdoor hutches unless they are bought in for the winter (this is not bias, or being rude, just fact.) We all know personal circumstances are different for everyone and we aim to give advise on ALL topics that arrise in the thread. Your original question i believe has been answered quite thoroughly. People are only trying to help. Keeping piggies was a steep learning curve for me, and i wouldnt be without this forum. I hope you dont feel anyone was trying to persicute you however i dont feel anything said in this thread has been less than fair, honest advice. None of it has been rude.
 
Doeylicious said:
Useful tip - a head torch is perfect for cleaning out on those dark nights when you can't see into the back of the hutch with a normal overhead light! Love my head torch (neighbours think I am mad, but that's what you have to do when you don't get home til it's dark, lol)
Click to expand...

I went one better, I installed electricity in the piggies shed, when it's blowing a gale, tipping down and cold, I shut the door behind me, turn the light on, put the heating and the radio on and clean the hutches to my hearts content. Who says looking after piggies has to be uncomfortable. ;)
 
The Highway Man said:
I went one better, I installed electricity in the piggies shed, when it's blowing a gale, tipping down and cold, I shut the door behind me, turn the light on, put the heating and the radio on and clean the hutches to my hearts content. Who says looking after piggies has to be uncomfortable. ;)
Click to expand...

I am highly jealous of your shed :(

I am currently wondering if I can somehow weigh down a polytunnel onto concrete...
 
Connie said:
I feel you are taking these replies the wrong way. As you can see doelyicious keeps piggies outside. This is not a problem as long as adiquit measures are taken. However she is correct in saying many rescues will not rehome to outdoor hutches unless they are bought in for the winter (this is not bias, or being rude, just fact.) We all know personal circumstances are different for everyone and we aim to give advise on ALL topics that arrise in the thread. Your original question i believe has been answered quite thoroughly. People are only trying to help. Keeping piggies was a steep learning curve for me, and i wouldnt be without this forum. I hope you dont feel anyone was trying to persicute you however i dont feel anything said in this thread has been less than fair, honest advice. None of it has been rude.
Click to expand...

Hello, I wanted to respond to the comments that were left after i walked away from this thread. I didn't say anyone was being rude however I felt i was being pressurised in to conforming in a way in which I physically could not at the time. However.... since my last post, I had to make the decision to bring Hattie indoors.

On the day I went to buy her some indoor accommodation, i also found her a cage mate. In hindsight I also went about this in the wrong way, and I understand that thier indoor facilites are not on the deluxe side, but it is what I am able to offer based on space. To balance this out they have a home made run made from cooling racks and get floor time EVERY day.

I am looking to invest in a hutch for the warmer months and will look into improving the winter facilites for next year.

I want to thank everyone who posted, but I do feel that my opinion was justified, it was the way I felt.

Thank you again.
 
I am very sorry you were made to feel that way. :( Unfortunatly occasions like this often arrise on forums (where words can easily be taken very different from the intention they first had) I believe Doleylicious was just trying to warn you, before you invested in finding your girl a rescue friend that it might not be possible. (and what you could do to make it possible, if anything)

I am so glad she has a new friends and would love too see some pictures of the (almost definatly gorgeous) pair :)
 
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