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Is it too soon to put them in their play pen?

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Hoggle*&*Ludo

Hoggle*&*Ludo

Adult Guinea Pig
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My babies are still quite terrified of me :aLJFBQ00151070111C: but I don't want to keep them hiding in a corner of their cage, I want them to get used to me, would it be a good idea to put them in their play pen tonight with some nice food?

I want to get some proper pics of them and I think with all the space they will have, it would be good to see them playing properly.

Their cage is liveable in but not massive so they could run and play with each other. I will get a much bigger cage when they are getting bigger, this is the one I have at the moment but I have taken out the platform thing to give them more floor space and replaced it with their snuggly bed. http://www.petsathome.com/find/category-is-6+small+pets/breed-is-guinea_pig/category-is-6C+Cages/product-is-23807 but their pen is what I used for my dog so it is rather roomy.

Do they like things like see saws?

What other toys should I provide?
 
Be patient - don't put them in yet another strange environment, before they have settled in their cage. They will not run around, but simply huddle in a corner of their play pen. Oodles of strange space is the last thing a frightened piggy wants!

Try to lure them out in their cage by sitting close by and speaking to them gently as often as you can and luring them out with little treats. Make mealtimes a ritual with always the same sounds and phrases, so they know what's coming and are looking forward to it! If they associate your hands with something nice, they'll learn to like you soon.

Once you catch them popcorning and happily moving around in their cage, you can introduce them to the play pen - they will be more confident by then.

If you really can't wait for pics - take them on your lap or in an armchair that you have covered with a towel in case of accidents.
 
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Sounds like a great idea! I might get my OH to take a pic of me with them! :)

What is popcorning?! :red

You are right, they aren't in a state of mind to play, especially in a new environment. I know their hair isn't very long yet but I might gently brush them on my lap and see if that relaxes them.

This morning I opened their drawer to get their muesli out and it scared them (they are on top of a large chest of drawers) so hopefully the drawer sound will be a nice noise one day!

I will go to the pet shop tonight and buy some little treats so I can trick them into being my friend! :<>

I am also going to buy one of those fleecy bag bed things as my breeder said they love them, and you can pick the bag up to get them out without having to chase them! :<>
 
Hi, i really hate to say this but the cage you have is really small we were thinking of that one as it didnt seem so bad when you read the sizes but when we bought our first cage we had to get the bigger one as this we dont think is suitable at all, p@h say it is for one pig, i'm sure they'll be much happier with lots of space and run time.

kev and caz xxxxx
 
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I agree with kevncaz. The cage you have is tiny! To be honest, most store brought cages are tiny - You'd be better off building a c&c cage. Check out this website. It's advice is brilliant. They spend most of their time in their cages - its their home, so you really need to get a cage as big as you possibly can - you'll have more chance of seeing them running around and doing things then. Without space, they really arnt going to be too happy, and are just going to stay in the corner, cause theres no where else really to go.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/index.htm

Cant wait to see more pictures - teddy and toffee are just so cute!
 
Popcorning is when they run and jump around like mad - a bit like popcorn in a pot! they do that only when they are happy.

If you rustle the bag when you move your drawer, they'll soon catch on. I always tell them what they're getting, and they know several foods by name.

I am afraid that your cage is very small - they will keep growing until a year old or just over. Latest by 4 months old, boys will need 2x4 ft minimum to help cut down on fights or permanent fall-outs when they reach the macho phase at the same time.

Have a look into C&C cages. They are comparatively cheap and adaptable to individual spaces. You can get a set of 17 grids (12 needed for 2x4 ft cage)for under £20 (excluding delivery) and correx for flooring is also very cheap. Keep their current cage in case you need to separate them after a fight. You can get grids on ebay (look for cube storage).

Info for new guinea pig owners:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36801
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
 
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I feel bad now, why do shops sell such small things, it really looked ok in the shop at the time. I will have to look around...:(

Can't really accommodate something too wide to be honest, would a deeper one with 2 floors be as good?

If I was to get a C&C cage, it would mean them living upstairs in the spare room and unfortunately it gets quite hot in there, would that be ok?

What do they look like?
 
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Here is pic where you can see the difference.

The cage in the front is RSCPA regulation 2x4 ft (60x120cm) and the one in the back is similar to what you are thinking of (50x100cm).

Think it over an talk about it to your husband. A second tier in your slightly smaller cage might be a solution, as a hot room is not good for them.

I agree that so many of the cages advertised as suitable are anything but!
 
unfortunatly pet shops will sell anything as long as it makes money :( c&c cages are very adaptable and you can make them into any shape within reason to fit the space you have. If you look on that link I posted and go to the gallery, you'll find loads of inspiration :) The spare room would be an option -if it gets too hot, just dont turn the heating on in that room, or make sure the radiator is off -is there a window? If you do two grids across thats not too wide. once its a 2x4 you can add another leval. I promise you'll see the difference in their behavior in their bigger home once their settled!

wiebke I cant see a picture!
 
Sorry, I was distracted and forgot to include the pic:

IMG_3833.jpg
 
Ah yes, quite some difference!

It is very hot in that room on sunny days but I suppose some blackout curtains and blinds may do the trick.

We have a huge summer house but it boiled a frog alive one summer! :o

We also have a conservatory, but that is freezing in winter and boiling in the summer, as all are really!

