Home Check Worries - Piggies In Front Room

[LozzyBee]

Hi,

I'm getting started on boar dating for Barlo and having worries about where the cage is :-/

It's in our front room, which is a high traffic area as we don't have a hallway. There isn't anywhere else for it to go. It's a 3x5, so there's plenty of room, and it has never seemed to bother Barlo, but people have often turned their nose up when I've said its in the front room. We tend to sit on the floor in there and play board games, and Barnaby would always just come up and sit right by the bars and watch us - so he certainly seemed to like it!

The reason for the worries is that the rescue I'll be using does a home check...I don't want to fall at the first hurdle...but there's literally nowhere else it can go. The rescue we originally got them from just asked some questions and that was it, a home check feels 'proper'

Would something like that be an issue?

 

[flintstones]

I wouldn't imagine any rescue would have an issue with this.

Don't worry, sounds like a great home!

 

[Sue G]

My piggies are also in my front room - I can't see why it would be a problem. Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

[*kate*]

I too can't see any problems at all! Mine live in the dining bit of our kitchen/diner.

 

[LisaAli]

Our piggies are also in our lounge ... All 12 of them, so much so we had to remove one of our sofa's to accommodate them..

We would be lost if our piggies were anywhere else.. The interaction with us is great...

Lisa & Ali..

 

[theoretikos]

My boys are free range but their C&C is in the living room, no one has ever been bothered by it

 

[Wiebke]

My piggies have the full front half of our lounge. Rescues are happy to rehome to me.

As long as your piggies have plenty of room, are safe from any dogs, cats and unsupervised toddlers and aren't bothered by people walking by, then there is no problem whatsoever!

All the best and good luck!

 

[schnicksy]

my three live in my living too. When I adopted my fourth in Sunday I told them where they lived when I showed them a photo of the cage. They didn't mind at all - in fact I think they liked it as the piggies would get loads of attention!

Good luck. I hope it all goes wonderfully.

 

[LozzyBee]

Thanks everyone. I do like to have a worry! Well I don't, but it happens regardless lol. Good to hear we're not the only ones with them in the front room!

Sadly we're out of the area for the rescue to do a home check which I am absolutely gutted about as it all looks so good and thorough. The lady is seeing if there is anyone who can do it, and in the meantime has given me the name of another rescue closer to me. I've tried them already but had no response so I've tried again.

Ugh, we'll get there. It's just frustrating seeing Barlo on his own and I feel like I'm getting nowhere. He's quiet, not doing anything other than walking from the hay to a corner to eat... still eating, but slowly....he's just lonely I guess

Fingers crossed for this local one.

 

[TAN]

Mine are in the fornt room too - my home checker didn't mind (she came over from France! ) but she was visiting her mum for christamas and used to live in the same town - and knew my vet!

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hi,

I'm getting started on boar dating for Barlo and having worries about where the cage is :-/

It's in our front room, which is a high traffic area as we don't have a hallway. There isn't anywhere else for it to go. It's a 3x5, so there's plenty of room, and it has never seemed to bother Barlo, but people have often turned their nose up when I've said its in the front room. We tend to sit on the floor in there and play board games, and Barnaby would always just come up and sit right by the bars and watch us - so he certainly seemed to like it!

The reason for the worries is that the rescue I'll be using does a home check...I don't want to fall at the first hurdle...but there's literally nowhere else it can go. The rescue we originally got them from just asked some questions and that was it, a home check feels 'proper'

Would something like that be an issue?

Mine is in the living room as well & the TVs is on we're chatting laughing. It doesn't bother our piggies at all, we are always chattering to them as we go by.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Thanks everyone. I do like to have a worry! Well I don't, but it happens regardless lol. Good to hear we're not the only ones with them in the front room!

Sadly we're out of the area for the rescue to do a home check which I am absolutely gutted about as it all looks so good and thorough. The lady is seeing if there is anyone who can do it, and in the meantime has given me the name of another rescue closer to me. I've tried them already but had no response so I've tried again.

Ugh, we'll get there. It's just frustrating seeing Barlo on his own and I feel like I'm getting nowhere. He's quiet, not doing anything other than walking from the hay to a corner to eat... still eating, but slowly....he's just lonely I guess

Fingers crossed for this local one.

I hope every thing goes well, takes some photos of the set up, even offer to collect them for the home visit & take them back, that will save their petrol. Impress on them how lonely Barlo is.

 

[LozzyBee]

Thanks for those ideas @Tiamolly123 , I'll hopefully be in touch with her again tomorrow and could put some of those suggestions to her. My local rescue don't pair boars with boars as they neuter their boars so they can be matched with sows.

