Getting a new pig

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dangerman

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 26, 2011
Messages
217
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Good afternoon,

My name is Chris and I have a few questions if I may. I am new to this forum so I will introduce myself over in the intros bit.

I will be a first time guinea pig owner once I have brought all the cage etc however I wanted to continue my information hunting before I make the commitment.

Me and my girlfriend will be getting a pair of pigs after we decided that a dog was too much of a step up from budgies :)

We saw lovely little cavies (spelling?) in pets at home and the girlfriend wanted to get two there and then. After having my fingers burnt with pet shops and budgies I thought I would be sensible and read about and research before I get them, even though it was hard to do as they were lovely little things.

I'm glad I didn't buy any as reading the many horror stories that are over the Internet knowing my luck it would happen to me :))

Anyway, I think I am decided on a cage (the ferplast 120 I assume its big enough?).

I wanted to get everything sorted before I got any guinea pigs so I will be buying the cage and the other bits over the next few days.

I am really keen on adopting a pair from a home and have found an RSPCA office near me that has plenty of homeless pigs.

Problem is convincing the girlfriend that this is the best option rather than the pet shop route. She wants the small baby ones whereas I am happy with any ages really. Any ideas how to suggest that this is definatly the right way?

Also, I know with dogs and cats the RSPCA require donations when adopting is this the same with pigs and typically how much would they expect?

Can anyone suggest any places other than the RSPCA around birmingham, west bromwich area?

I think I want two sows as reading some of the information over the net they seem to be a little easier to work with (cleaning of there private area is less frequent?).

I am sure i will have plenty more Questions but I shall leave it there for now.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to move this to the right place if its in the wrong area.

I look forward to talking to some of you soon.

Thanks in advance
 
Hi Chris, welcome to the forum!

The ferplast 120 meets the minimum size requirements for a piggy cage. You may want to look at home-built c&c cages too as you get more for your money that way.

Don't assume you can't get babies from a rescue, lots of sows come in pregnant, as you'll see from the rescue and rehoming threads!

I'm sure you'll find lots of useful information here, do have a good browse.

Kath.
 
Hi Chris and welcome to the forum.

Glad you're doing your research ahead of getting the piggies :)
As Kath has already mentioned lots of rescues have baby piggies or expectant mothers ( unfortunately ) so you can probably ask if there are any due that will need homes if your partner is dead set on babies. I would say though that they don't stay babies for long so you're not really missing much, as cute as they are - they can be quite shy and skittish whereas some older rescue pigs are already used to being handled etc and the best part of having guinea pigs is when you've earned their trust.
I think Ferplast do a bigger cage than the 120 so you might want to have a look at something a bit bigger rather than ending up buying another one later, there's usually some offers on websites like Zooplus and Petplanet. The other option that has been mentioned is of course C & C.
Good luck and hopefully you'll win your partner round to the rescue idea and not support one of these pet shops/supermarkets that just peddle misery. :(

Look forward to hearing from you on the forum when you've sorted everything out. I'm sure they'll be lots more members along shortly with help and advice. :)
 
Hello and welcome.
Well done to you for doing your research first and for wanting to go to a rescue. You're much more likely to get healthy, happy and properly sexed piggies from a rescue. I'm not much of an expert when it comes to rescues but there seem to be a lot of babies in rescues as a lot of the piggies come in pregnant and give birth at the rescue centre. All but one of my piggies have been a rescue piggy and they've all been young when I got them, 6 months at the oldest, its really lovely getting to watch them grow up. :) I recently adopted a little girl and the adoption fee was £20 for one piggy I think £30 if you adopted a pair. It does differ with different rescues but they all seem around that price range and all the money goes to helping the rescue.
I wish you luck with your search for piggies.
 
Hello,
A ferplast 120 is fine for two girls providing they get run time as well, but boys usually are better with a slightly bigger cage.

