First time owner deciding on cage

They are very very cute! They look so tiny bless them... You forget how small they are! I love that little Giraffe bed... One thing I would suggest - maybe hang a blanket over part of the cage so they have a little covered up area..this might help them get a little braver...
 
artcasper said:
They are very very cute! They look so tiny bless them... You forget how small they are! I love that little Giraffe bed... One thing I would suggest - maybe hang a blanket over part of the cage so they have a little covered up area..this might help them get a little braver...
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that's a brilliant idea thank you, I have a spare fleece which i think will do perfectly x
 
Hi, I wasnt sure where to post this but i feel this thread has tracked my progress so just as a suggestion from me...
If anyone has any spare c & c grates we created our own play pen that is custom to the shape of our free space. We zip tied some together and created a pen that fits in the space next to my side of the bed. We have our bedroom in the attic and there's a set of stairs as well as many hiding places behind wardrobes and the bed etc which could pose a danger so if anybody wants a safe way to be able to interact with piggies I definitely recommend this.

Fitst, I set puppy pads on the floor then a fleece on top of that/ an old soft robe. Finally, I outline the edge with the cage making sure to cut off and secure possible exits.

This really helps bonding as it lets them come to me in their own time (with the assistance of treats) so now they are comfortable climbing on and playing around me). After 4 weeks they seem to trust me so much more; eating out of my hand, following my hand, coming up to me when I sit by the cage and so this is a great way to take things to the next step.

The best thing about this is it can fold away so you can put it away until your next use which is good if you're like me and appreciate things being storage friendly.
 

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Lisha said:
Hi, I wasnt sure where to post this but i feel this thread has tracked my progress so just as a suggestion from me...
If anyone has any spare c & c grates we created our own play pen that is custom to the shape of our free space. We zip tied some together and created a pen that fits in the space next to my side of the bed. We have our bedroom in the attic and there's a set of stairs as well as many hiding places behind wardrobes and the bed etc which could pose a danger so if anybody wants a safe way to be able to interact with piggies I definitely recommend this.

Fitst, I set puppy pads on the floor then a fleece on top of that/ an old soft robe. Finally, I outline the edge with the cage making sure to cut off and secure possible exits.

This really helps bonding as it lets them come to me in their own time (with the assistance of treats) so now they are comfortable climbing on and playing around me). After 4 weeks they seem to trust me so much more; eating out of my hand, following my hand, coming up to me when I sit by the cage and so this is a great way to take things to the next step.

The best thing about this is it can fold away so you can put it away until your next use which is good if you're like me and appreciate things being storage friendly.
Click to expand...
I've really enjoyed reading this whole thread in one go. I wish I'd found this forum before we got our piggies. We got 3 boys at the start of the year, and one unfortunately had to be separated, but he's in an adjacent enclosure to the other two. We've given up our dining room to fit them all in, but it's no hardship in comparison to the enjoyment we get from our wee hobbits. Frodo is in a 3x3 and Pippin and Merry are in a 3x4 but we have lots more grids and corex so the potential for expansion with loft area is still there.

I love your ideas for their cage and separate play area. We have extra grids as well which are cable tied into a 3x4 play pen that can be easily folded down, and we put this over a picnic blanket on the living room floor. We put extra connectors at the corners for extra support, and they have hideys and toys, etc. Our wee single boy, Frodo loves zooming round when it's his turn. They are far more active (and therefore entertaining) than I ever expected and seeing adverts for 'guinea pig cages' like the one you first posted really makes me feel so sad for all the poor souls who are living in these cramped and unhealthy spaces. The sellers of these are really taking advantage of unwitting buyers who believe they are doing the right thing. The space they need far exceeded our first thoughts, but thankfully we do have room enough to give them large living areas, as well as the extra play area.

The are our first family pets as well, and we love them so much and would do anything for them. I share your excitement and pride you have in your wee cutie pies.
 
