Lots of new additions!

[Poppy'sMum]

Hi PM, the one thing that is unusual in rescues are older pigs. I occasionally get pigs in that are over a year, but the vast majority are very much younger. Rescues are best placed for assessing the health of piggies as they have so much experience and an experienced vet. A good rescue will give a full and frank assessment on any pig available for adoption. Any that have long term issues are generally life long residents at the rescue or with experienced fosterers with rescue back up, not for general adoption.

It's so sad when people assume that second hand means second best - old, ill pigs are not the norm in rescues.

Suzy x

I do appreciate what you are saying, but from my own personal experience, there is a lack of reputable rescues where I live, & none that I have contacted since I lost my piggie in June have had any babies that they can pair up for me.

The people that live near Wales are very fortunate to be able to get to your rescue, as quite obviously yours would be one of those with a fantastic reputation, which I would have loved to have rehomed from. Personally I need to meet the piggies in person, to feel that bond straight away, so that I know that we will be together through sickness & health & whatever else & sometimes photos although great aren't they same as meeting them in person.

To me there is a vast difference between buying from a pet shop, buying from a breeder or well meaning person who loves them but has litter after litter without regard for their welfare, keeps them in cramped conditions & getting one from someone who cares about them & has their welfare at heart.

Believe me I have done a bit of research on this & there are bad rescues out there as well as bad breeders. I think the most important thing is to look carefully at where you are get them from; how they are cared for, how many are in each hutch, how many there are in total, whether the females are being bred too young/often etc. The animal's welfare is of paramount importance at the end of the day.

 

[HairlessWillow7]

However, I am desperate to find a Himi sow of any age and have been told breeders are my only real hope so I will keep searching rescues nationwide until I find my girl.

Sorry, I'm going a little off topic here, but don't give up hope on finding a himi sow in a rescue, Guinea Pig Slave. I found Willow, and she's a (mismarked) himi sow and a skinny pig! Hope you find your special girl soon

 

[piggieboys]

Awww very very cute

 

[flintstones]

Hi There -

Your new arrivals look lovely but I would like to add caution to the wind, you first got Guinea pig's in April according to your first thread that was less than 5 months ago. I would worry your taking on to many to quickly and you haven't yet got the full piggy experience (ie sick pigs - large bills and the time it takes to nurse them). I know I never had until I met Bette and that really opened my eyes to the amount of pigs I can care for.

As all your pigs will mature and be old adults together I would be keeping a 'healthy' vet fund aside. My own pigs have easily managed a vet Bill of £400! I'm not exaggerating, if you want to find what's wrong your money will quickly disappear.

I'm by no way implying you aren't capable of looking after all these pigs - just to be careful as I know how easy it is to expand since they are all so cute! 20 is a lot of pigs to look after especially if a 4th of your pigs got ill there are some illnesses that can easily run though herds and should these happen they are costly.

Jo xx

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Wise words Flintstones........Rodneys vet treatments, op and A/B's and cremation cost me just short of £500. Its pennies compared to the emotional cost of losing him, and the stress he went through, but its still a lot of money to find.

I will probably be villified for saying this, but I am surprised that your parents are allowing you to take on 20 animals. I mean no offence by that Emiley x>> its just a lot of animals to take on. You're very lucky to have such supportive parents, I hope they can continue to support you through potential costs involved in treating any sick piggies.

I wish you and your new arrivals the best, I really do and will be watching their progress with interest.

 

[flintstones]

Wise words Flintstones........Rodneys vet treatments, op and A/B's and cremation cost me just short of £500. Its pennies compared to the emotional cost of losing him, and the stress he went through, but its still a lot of money to find.

I have to agree - That pig broke my heart joy, sadness and grief nothing worse than knowing they are ill but just trying to keep them 'alive' so you can find the cause and save them.

I remember on more than one occasion sitting crying over Bette saying I was a failure I can't even get you to eat, I didn't handle her illness well. She took all my energy that day the vet told me there was nothing else I could I was in pieces I put everything into her and it wasn't enough I was beside myself.
If I had more than one pig that ill - I don't know what I'd do. Until you go though an illness with a pig I don't think you can ever imagine what it's like. I know I never could and always thought pigs where easy to look after how wrong was I!