Local rescues - we adopted from walsall rspca who have thier own website, this explains the adoption fees. They are based more cannock end of walsall and do post on here (x vic x )
http://www.rspca-walsall.org.uk/

There is a relativly new rescue nuneton way called little thorns who have some lovely little baby girls in. Its run by another forum member claemw92.

http://www.little-thorns-rescue.co.uk/

I agree with Andrejane though, they are little for such a short amount of time that you may be better with slightly older pigs.
 
dangerman said:
Good afternoon,

My name is Chris and I have a few questions if I may. I am new to this forum so I will introduce myself over in the intros bit.

I will be a first time guinea pig owner once I have brought all the cage etc however I wanted to continue my information hunting before I make the commitment.

Me and my girlfriend will be getting a pair of pigs after we decided that a dog was too much of a step up from budgies :)

We saw lovely little cavies (spelling?) in pets at home and the girlfriend wanted to get two there and then. After having my fingers burnt with pet shops and budgies I thought I would be sensible and read about and research before I get them, even though it was hard to do as they were lovely little things.

I'm glad I didn't buy any as reading the many horror stories that are over the Internet knowing my luck it would happen to me :))

Anyway, I think I am decided on a cage (the ferplast 120 I assume its big enough?).

I wanted to get everything sorted before I got any guinea pigs so I will be buying the cage and the other bits over the next few days.

I am really keen on adopting a pair from a home and have found an RSPCA office near me that has plenty of homeless pigs.

Problem is convincing the girlfriend that this is the best option rather than the pet shop route. She wants the small baby ones whereas I am happy with any ages really. Any ideas how to suggest that this is definatly the right way?

Also, I know with dogs and cats the RSPCA require donations when adopting is this the same with pigs and typically how much would they expect?

Can anyone suggest any places other than the RSPCA around birmingham, west bromwich area?

I think I want two sows as reading some of the information over the net they seem to be a little easier to work with (cleaning of there private area is less frequent?).

I am sure i will have plenty more Questions but I shall leave it there for now.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to move this to the right place if its in the wrong area.

I look forward to talking to some of you soon.

Hi Chris. Well done for doing research before you get your piggies. There are loads of people looking for homes for their piggies on here so you may like to try them if you do not get the ones you found. If your girlfriend wants babies then there are many babies in rescue. There is a list of guinea pig shelters on the forum. You may need to travel but it would be so worth it. I personally would not get the ferplast 120 as it is small. The best thing is to get a c and c cage as you can make it big enough for the piggies not to need floor time. For first time owners older piggies are better as they are easier to handle and not so skittish. Although with boars you have to clean their grease gland this is not a difficult thing to do. You only need to look at all the threads on people whose guinea pigs from pets at home are ill to realise they are not the place to go. It is wonderful to rescue a piggy and ensure it is found a loving home. You can also be sure of the guinea pig being in good health and handled.
Click to expand...
 
I was really glad to read all of your questions, to see that there is actually somebody on this planet who is thinking about the responsibility he is taking on rather than just giving in to impulse and then having unwanted animals later. (Are there any available older guys like you at home?? :)p )
 
If you want sows ( boars are lovely too btw! ) there's a pair at The potteries, Holly and Ivy who are available and one of them is a little baby! x)
 
Hi Chris

Welcome to the forum. Great that you are doing your research first and that you are thinking about rescue. I can warmly recommend the RSPCA Walsall, they have an excellent guinea pig branch. Two of my own piggies are from there.

We also have rescues active on here who will rehome further afield, provided that a home check (sadly necessary after some people have lied through their teeth about conditions and purposes) and a transport can be arranged.

Getting a well bonded pair of boars from a rescue cuts down on the major source of problems with shop bought boars. Boars can be much cuddlier than girls, so it is well worth considering them.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciate.

I cannot believe some of the horror stories I have found both on here and on the internet. They all seem to come from the same places too, which is worrying.


I have emailed the guys at http://www.little-thorns-rescue.co.uk/ who emailed me back last night with some pictures etc.

I had a lovely response from the lady there who put my mind at ease regarding boars. I now have a choice between a pair of girls (14 weeks) and two pairs of boys (4 weeks).