Hobbits said:
I've really enjoyed reading this whole thread in one go. I wish I'd found this forum before we got our piggies. We got 3 boys at the start of the year, and one unfortunately had to be separated, but he's in an adjacent enclosure to the other two. We've given up our dining room to fit them all in, but it's no hardship in comparison to the enjoyment we get from our wee hobbits. Frodo is in a 3x3 and Pippin and Merry are in a 3x4 but we have lots more grids and corex so the potential for expansion with loft area is still there.

I love your ideas for their cage and separate play area. We have extra grids as well which are cable tied into a 3x4 play pen that can be easily folded down, and we put this over a picnic blanket on the living room floor. We put extra connectors at the corners for extra support, and they have hideys and toys, etc. Our wee single boy, Frodo loves zooming round when it's his turn. They are far more active (and therefore entertaining) than I ever expected and seeing adverts for 'guinea pig cages' like the one you first posted really makes me feel so sad for all the poor souls who are living in these cramped and unhealthy spaces. The sellers of these are really taking advantage of unwitting buyers who believe they are doing the right thing. The space they need far exceeded our first thoughts, but thankfully we do have room enough to give them large living areas, as well as the extra play area.

The are our first family pets as well, and we love them so much and would do anything for them. I share your excitement and pride you have in your wee cutie pies.
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Thank you so much its definitely been a journey and I'm so proud to be a piggy owner. I dont know what I'd do without this forum I mean that first cage looking back was awful. I definitely think that pet shops need to be more responsible for conveying how much space they really need but they are truly amazing creatures.
 
One thing I am feeling bad about is that I dont hold them with my hands. I love stroking them when they come up to me and i do a general health check with gloves checking them for lumps etc but i really dont like the feel of animals in my hands. So I dont hold them directly and am a bit worried it might impact them going forward however when the vet picked them up they seemed fine. They are super friendly now after 1 month of having them I spend at least an hour a day interacting with them so they come up to me and react to my voice. Does anyone else not pick up and hold their piggies? I'm quite happy letting them come up to me or reaching into their cage and giving them a scratch. When their nails need clipping I'll probably take them to the vets if anyone sees a real detriment to me not holding them directly let me know as I am a tad worried. As for transportation or catching them I use a cuddle cup. Thanks for everyone's help x
 
Lisha said:
One thing I am feeling bad about is that I dont hold them with my hands. I love stroking them when they come up to me and i do a general health check with gloves checking them for lumps etc but i really dont like the feel of animals in my hands. So I dont hold them directly and am a bit worried it might impact them going forward however when the vet picked them up they seemed fine. They are super friendly now after 1 month of having them I spend at least an hour a day interacting with them so they come up to me and react to my voice. Does anyone else not pick up and hold their piggies? I'm quite happy letting them come up to me or reaching into their cage and giving them a scratch. When their nails need clipping I'll probably take them to the vets if anyone sees a real detriment to me not holding them directly let me know as I am a tad worried. As for transportation or catching them I use a cuddle cup. Thanks for everyone's help x
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Mine always like to be patted and hand fed and just for me to sit by their cage talking to them, and taken to the vet for their nails and frequent checkups. That suited me and them. But then when my boar was ill, it was more stressful for him in the ten days trying to save him, of force feeding and syringe meds etc. Then I wished I'd handled him more. I don't really have an answer. Perhaps best once you are ready, to get them out once a week in their cuddle cup and weigh them and put them on your knee in their cuddle cup and feed them a little treat for a few seconds even, in case you ever have to handle them more due to sickness?
 
Black piggies said:
Mine always like to be patted and hand fed and just for me to sit by their cage talking to them, and taken to the vet for their nails and frequent checkups. That suited me and them. But then when my boar was ill, it was more stressful for him in the ten days trying to save him, of force feeding and syringe meds etc. Then I wished I'd handled him more. I don't really have an answer. Perhaps best once you are ready, to get them out once a week in their cuddle cup and weigh them and put them on your knee in their cuddle cup and feed them a little treat for a few seconds even, in case you ever have to handle them more due to sickness?
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I love having them in my lap as well sorry I didn't mention that. I have them in my lap and pet them like that and dont mind touching them. It is literally picking them up and holding them with my bare hands. I have no issue with touching their body parts or anything like that. Thanks so much for your reply xx
 
