dont know what to do

[danniit]

i have had 2 guinea pigs for almost a week, it was a decision i took myself despite my husband saying no! i just figured by the time we got them and they were set up he would come around to the idea as we had discussed getting a small pet for our sons, it was just while we were looking into it, (weekly cost etc) the offer came up to have 2 4month old boars, a large hutch 2 feeding bowls and 2 water bottles, all for £15! i thought it would help us with the initial cost as money IS a bit tight right now. we are able to afford dry food, fresh fruit and veg, hay and sawdust for them weekly.

anyway, it has been a week, hubby says that the gps can not come into the house full stop unless they are in an indoor cage, i have covered the hutch with a sheet of tarpaulin to protect them from wind and rain. they are in a section of the garden where they are protected from wind and the front of the tarp isnt completely covering the front of the hutch so it has a good flow of fresh air through it.

hubby doesnt want me even talking about them! he says they are nothing to do with him and that they are my responsibility. which is fair as it was my choice to get them without him agreeing.

i am worried about them, i am worried that they are too cold at night, i worry that they need to be handled more, i feel quite overwhelmed by the fact that hubby wont help at all! part of me is thinking of looking for a new home for them, someone who is able to not worry about spending money on them and who is able to handle them more.

just had to get all of this off my chest as i know if i say any of this to hubby he will just tell me to find them a new home and that he told me so!

 

[lily 74]

Hi,

The fact that you took the effort to come on a forum and get advice for these piggies shows you care so I will try to help you out in this situation the best I can

I have 11 guinea pigs and my hubby also doesn't really share my passion.

There are things you can do to cheaply insulate the hutch if you can't have them indoors.

Use greenhouse insulation, e bay sell it for £1.59 a metre it is like really thick clear bubblewrap, use drawing pins to secure to back, sides and top of hutch.

Also an upturned box in the bed area with a cutaway arch, and plenty of hay to keep them warm. You can also buy snugglesafe microwave heat pads.

All is not lost, they can also still be handled, I used to have a foldup chair outside and sit them on my lap

Or if your hubby says you can bring them in if in an inside cage, you can buy these secondhand off e bay for around £20

 

[Pat Shields]

Another option is to have a child's playpen or other enclosure that you can adapt for the guinea pigs to move them in the house until you get a suitable cage. Aquariums are not recommended for long-term habitation, but surely something like that would be adequate in the short term until you get a cage. I have seen some lovely adaptations here of cupboards and cabinets and the like to house guinea pigs. The temperature is dropping; check on them often if they are outside and not completely covered.

 

[pookie]

don't know what to do

it's great that you have decided to take on two piggies but there can be problems during the winter month with housing etc, you've been given some great advice so lets hope that helps. if you have a shed a hutch could always be moved in there with a light weight cover, the tarp is okay but they must not have too much uncovered as piggies succumb easily to draughts, even if they are robust to cooler conditions. my furries have plastic camping sheets [poundland £1 for one]over the front of their hutches and it held in place with a couple of bricks or the like, this lets alittle air in but keeps draughts out, on nice but chilly days i use empty clear hay/straw bags over the wire mesh so they can see out but again, are protected form draught. hubby might learn to tolerate them in time,but don't hold your breath. hope it all goes well for you and your new friends, best wishes, pookie.

 

[christine]

Abit harsh but I would be tempted to ditch the hubby and keep the piggies---oh dear maybe I shouldnt have said that but I am feeling a bit raw this morning having just lost my lovely piggie Ralph.Sorry!

 

[lauralucy]

Abit harsh but I would be tempted to ditch the hubby and keep the piggies---oh dear maybe I shouldnt have said that but I am feeling a bit raw this morning having just lost my lovely piggie Ralph.Sorry!

this is what i would do if it were me no choice wouldnt even have to think about it!

hugs Christine, sorry for your loss x

 

[hazeyg]

Oh dear what a terribly tricking situation. How akward, hes maybe hurt you didnt consult him and for the moment sticking his heels in. I know you feel bad but could your try talking to him. Apologise for getting them without consulting him and explain you never meant ot hurt him and how awful you feel, I'm sure he wouldnt like to think you feel like your walking on egg shells aroud him and being a man doesnt realise the havok hes caused he he. Explain youve thought of rehoming because you really dont like the akwardness but fear theyd go to a bad home, especially now youve got attached. He may never warm to the piggies but will **** get used to the idea if he see's how much you care for them. Keep us updated....be thinking of you.

 

[Kym]

I am with Christine and Lauralucy. My partner isn't too bad but he definately doesn't share the same passion as me for animals. I am so happy to have found the forum, most importantly people who share the same passion for piggies!

Can't you sneak them in for a little cuddle here and there when he isn't looking hehe

xx