To be honest I have read alot about boars which put me off, regarding the cleaning and the smell, as they are going to be house piggys.

My girlfriend and I want to be able (given time) to handle the pigs and I am under the impression that boys are easier to do this with? Is this the case?

Are boys really that smelly and more sensitive to clean? Do two boys fight alot?

As you can see I don't like choices all the suggested pigs are lovely. :)

Again thank you for your time and I am hoping I can contribute once I have some experience under my belt.
 
Just to add I am waiting for an email back as I am slightly confused over which pig is which. I think we both know the two were keen on but we don't want to get our hopes up incase the one we pick is the one already reserved :{

Were going shopping this afternoon for food and bedding, (still undecided on the cage) quiet like the c&c cages but my girlfriend isn't sure of my building skills :o

Can anyone suggest some good dry food and bedding? I have heard alot about the vet bed, is this better?

Thanks again
 
I'd recommend Burgess Excel nuggets. You'll get them cheapest online at Animed Direct ( I've found they have the best prices for a lot of things, free delivery too but it does take around about 3 days usually). Bedding, I'd recommend Megazorb ( or a similar horse type bedding, look at the threads for reviews ) but don't buy it online as the postage is prohibitive, find a local farm/pet/horse supplier. Everyone has a difference of opinion where bedding is concerned so in the end you'll have to do what everyone else does I think and try different beddings and see what works best for you and you piggies. I have meagzorb in the hayloft ( which is obviously stuffed full of hay ) and fleece ( with mattress toppers and puppy pads underneath ) downstairs with more hay in paper bags etc but have used woodshavings in the past, I'd always say Megazorb over woodshavings though as it stays dry and is easier to spot clean.
 
For bedding I really recommend fleece. I put a layer of towels down and two layers of fleece which can be bought cheaply from Primark. This is nice and cosy for guinea pigs. You have to collect poops two or three times a day and change it after three days. There really is no point to buy a cage as they are all too small. If you make a c and c cage the guinea pigs will have enough room and you will not have to let them out for floor time. For dry food never buy muesli. Nuggets are best. I would say Burgess Execell.
 
I'd also say Burgess Excel is a good food choice - it comes in two flavours too :)

I use megazorb for my indoor pigs, but i agree, you'll probably end up trying a couple of different beddings until you find one you and the pigs get on with best.

Don't be put off by boars! They are lovely and affectionate, and I personally have never noticed that they smell particularly strongly. Yep, you do need to clean their grease glands (which isn't too stressful) and check their bits (which is less fun) but it's only a little part of their care. They can fight when they go through puberty, but it doesn't always happen and I think the more space they have the happier they are.

I think you'll probably fall in love with the ones that are right for you (whether they're girls or boys), and when you're excited about your pets, you won't mind too much about doing about the less appealing aspects of keeping them healthy! :))

Good luck! :))
 
Hi
Thought I would add my two penneth worth - I have a boar (awaiting a wifepig) and 2 ladies - and yes boars can let off the occasional whiff ,but thats just testosterone when he has been near my girls - for bedding we use vet bed - can be shaken out and bunged in the washing machine and comes out practically bone dry afterwards (just wash in non-biological washing powder )- you can buy this on e-bay - its basically fleece with a backing that wicks away the urine so it stays dry on the top layer.
My big thing is Insurance - some people insure their piggies - some put money aside weekly in case of any vets bills - I look on guinea pig insurance the same way that I look at car insurance - you have it hoping you will never need it - it costs about £6.50 per month per pig to insure with exotic direct who are part of pet plan - there is a £50 excess and they do not cover for pregnancy or dental ,but an operation can run into hundreds or even £1200 (see the thread on Amandas sow Cameo ) - I have never had to claim (luckily ) but my boar Bumble had a badly sprained leg a couple of weeks ago and if it had been broken it would have meant a bill of several hundred pounds - so to my mind well worth the peace of mind - as I am on a fixed income and couldnt afford a huge bill if it were to arise - although insurance is a personal choice - hope you enjoy your piggies
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top