Hello i am new, is 5 to young for Guinea Pigs?

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bbear690

bbear690

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I have a 5 year old Animal lover, even her teachers say how gentle she is and talks about animals all the time, she is almost crazy lol

Anyway she really wants guniea pigs, i use to have them before the children but never had them since having them, i have a little girl who has special needs and i think it would be nice for her too

do you think 5 is too young to look after a guinea pig, have you got children and piggies

i have a lovely grassy area that i can pen off so they will get lots of excersize and also a shed they can go into in the winter
 
Guinea pigs make great pets for the family but should always be in the care of an adult. Your daughters could hold them and feed them with your help and supervision, but it would be up to you to make sure they are fed and cleaned out regularly. :)
 
Hi

My personal opinion is that 5 is too young to look after them, my mum had guinea pigs when I was that age but they were her piggies. I got to have cuddles with them but all the responsibility for them was hers.

It would be good for her to help with feeding but I wouldn't expect her to remember to do it on her own & clean them out etc...

x
 
Yeah i know i will be the main carer,

She has got a bearded dragon which she has had a for a year and a half but she can't really clean him out as she can't reach into his viv but she gets all his food together and helps bath him etc but i said if she gets the guinea pigs she has to feed them every morning b4 school and she will play when she gets home check hay and water, i will obviously help her but i really think she will do her best bless her, she is very excited :)
 
Hi. :)p Welcome to the forum. Great that you're doing your homework before committing to getting guinea pigs. They are wonderful pets. There's lots of useful info on the forum but feel free to ask as many questions as you want. :)
 
i always read up on anything before i get lol i am quite particular about that :)

I have been looking at the little fleece blankets for them, what is you thoughts on these, they look so cosy, i am sure i could make them myself too

forgot to say

My name is becky and i am 28, Married to Tim and have 3 children Aimee 8, Millie 5 and Ellis 4
We are a very close and happy family and love animals ( well me and Millie more than the rest lol)
 
Hi Becky,

Are you planning on keeping your pigs indoors or outdoors? Fleece is more suited to indoors. Most of us (who use fleece) use cheap fleece throws with either towels or washable incontinence pads underneath. You can also make fleece beds and cosies with cut up fleece and wadding. Pigs love these. :)
 
Hi,
I would say get her a couple of piggies as you already know you will be in charge really LOL
My daughter was desperate for a bunny a couple of years ago. I didnt realise just how desperate she was until I went to parents evening and read her books. In numeracy she counted, took away and did her times tables using rabbits. In literacy, every page had written work about rabbits. In art, the only pictures she drew were rabbits, we even had a clay rabbit. Needless to say we are the proud owners of 2 bunnies how are cared for by my daughter under the supervisoin of us !
There are plenty of rescues on here, our piggies came from Nutmeg who rescues for Becklen, my children still talk about the day we went to collect them, they say Nutmegs piggie house is better than any pet shop :))
 
flips said:
Hi Becky,

Are you planning on keeping your pigs indoors or outdoors? Fleece is more suited to indoors. Most of us (who use fleece) use cheap fleece throws with either towels or washable incontinence pads underneath. You can also make fleece beds and cosies with cut up fleece and wadding. Pigs love these. :)
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The piggies will live outside, i already have a hutch
i also have a large shed that they can go in in the winter or i might bring them in, depending how cold it gets xx
 
As long as you know that you have to supervise and carry the responsibility for the guinea pigs' feeding, cleaning and care in practice and law, I don't see a problem. You know your daughter best. Several members on here have small children, but are mindful that the guinea pigs are theirs to look after.

You might find this thread about what to all consider before you acquire guinea pigs helpful: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36801

Please be mindful that guinea pigs are social animals and should not be rehomed alone. It would be great if you'd think about rehoming from a reputable guinea pig rescue. They rehomed only guaranteed healthy, properly sexed and not pregnant piggies, something you sadly still cannot say of shops. They will also support you during the settling in period.

You will need at least 2x4 ft minimum space for one or two guinea pigs, ideally more, especially if you are going for boys.

Here is a list of guinea pig rescues in Britain:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
Or you can post in the rescue-wanted section. Please state you area so that rescues active on here know whether to contact you.

Have a good browse of the forum; we have lots of information, especially in our reference section as well as at the top of the other sections. For housing, have a look through our cage and hutch gallery (best start from the end).
 
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Sorry, double post!
 
