I feel like I've finally got it sussed!

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Lisajazz

Lisajazz

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Well it's not far off a year from when we got out first guinea pigs and things have changed so much since we started. Today I felt like I finally have it sussed. I have worked out how often to clean and how to best spot clean. I have the pellets sorted out - it's a mix of burgess and oxbow from now on. I have the hay sorted - they have 2 types and the odd other one from time to time as a treat. I finally feel like I'm really 'in the groove' with the whole thing!

Dangerous words? I hope not!

There is going to be upheavel when Orson gets introduced to the girls as we will be dismantling the cage and changing it a bit but other than that I don't have any other changes in the pipeline.

Does everyone else feel like they've got it sussed?
 
erm...no :))

Well, I kinda did but now I'm looking at changing their food from mix to pellets so I'm back to square one :)

Glad you have it all sorted, I bet your piggies will love having a new cage set up.
 
Everything except the veg that's still a work in progress :))
 
Mostly apart from getting this new piggy mansion done for when Patch is ready to go with the girls minus his bits.
 
Great to hear things are working so well for you Lisa. :)

I'm always going back to square one in various areas. Right now there is a lot of upheaval (in my mind, anyway)...I'm planning to start using a traditional bedding of some sort in the hay trays, because the newspaper isn't lasting and there is too much hay being wasted. I'm gradually changing my pigs over to a pelletless diet, which means a lot more hay, and completely turning the veggie diet around too. And I have a typed plan for the toys rota (who gets what and when in their cages - I used to waste so much time trying to figure it out!) AND a list of who gets floor time when. Having five groups takes a lot of organisation! :))

I've had guineas for over 6 years now and usually have a change of some sort every year, when I learn more and discover new ideas and ways of doing things.

I think there is only so much I can get sussed out to my liking while living with my parents. Ideally I would have my own place so I can do everything as and when I want to. Washing machine just for the pigs, a place to get all the fleeces and towels dry quick with the option of a tumble dryer, a proper "piggie bathroom", a proper little medical room.......I can see it all so clearly that I don't think I'll ever feel quite satisfied with the best I can do at this time.
 
Whenever I think I have it sussed there is something to throw me...
RIGHT ON THE NEXT DAY!

New behaviour or illness; right now it's food not agreeing with one of my piggies... There is always something to do better or differently!

Sussing is process, and I am certainly a lot more knowledgeable than I was was when I joined. My piggies have a wider diet, better pellets, a bigger cage and fleece. And there are lots more piggies in the first place!
 
I don't think i'll ever have illnesses sussed, not at all not ever. That frightens the life out of me!

And I know me - I change things too. But for the right now i'm happy with the set up and so are the pigs, they are happy creatures.

Laura your plans sound brilliant! I don't live with my parents but you sound like you'll have a fine set up when you have a house of your own.

I realised today that i'm finally feeling confident with everyday care!
 
I don't think you can ever truly suss out your guineas, they add something different to your life everyday that's why piggies are so special. I'm a lot lot more knowledgeable sine coming onto this forum and have changed diet (dried and veggies), increased cage size, new toys ect. It really has helped to keep my piggies and make their lives better and funner.
Sounds like what I want. A whole room for my piggies to be safe a sprint around, a little medical room and their own on-suite, a big stock of loads of different toys. I must sound a bit looney Hopefully one day I'll be able to have this..........
 
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Glad to hear everything is going well Lisa. :)

I've kinda sussed it but there are loads of changes I would love to make but, mostly due to space restraints, I can't.

I would dearly love for my girls to live indoors full-time in big C & C set-up but due to lack of space, it just isn't feasible :( So in late Spring they'll be going back out into thier hutch. To be honest, they do seem to love thier hutch, although I suspect that this has more to do with the mountains of hay in there more than anything else! :(|)

I would like the to have a bigger hutch for summer, prefrably with a built in run, but I don't think that is going to happen - not til much later in the Summer at any rate. We have a shed on order for them which will need kitting out before late Spring when they'll go back out too

Oh, and I'd love to add a little boy (or another girl) to the group eventually ;)
 
Oh gosh no, the veg ratios still baffle me and probably always will, I need to find a way to stop the hay getting all over the fleece and I feel I need a bigger cage. grrrr
 
Well my cage is well and truly sorted and all the pads and piggybedsheets are made. I am definitely changing their pellets as found out that excel pellets are made on the same line as dog food and friend says she has found some dog food in her guinea pig food:)>>> so changing to science selective numbers wise i am sticking with 3:(|)
 
lovelygirl said:
Well my cage is well and truly sorted and all the pads and piggybedsheets are made. I am definitely changing their pellets as found out that excel pellets are made on the same line as dog food and friend says she has found some dog food in her guinea pig food:)>>> so changing to science selective numbers wise i am sticking with 3:(|)
Click to expand...

Are you serious?! I use the excel blackcurrant and oreono one... I think I may be moving more and more towards that pellet less diet!
 
yes i am serious Joanne, science selective is processed in a meat free environment....
 
I also found a dog pellet in my burgess BUT I am staying with it. It's high in vitamin C my lot don't like science selective and I have heard of a guinea getting it stuck on their teeth (because of the little hole in the middle) and my vet recommends the burgess one.

Mine have Oxbow cavy cuisine mixed in too - wish I could afford just that but it's expensive so it's that and burgess for my babies. I'll just remove any dog biscuits, they are huge and east to spot.
 
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