I know just how easy it is to get caught up in there cute faces!

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Sorry, I'm going a little off topic here, but don't give up hope on finding a himi sow in a rescue, Guinea Pig Slave. I found Willow, and she's a (mismarked) himi sow and a skinny pig! Hope you find your special girl soon

Aw thank you - she's out there somewhere and I'll never give up |) My OH keeps asking if I've found one so he's keen too
I don't know what it is about them, possibly the fact that my parents always had chocolate point Siamese cats whom I adored and I had a huge rabbit with Himi markings...perhaps I'm heading into my second childhood |)

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

Aw thank you - she's out there somewhere and I'll never give up |) My OH keeps asking if I've found one so he's keen too
I don't know what it is about them, possibly the fact that my parents always had chocolate point Siamese cats whom I adored and I had a huge rabbit with Himi markings...perhaps I'm heading into my second childhood |)

Without hijacking this thread - will Sarah be up for adoption? From Suzy? She's a gorgeous himi but i'm not sure whether Suzy will keep her as a life long resident as she has had a very bad (over breeding) start to life?

 

[Sodapops]

Without hijacking this thread - will Sarah be up for adoption? From Suzy? She's a gorgeous himi but i'm not sure whether Suzy will keep her as a life long resident as she has had a very bad (over breeding) start to life?

Sarah is a roan guinea pig - A roan guinea pig has white hairs mixed with flecks of another solid colour through the white hairs

himalayan guinea pigs have rather distinct colouring - white bodies with black nose/ears/feet:

Himalayan Guinea pig:

Ive seen pictures of coronets and peruvians that have the himalayan colourings - very pretty x)x)

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Sarah is a roan guinea pig - A roan guinea pig has white hairs mixed with flecks of another solid colour through the white hairs

himalayan guinea pigs have rather distinct colouring - white bodies with black nose/ears/feet:

Himalayan Guinea pig:

Ive seen pictures of coronets and peruvians that have the himalayan colourings - very pretty x)x)

My Poppy's nose used to look like that after she did her mole impersonation routing through all her hay lol

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

Sarah is a roan guinea pig - A roan guinea pig has white hairs mixed with flecks of another solid colour through the white hairs

himalayan guinea pigs have rather distinct colouring - white bodies with black nose/ears/feet:

Himalayan Guinea pig:

Ive seen pictures of coronets and peruvians that have the himalayan colourings - very pretty x)x)

Ooopsie, for some reason in my mind Sarah was a himi last night! I've just looked again because i thought i was going mad (i also have a love for himi's) and guess what - she is definitely not a himi ") where did i get that from?! Maybe i just wanted guinea pig slave to find one so bad that i made it up in my mind!

 

[Sodapops]

Ooopsie, for some reason in my mind Sarah was a himi last night! I've just looked again because i thought i was going mad (i also have a love for himi's) and guess what - she is definitely not a himi ") where did i get that from?! Maybe i just wanted guinea pig slave to find one so bad that i made it up in my mind!

lol that made me chuckle - you know what, when you posted about sarah being a himi, i had to double check as i thought id missed something rolleyes

 

[Emiley]

Hi There -

Your new arrivals look lovely but I would like to add caution to the wind, you first got Guinea pig's in April according to your first thread that was less than 5 months ago. I would worry your taking on to many to quickly and you haven't yet got the full piggy experience (ie sick pigs - large bills and the time it takes to nurse them). I know I never had until I met Bette and that really opened my eyes to the amount of pigs I can care for.

As all your pigs will mature and be old adults together I would be keeping a 'healthy' vet fund aside. My own pigs have easily managed a vet Bill of £400! I'm not exaggerating, if you want to find what's wrong your money will quickly disappear.