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In my opinion, I think guinea pigs make lovely children's pets. :) They are gentle, don't bite or scratch and are just generally lovely animals. However, with your daughter at the age of 5, you would have to be the main carer, for example: make sure they get fed everyday, cleaning them out etc, although I'm sure your daughter would love to help you out and really they'd be her pets. ;) You said you'd be the main carer anyway, so that's great! :(|) I am 14 now and I got my 2 guinea pigs when I was 9, they are still alive today! :(|) Your guinea pigs (providing you get some) will probably live for a long time and when your daughter reaches the age of 9 I'm sure she'll be very responsible and will love them very much! x)

Good Luck with choosing the perfect guinea pigs if you decide to go ahead with it. x
 
Wiebke said:
As long as you know that you have to supervise and carry the responsibility for the guinea pigs' feeding, cleaning and care in practice and law, I don't see a problem. You know your daughter best. Several members on here have small children, but they know that they are their pets.

You might find this thread about what to all consider before you acquire guinea pigs helpful: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36801

Please be mindful that guinea pigs are social animals and should not be rehomed alone. It would be great if you'd think about rehoming from a reputable guinea pig rescue. They rehomed only guaranteed healthy, properly sexed and not pregnant piggies, something you sadly still cannot say of shops. They will also support you during the settling in period.

You will need at least 2x4 ft minimum space for one or two guinea pigs, ideally more, especially if you are going for boys.

Here is a list of guinea pig rescues in Britain:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp
Or you can post in the rescue-wanted section. Please state you area so that rescues active on here know whether to contact you.

Have a good browse of the forum; we have lots of information, especially in our reference section as well as at the top of the other sections. For housing, have a look through our cage and hutch gallery (best start from the end).
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Sorry just wanted to point out that the origional poster said "guinea pigs". ;) I don't think she intends to just get one. :) Sorry, I'm not being rude, it can get irritating when people say make sure you get more than one when they already know. :(|)
 
Fudge and Rainbow :) said:
Sorry just wanted to point out that the origional poster said "guinea pigs". ;) I don't think she intends to just get one. :) Sorry, I'm not being rude, it can get irritating when people say make sure you get more than one when they already know. :(|)
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Thanks Hun, Yes i would definetly get 2 :) that will be my 4 year olds but i have a feeling he will get bored and they will soon become mine and millies lol

Names have already been chosen

Choo choo and Fluffy :) bless lol
 
Fudge and Rainbow :) said:
Sorry just wanted to point out that the origional poster said "guinea pigs". ;) I don't think she intends to just get one. :) Sorry, I'm not being rude, it can get irritating when people say make sure you get more than one when they already know. :(|)
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Sorry - time for bed to me, my eyes are getting strained! I did not intend to upset anybody; just have come across several posts from people wanting to acquire single piggies lately.
 
Wiebke said:
Sorry - time for bed to me, my eyes are getting strained! I did not intend to upset anybody; just have come across several posts from people wanting to acquire single piggies lately.
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thats ok hun, nice to know you care about them :):):)

Night night xx

I will be in bed soon too, up and 6.30 tomorrow happy times lol
 
Wiebke said:
Sorry - time for bed to me, my eyes are getting strained! I did not intend to upset anybody; just have come across several posts from people wanting to acquire single piggies lately.
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It's fine. :) I was talking to a friend today who has a single guinea pig and I've been trying to persuade her to get another! Christina who is a member on here, (user name is peanuttheguineapig) both her guinea pigs gave birth to babies. She has a few boys still looking for homes as someone who was taking 2 dropped out, so I may have persuaded her to get one of the babies to live with her single boar! :(|) Which is good as I hate to here about lonley guinea pigs. :( I understand you're only saying it for the guinea pig's sake and because you care. :) xx
 
i am getting excited now lol

I Love ALL animals and would love to live on a farm in the country one day :)


will look forward to getting lots of tips and help from everyone on here xx
thanks
 
Sounds like your daughter is very excited :) (and you too ;) )

I have always had pets throughout my childhood. One of my earliest memory was our very grumpy rabbit Scooby-Doo (named by three year old me :)) )

We also had dogs, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, a cat and (too briefly) a chinchilla.

It taught me to respect animals and gave me a sense of responsibility when I was little (as well as fuelling my love for them ;) )

I'm 30 now and have a cat and three piggies of my own.

I'd say go for it :)
 
I think it's fine, as long as you are prepared to do most of the care, which you obviously are. I think pets are great for children, especially something like a guinea pig, compared to a dog or something more difficult. :)
 
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