I'm new to Guinea Pigs

[nixie1990]

Hi
I'm new
I'm going to look at some guinea pigs next week. The ones I am looking at are around a year old.
I have a few questions
Noise wise: I know when they squeak it can be quite loud/high pitched, but how much do they do that? Are they going to annoy my family/keep us awake? Do they squeak all the time, really loudly, or is it just at meal times?

Also, the 14 month old boar that I am most interested in (havent yet decided between that one or the bonded pair she has) hes on his own, is it possible to pair a 14 month old? Or is he better alone?

Also, I saw somewhere about using fleece for a bed? How does that work? Does it smell/need washing every day?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

While guinea pigs are day active, they will be up once or twice during the night. How noisy they are depends on their characters; you get very quiet ones and some VERY noisy ones. Generally, sub-adult piggies are more vocal than adults (12-14 months onwards).

Guinea pigs should not be kept alone because they are herd animals and not wired to be on their own. I know that a lot of places will rehome boars as singles as bonding them properly takes more experience and time than most places that sell boars (or even rehome them) are willing or able to provide.

However, there is a range of specialist guinea pig rescues that offer a "boar dating" service. They take character compabitility and mutual liking into account. When done properly, boars of all ages can be bonded and rebonded.

Here is a boar dating blog that one of our rescue members from South Wales keeps for us. You may find it very interesting and informative; it also has quite a few videos that can help you with behaviour.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59233

If you could rehome that single boar and would be willing to help him find a suitable mate, you will make one lonely piggy VERY happy! Alternatively, you could think about having that single boar neutered and living with a sow or two; but you will need to find an experienced piggy savvy vet to minimise the risk of post op complications.

PS: Whereabouts are you located?

 

[katiepops]

They will chatter to each other which isn't overly loud. The wheeking will come when they get excited, usually about food. They learn to associate sounds with food coming, mine all start wheeking when I draw the curtains because they know it's the first thing I do when I come down in the morning and the second thing I do is get their breakfast!
I think some members who have their piggies in their bedrooms find the noise of them drinking from the water bottle in the night is the noisiest thing.
Piggies are definitely happier in pairs rather than on their own.
Fleece needs to be washed at least three times when you first buy it to start it wicking. You should never use fabric softener as it will stop it wicking. I use a layer of towels and then newspaper underneath the fleece, some people use mattress protectors or puppy pads underneath, it needs to be something absorbent basically as the fleece wicks the wet away. I sweep up all the poos and hay every day then change the all the bedding every 3 or 4 days. I shake it off in the garden then put it in a hay bag in the washing machine so my machine doesn't get clogged up with stray hay or hairs.

 

[nixie1990]

Thanks for your replies

i am in west Yorkshire, is pairing a neutered boar to a sow easier? That's an option. We have quite a few vets round here, should be able to find a small animal specialist.

 

[christine]

Have you looked at Milhaven GP rescue in Keighley?

 

[Connie]

Yes, the pairing is often easier, however neutering is still a very risky opperations to have done unless absolutely neccesarry (in my opinion). Obviously, if you have it done you would need an extreemly experienced cavvy savvy vet. If you have a look at our neutering sticky that will give you a good idea of whats involved and that to ask.

I would certainly try boar dating first, if you choose the lone male. It can be incredably succesful.