As ridiculous as it sounds I had a little boo hoo about it earlier :'(. I just feel like I'm letting Barlo down. The vet did suggest I'd have more luck if I neutered Barlo and paired him with a sow, but that's a last resort for me...and even then I'm not sure I could.

 

[schnicksy]

@LozzyBee you're not letting him down if you're trying your best to find him a new friend.

Have you tried the Blue Cross? I've adopted from them twice now and they've been great - my nearest centre is a long way away and they weee happy with photos. They don't neuter straight away I don't think? I have very limited experience so I can't offer any more thoughts.

 

[Anarchybmc]

All of my boys are in the living room too with no problems, the rspca home visitor didn't have a problem with it either I love having them right by me so I can watch them

 

[LozzyBee]

Right, firstly, I'm sorry I disappeared from this thread. I frequently search here when I'm looking for things, and sometimes the original poster disappears (or maybe starts a new thread?) and I wonder what happened next. I'm an overthinker and I worry about posting too much, then posting too little...I really need to just get over myself.

Sooo, to update - the rescue found somebody to come and do a home check \o/ She came last weekend and was lovely, really liked our 3x5 cage, and was happy all was well - even with him living in our lounge! So, tomorrow our little Barlo goes on a little holiday to hopefully find a new friend. I'm really hoping he'll find someone, and that a new friend will restore him to the Barlo we know and love. He's still very quiet, still not moving around the cage much...although saying that, he did popcorn during floor time this week for the first time since Barnaby passed :')

He'll be there for at least a week depending how the bonding goes, will be weird without him around. I'm going to clean the cage and leave it empty otherwise I know I'll keep going up to check on him

Thank you everyone for reassuring me, fingers crossed it all works out - I shall keep you all posted

 

[Anarchybmc]

Right, firstly, I'm sorry I disappeared from this thread. I frequently search here when I'm looking for things, and sometimes the original poster disappears (or maybe starts a new thread?) and I wonder what happened next. I'm an overthinker and I worry about posting too much, then posting too little...I really need to just get over myself.

Sooo, to update - the rescue found somebody to come and do a home check \o/ She came last weekend and was lovely, really liked our 3x5 cage, and was happy all was well - even with him living in our lounge! So, tomorrow our little Barlo goes on a little holiday to hopefully find a new friend. I'm really hoping he'll find someone, and that a new friend will restore him to the Barlo we know and love. He's still very quiet, still not moving around the cage much...although saying that, he did popcorn during floor time this week for the first time since Barnaby passed :')

He'll be there for at least a week depending how the bonding goes, will be weird without him around. I'm going to clean the cage and leave it empty otherwise I know I'll keep going up to check on him

Thank you everyone for reassuring me, fingers crossed it all works out - I shall keep you all posted

I hope everything goes well, all piggies have their paws crossed for you here please do keep us informed I love hearing how things worked out in the end!xx

 

[VickiA]

Good luck Barlo. Please behave yourself and then you'll come home with a new best friend xx

 

[LozzyBee]

Well, Barlo went in today. As part of the bonding he had a health check....and he had lice - loads of them

I felt so bad as I've twice queried lice with them but the vet has always said they're clear. They only ever checked them over by eye and I never questioned it. One even said that maybe I wasn't used to how much Guinea pigs scratch because I hadn't had any before!

Soooo, they're working with it but just means he'll be there for longer as they won't be able to introduce him properly to Elvis (his potential new cage mate - GORGEOUS!) for at least 7 days.

Would washing his bedding at 60 degrees be enough to kill any lice remaining? I am assuming they won't survive anyway as there's no piggie to feast on, but just wanted to check.

I'm assuming it hasn't come from the hay as I use dust free hay....but could it have? It will be painful to get rid, but should I? Is there any alternative?

Thank you as always!

 

[Tiamolly123]

Well, Barlo went in today. As part of the bonding he had a health check....and he had lice - loads of them

I felt so bad as I've twice queried lice with them but the vet has always said they're clear. They only ever checked them over by eye and I never questioned it. One even said that maybe I wasn't used to how much Guinea pigs scratch because I hadn't had any before!

Soooo, they're working with it but just means he'll be there for longer as they won't be able to introduce him properly to Elvis (his potential new cage mate - GORGEOUS!) for at least 7 days.

Would washing his bedding at 60 degrees be enough to kill any lice remaining? I am assuming they won't survive anyway as there's no piggie to feast on, but just wanted to check.