My OH will kill me getting another cage but what choice do I have?! :o

Would P@H take my cage back if I cleaned it then I could change it to a rabbit one?

The C&C one does sound a good idea though. Do all pet shops do them?
 
Even the RSPCA standard size though in my opinion, is too small. They dont have alot of room to run about or do much do they? The biggest size cage in that picture is the size of my pigs kitchen area in my c&c cage! Lol! Thats why I love c&c cages. x) You get to see the pigs, actually being pigs and playing with each other, running around, because they have the room to do so :) I think the spare room would be perfect. You could always get a fan or something to help cool the pigs down on hot days x
 
Do these C&C cages sit on the floor? Where I have them now is a perfect area but I suppose if I turned them around, I could make a wider cage, but I would sooner have it high up.

Failing that, the spare room it is, I would have sooner had them downstairs with me though. :(

PS. had to laugh at the pigs having a kitchen area! How cute!

Also have to ask, if I had them in the spare room, would the pen not do as a cage until I got a bigger cage? They have very high sides so they couldn't escape and the room is pretty safe.
 
Toffee&Teddy said:
Would that Zooplus be ok for them then? Can't believe I paid the same price as that!
Click to expand...

Yes, it would - it's 2x4 ft. My husband built me a litlle mezzanine floor for feeding on top and sleeping underneath. With two boys, you better have two separate huts, though. I recommend you keep the other cage for emergencies. Most of us on here have a small cage for sick or fighting guinea pigs.

Otherwise, stick it on ebay, but you won't get much for it. The pet shop won't take it back.
 
Am so gutted, the people at P@H asked what I was getting too, they never said it would be too small for 2 pigs, even if they recommended the bunny one instead, they would have been making profit whilst caring for the pigs wellbeing. :(

I am silly for getting it. Will they be ok in it for now then until I get sorted? They are only 5 weeks old atm.
 
They will be OK for the moment - they are still settling. As you have a playpen for them, they will have a place where they can let go.

Perhaps you can get the bigger cage as an early Christmas present? I would switch over latest in a month's time, as youngsters are the most active and bouncy and will appreciate the space.
 
I feel so bad for them, I need to clean their poops out and stuff tonight, so should I do it with them in? Don't want to scare them but it will be inevitable! :{

Should I try them in the pen with some veg whilst I clean their cage up and see how they react or am I being mean?

I will ask the OH to get it me as a present then! ;)

I was planning on using the pen each evening and most of the weekend once they are confident, or is that too much?
 
AAAAHHHHH, I have a plan! :<>

My OH is working away on Saturday, I should get a bigger cage and replace the smaller one then hide it, he shouldn't really notice because we haven't had them long and he doesn't stand there drooling over them them like I do! drool :(|)

Do you think that would work? 8;)
 
Longterm, I'd be honest. You can always say in your defense that the advice you got from the pet shop was wrong when you were reading up on guinea pigs on the internet. And that with the help of the forum your new cage actually cost only as much as old one, whereas it would be double the price in the pet shop!

zooplus takes about 5 working days to deliver (no delivery on Saturday); you need to order today if you want to be in with a chance for Saturday.

You can move them to the pen for cleaning, just give them cover and don't expect a lot of running around yet. Piggies take about two weeks to settle in, if they have never been handled much. You just have to wait for them to get over the petrified phase.
 
Thank you, I will order it tonight when I get home. A similar size in P@H is double the zooplus one.

I am going to have to explain to him it is unfair on them.

He smokes anyway and spends a fortune, I don't so this is my little treat! :<>
 
That sounds like a plan deny everything if he asks haha, i guess we are lucky we are both animal mad but it is fantastic that you are looking to make their life better with a larger cage we had the largest rabbit indoor for our boys but we still had to seperate them in the end so if your husband asks tell him the options are either a much bigger cage or possibly to have 2 cages and 2 more piggies in a few months time if the boys fight because of the small space.
We get our piggies out every day but we have to have a routine as we have other animals that need out of cage time, but its good for them to be able to run around but we do put lots of things for them to hide in, you just have to watch as we have a low run we thought they would not be able to climb over but we now have an escape artist and they spend more out of cage time than we plan as he plays with us and watches from under the setee hehe, good luck in your cage search, you'll make them so much more happier with a larger cage.

kev and Caz x
 
Thank you. :)

It is only £40 anyway, if he moans at that then something is wrong! I will tell him, it is coming out of my wages so what is the big deal? ;)

If my pigs are happy, I am happy. I am sure he doesn't want me to be miserable! ;)
 
Have now ordered it! 8;)

Will take a bit longer though as it doesn't accept my card type and I have to do a bank transfer. I will do that when I get home.

Am so glad I showed you my cage now. :)

I will put them in their pen for 10 mins whilst I clean the cage a bit and do a few piccies for you all! :(|)
 
Was going to answer the question bout the c&c cage but i see you've ordered a cage already :))
With the c&c if you order more grids you can make a stand for it, and make it higher up - you then have the advantage of having storage underneath x
 
I have that cage for 2 piggies and it's fine (the new one you have ordered). I have added a small upstairs eating area but that's something to think about in the future. For now for 2 5 week old baby piggies they will be able to zip about in there and have some fun.

They really will get used to you! Don't worry about it too much and yes I would put them in the pen while you clean them out with a couple of fav veggies or some grass or something.

Have fun with your new guineas they will have you under a spell in no time! :(|):(|)
 
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