I'm by no way implying you aren't capable of looking after all these pigs - just to be careful as I know how easy it is to expand since they are all so cute! 20 is a lot of pigs to look after especially if a 4th of your pigs got ill there are some illnesses that can easily run though herds and should these happen they are costly.

Jo xx

Alot of thought has gone into this, and I DO have experience with sick piggies.

I have 2 jobs in the EVENING, thus have ALL DAY to be with them, feed them, clean bottles, cuddles etc.

I have large hutches, done all the research on them and in my opinion... know what I'm doing.

20 will be my maximum, I wont be getting anymore as I wont have the space.

My breeder friends don't 'palm the boars off on me', I go to them...

 

[flintstones]

lot of thought has gone into this, and I DO have experience with sick piggies.

I have 2 jobs in the EVENING, thus have ALL DAY to be with them, feed them, clean bottles, cuddles etc.

I have large hutches, done all the research on them and in my opinion... know what I'm doing.

20 will be my maximum, I wont be getting anymore as I wont havAe the space.

My breeder friends don't 'palm the boars off on me', I go to them...

I never said anyone's palming boars off on you or that you are inexperienced, I just wanted to make you aware how draining a sick pig can be!

I'm sure you've done plenty of research but no amount of research can prepare you for ill pigs. It was just a friendly word of warning to add caution to the wind as I know how addictive piggies can be - that's all but I'm glad your prepared for all eventualities, your new pigs are very cute !

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Ooopsie, for some reason in my mind Sarah was a himi last night! I've just looked again because i thought i was going mad (i also have a love for himi's) and guess what - she is definitely not a himi ") where did i get that from?! Maybe i just wanted guinea pig slave to find one so bad that i made it up in my mind!

drool x) drool...passes out
These piggies just make me go weak at the knees. Think we are getting the beautiful Sarah mixed up with Saffy who is a Himi found dumped and rescued by Abi Nurse. Sarah and Saffy's awful plights were posted at similar times, both pregnant.
Aw, thanks for thinking of me xx>>> Keep the Himi hunt up -c

 

[Glynis]

they're all gorgeous drooldrooldroolx)x)x)

 

[Posiesparkles]

Ooopsie, for some reason in my mind Sarah was a himi last night! I've just looked again because i thought i was going mad (i also have a love for himi's) and guess what - she is definitely not a himi ") where did i get that from?! Maybe i just wanted guinea pig slave to find one so bad that i made it up in my mind!

I thought she was a himi too! I love them as well, we had siamese at home and I loved their markings too. However, Misty is usually a special kind of himi - PEW with green veg on her nose etc from where she has been nomming! I particularly enjoy her 'raspberry vampire face!'

Your boys are beautiful Emiley x

 

[zez]

Good luck with the new arrivals - they are lovely. I think I live about half an hour away from you. I know this is a rescue friendly forum, but I also know I've had a hell of a job finding many resues within an hour of here that have any guineas to be rehomed in pairs or as a companion for a lone boar (all seem to be resolute lone boars). I've had to give up on resue for the moment. Come on someone....please can we have a resuce in north east cambridgeshire/west norfolk!

 

[PiggyLove]

Sarah is a roan guinea pig - A roan guinea pig has white hairs mixed with flecks of another solid colour through the white hairs

himalayan guinea pigs have rather distinct colouring - white bodies with black nose/ears/feet:

Himalayan Guinea pig:

Ive seen pictures of coronets and peruvians that have the himalayan colourings - very pretty x)x)

when I was in my teens my very first guinea pig was a himilayan called Helga

SPOT THE GUINEA PIG here is a picture of her whilst i played with my dolls LOL

 

[Emiley]

Good luck with the new arrivals - they are lovely. I think I live about half an hour away from you. I know this is a rescue friendly forum, but I also know I've had a hell of a job finding many resues within an hour of here that have any guineas to be rehomed in pairs or as a companion for a lone boar (all seem to be resolute lone boars). I've had to give up on resue for the moment. Come on someone....please can we have a resuce in north east cambridgeshire/west norfolk!

exactly lol. my closest is an RSPCA centre, and they only have neutered boars that they want to live with sows!