I'm assuming it hasn't come from the hay as I use dust free hay....but could it have? It will be painful to get rid, but should I? Is there any alternative?

Thank you as always!

Are they treating him,sounds the right temp to kill any mites. I think there is something you spray over the cage to disinfect it. I can't remember what it is though@Wiebke

 

[Crystella]

Are they treating him,sounds the right temp to kill any mites. I think there is something you spray over the cage to disinfect it. I can't remember what it is though @Wiebke

Sorted the tag for you

 

[Wiebke]

Well, Barlo went in today. As part of the bonding he had a health check....and he had lice - loads of them

I felt so bad as I've twice queried lice with them but the vet has always said they're clear. They only ever checked them over by eye and I never questioned it. One even said that maybe I wasn't used to how much Guinea pigs scratch because I hadn't had any before!

Soooo, they're working with it but just means he'll be there for longer as they won't be able to introduce him properly to Elvis (his potential new cage mate - GORGEOUS!) for at least 7 days.

Would washing his bedding at 60 degrees be enough to kill any lice remaining? I am assuming they won't survive anyway as there's no piggie to feast on, but just wanted to check.

I'm assuming it hasn't come from the hay as I use dust free hay....but could it have? It will be painful to get rid, but should I? Is there any alternative?

Thank you as always!

Are you talking about walking lice or fur/hay mites/static lice? The first re large enough tobe seen walking around in the coat. They live off the blood they suck from the skin.
The second are near invisible mites that glue their visible egg cases to the hair. There seems to be a bit of a plague around this year; mostly from people who are using imported dust free hay from what I can make out. We normally get cases in autumn, generally from people who use untreated local/equine providers' hay. Those hay mites are generally easily dealt with and their egg cases are slightly larger, whereas the current crop is more persistent and can be rather rampant. You are not alone at all with your experience, if that is any consolation!

 

[LozzyBee]

Are they treating him,sounds the right temp to kill any mites. I think there is something you spray over the cage to disinfect it. I can't remember what it is though@Wiebke

Thank you. They're going to shampoo him, he needs 3 over the next 3 weeks, so it could be that I have to do that final one if he's home by then. I'll give his bedding a good long 60 degree wash while he's away!

 

[LozzyBee]

Are you talking about walking lice or fur/hay mites/static lice? The first re large enough tobe seen walking around in the coat. They live off the blood they suck from the skin.
The second are near invisible mites that glue their visible egg cases to the hair. There seems to be a bit of a plague around this year; mostly from people who are using imported dust free hay from what I can make out. We normally get cases in autumn, generally from people who use untreated local/equine providers' hay. Those hay mites are generally easily dealt with and their egg cases are slightly larger, whereas the current crop is more persistent and can be rather rampant. You are not alone at all with your experience, if that is any consolation!

Thanks for replying. Sounds like the static ones - not seen on his coat at all, but loads of them under the microscope. Pesky things!

I've only opened one box of three (2 meadow and one Timothy) from dust free hay so I'm assuming I'll need to bin the rest
Any hay recommendations or is it just bad luck this time? Loathed to pay out again if there's potentially a dodgy batch of it. I won't tell the hubby, he has no idea how much I pay for that stuff....

 

[Wiebke]

As I use local sourced hay from a local independent pet shop, I can't really say which providers other people's hay is from.
If in doubt, I would not use it. perhaps other members can recommend other companies that they have not had any problems with.

 

[Tiamolly123]

I used to buy mine from the range, I did get a couple of bags from a garden centre & that gave my piggies mites. Pets at home I've never had any problems, but it's so expensive. Tell your hubby little white lies we all do that occasionally .

 

[flowerfairy]

Any news on the bonding?

 

[LozzyBee]

Any news on the bonding?

All going swimmingly so far apparently...almost too swimmingly - the people at the rescue seem quite surprised! Apparently Barlo and Elvis pretty much ignored each other when then barrier was taken down - no dominance behaviour from either of them at all! Nothing!...and then the next morning they were just sitting together quietly. So long as they continue to get along we can bring them home at the weekend

 

[Piggies4us]

I had a home check tonight and passed just fine! Our piggies will be in the lounge too

 

[Freela]

My pigs have always been in a high-traffic area in our family room. They are accustomed to the sights and sounds of daily life and I actually think it's a great spot for them, as they get a lot of interaction with the humans on a daily basis (the hamster, who lives upstairs, gets a lot less attention over the course of a typical day- of course, she's asleep in the daytime anyhow and the kids are around in the evenings so she still gets plenty of attention. But since the pigs are diurnal, I think having them in a populated area is actually a good thing!)