Lisha said:
I love having them in my lap as well sorry I didn't mention that. I have them in my lap and pet them like that and dont mind touching them. It is literally picking them up and holding them with my bare hands. I have no issue with touching their body parts or anything like that. Thanks so much for your reply xx
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I've seen a lot of people online use cuddle cups or similar to catch and pick up nervous piggies, so you could look at it as using the cuddle cup for a new and a wee bit nervous owner? They are tiny wee beasties, and they feel so fragile in our hands, my husband and daughter are better at catching them than me, so I let them do it most often and when I do catch them myself, I think I would feel more confident using something like a cuddle cup to do it. Holding them and petting them on my lap is such a lovely way to get to know them and for us both to feel more confident with each other.
 
Hobbits said:
I've seen a lot of people online use cuddle cups or similar to catch and pick up nervous piggies, so you could look at it as using the cuddle cup for a new and a wee bit nervous owner? They are tiny wee beasties, and they feel so fragile in our hands, my husband and daughter are better at catching them than me, so I let them do it most often and when I do catch them myself, I think I would feel more confident using something like a cuddle cup to do it. Holding them and petting them on my lap is such a lovely way to get to know them and for us both to feel more confident with each other.
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I agree I cant imagine how stressful it would be to try and catch them so I use the cuddle cups to pick them up. And I agree petting and holding them in my lap feels so lovely. Its literally picking them up if they're in my lap/at all that I dont like and cant do. I've just seen loads of videos of people holding them with just their hands and I cant do it, not just with piggies but with puppies, cats etc. I just feel bad I guess. Thanks for saying how lovely it is just having them in your lap, I love them
 
Lisha said:
I agree I cant imagine how stressful it would be to try and catch them so I use the cuddle cups to pick them up. And I agree petting and holding them in my lap feels so lovely. Its literally picking them up if they're in my lap/at all that I dont like and cant do. I've just seen loads of videos of people holding them with just their hands and I cant do it, not just with piggies but with puppies, cats etc. I just feel bad I guess. Thanks for saying how lovely it is just having them in your lap, I love them
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please don't feel bad about that, catching them in a cuddle cup takes the stress away from you, so they're not stressed either, then you all get to enjoy lap time = happy days
 
I handle my pigs quite a lot as a whole as I have one boy who loves to have a cuddle, and another who doesn’t mind a cuddle every now and then, they also have floortime around three times a week too. I don’t find that I pick them up and hold them in my hands a lot. I’ll do this if I’m transferring them in and out of the cage, or if I’m moving them in general, but it’s very rare that they’re actually physically held. I pet them when they’re in the cage and then when they sit on me for a cuddle, I just curl one of my hands around them but that’s it really. I can’t really imagine a regular, daily situation where you’d need to be holding a pig for a longer length of time. Don’t worry yourself, you’re doing great :)
 
It’s fine if you don’t want to touch ‘skin to skin’ so to speak. It’s obviously not detrimental because they’re thriving and enjoy interacting with you. I don’t really pick my piggies up except for weigh in (and health check) day. They generally don’t like being picked up but I accept that’s part of their nature.
 
Siikibam said:
It’s fine if you don’t want to touch ‘skin to skin’ so to speak. It’s obviously not detrimental because they’re thriving and enjoy interacting with you. I don’t really pick my piggies up except for weigh in (and health check) day. They generally don’t like being picked up but I accept that’s part of their nature.
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Thank you so much for this you've put it perfectly I truly appreciate everyone's help on here and I am trying to give them the best quality of life possible so as long as it has no detriment I'm glad I can go forward as is because the way it is right now is most comfortable for me and I'd never want to cause any undue stress to them either for the sake of me wanting to hold them. Snapchat-2093730360.webpSnapchat-1035797681.webp20200217_195753.webp
 
Funnily enough my boys run off if I’m wearing gloves 🤣
 
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