I want guinea pigs!

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kt1

Well, I have wanted them since I was like 5!grrrr
It has always been a no, but now I have almoooost moved out... and my parents have agreed!:))
Anyyyyway I have some questions...

What do you feed them?
What cages are good?
What bedding?
I am going to rescue them is this ok?
What will I put in their cage?
How do you sex them? (piiictures PLEASE!)
And um, can they live together?

My parents have never liked me looking about them so I know nothing...
rolleyes
 
Hello welcome to the world of guinea pigs they are best kept in pairs or groups, rescues is the best option and there are loads out there looking for homes sexing www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
this link should help (don't know why the writing has gone green) i feed mine on supa guina pig excel but check what they are currently being fed on if you are going to change it do it over a period of time pref 10 days and most of all have fun!
 
and also i house mine in a C&C cage which you build yourself its very easy cheap and by far the best guinea pig cage out there http://www.guineapigcages.com/

i would recomend finding a guinea pig savvy vet in your area as most cat dog vets have no idea about pigs where are you?
 
Hiya and welcome. :)

I find mine excel too. For a pair of pigs you'll need a cage 4x2 a Nero 4 from P @ H or a suitable hutch like the Lavander Lodge which is 5x2 or Sage House or Thistle Hall which are two story.

Bedding there are lots of options megazorb which is a horse bedding, hay and newspaper. I am using fleece blankets but you can get vet bed or pro fleece for animals.

Rescue is the way to go so well done for thinking of rescuing first. :)

You can put hay rack, igloos, willow balls, willow sticks in the cage.

They do love to live together just make sure you have a same sex pairing or a neutered boar and female. :)

Have a look on the forum there are loads of threads on different things. If you need anything just wheek our way! :)

Louise
x
 
Hi, many thanks sooo helpful - just curious, but if having to wean an underage piggie how would you go about this? What diet etc? Thanks!
8)
 
Pigs are usually able to eat solids from birth but sometimes you do have to help them along when ill or if they are newborns and for whatever reason can't suckle or mum has no milk or mum has sadly passed away during labour.

With babies don't syringe feed but offer food on the back of a tea spoon, this can either be mashed up pellet food like the excel I feed mine or critical care which is formulated for guinea pigs it is powdered and you just add water to it and syringe or spoon feed that way.

You don't need to wean guinea pigs as a rule though, they are born with teeth and are just mini replicas of their parents when born. Its amazing what they can actually do from birth. :)
 
Also how often do you feed them? How many fit in a nero 4? How many piggies in a group should I keep? Thanks
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
Pigs are usually able to eat solids from birth but sometimes you do have to help them along when ill or if they are newborns and for whatever reason can't suckle or mum has no milk or mum has sadly passed away during labour.

With babies don't syringe feed but offer food on the back of a tea spoon, this can either be mashed up pellet food like the excel I feed mine or critical care which is formulated for guinea pigs it is powdered and you just add water to it and syringe or spoon feed that way.

You don't need to wean guinea pigs as a rule though, they are born with teeth and are just mini replicas of their parents when born. Its amazing what they can actually do from birth. :)
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I didn't notic this but thanks v much! My friend is buying from PAH will they bee too young what is the general age from there? And should she buy any extreas extra?
She is convinced that she is buying from there!:{
 
Two pigs is usually works fine i would say two in a nero 4 i feed twice a day they are very greedy tho!
 
Yes but I have had rats from there about 3 weeks is it the same with piggiesrolleyesmallethead
 
p @ h tend to shock me a lot you would have to ask the store i would advice staying away from pet shops as there are so many gps rats rabbits etc through no fault of there own homeless and more often than not if you want a baby rescues will have some
xx
 
I know same here, I was just wondering that is that a danger to my friends piggies?8;)
 
it is very stressful for them to leave there mother and then to go in to a pet shop before 6 weeks is awful its a very scary place i would suggest to her to go to a more independent pet shop if any
xx
 
There is also the problem of inbred pigs from petshops, mis-sexed pigs and health problems which can be anything from genetic to mites. I've three pet shop pigs and thankfully they are ok, but I had one that wasn't. It put me off. :(
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
There is also the problem of inbred pigs from petshops, mis-sexed pigs and health problems which can be anything from genetic to mites. I've three pet shop pigs and thankfully they are ok, but I had one that wasn't. It put me off. :(
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I know, she is short of money but I see this no excuse if she can't afford the pet don't buy the animal!mallethead
 
Guinea pigs are usually weaned at the age of 21 days aslong as the pigs are eating drinking and passing normally they should be ok
xx
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
There is also the problem of inbred pigs from petshops, mis-sexed pigs and health problems which can be anything from genetic to mites. I've three pet shop pigs and thankfully they are ok, but I had one that wasn't. It put me off. :(
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But then couldn't you end up with a pet shop guinea pig anyway from a rescue centre?!

My 2 were from P@H and they have been fine - I was told at the time that they were between 8 - 12 weeks old! Obviously I don't know the background of them but then you never do from a rescue place anyway.

However, if I ever get any more guinea pigs I will always get them from a rescue place in future. And would encourage anyone thinking of getting piggies to do the same!

p.s welcome to the forum! :)
 
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kt1 said:
I know, she is short of money but I see this no excuse if she can't afford the pet don't buy the animal!mallethead
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If she is short of money, then I think she should re-think about getting any animal. It can be expensive to begin with buying everything that they need - then you have to continously buy them bedding, hay, dry food and fresh veg/fruit. And hopefully not, but you may need vet bill money too.
 
Angeladeedah said:
But then couldn't you end up with a pet shop guinea pig anyway from a rescue centre?!

My 2 were from P@H and they have been fine - I was told at the time that they were between 8 - 12 weeks old! Obviously I don't know the background of them but then you never due from a rescue place anyway.
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I have 2 from P @ H at the mo and they are great, Sunshine was from another pet shops and no problem with him. Of course you could end up with a pet shop pig in rescue but buying from pet shops you don't know if they have came from an animal mill or in my case end up with a dead guinea pig 4 months down the line becauce of genetic problems. :(
 
have to say that if she doesnt think she has the money she certainly shouldnt be getting a pet, my 4 guinea pigs i have just had to rehome as i just couldnt afford them, with their bedding/food/hay/veggies they cost around double what my dog does to keep each month :( and if she is buying from p @ h then they cost more from there than anywhere else i have seen. ask her if she can afford the upkeep plus additional vets bill which mount up very quickly, especially with petshop pigs who could be suffering from all manner of ailments, if her answer is either no or i hope so, she shouldnt be taking on the responsibility in my eyes. good on you though for researching every option before you commit instead of just racing out and buying the first pig you see ;) hope you find your perfect rescue piggies soon :)
 
Thank you and I apologise for bringing this back up... thanks for the advice my connection was cut off, but I have 2 sows!:))
 
Sorry didn't see these posts... yeah I have told her that, she said she might get rats:o
 
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