New Piggy Blues

Babycables

Babycables

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Hi,
I recently - five days ago - purchased two 7-week-old Male Guinea Pigs. I am absolutely in love with them, and we seem to be bonding well for such a short period of time.
Naturally, before I bought them, I did weeks of research on Guinea Pig care, and I thought I was capable of meeting the minimum requirements. However, after having them in my home for almost a week, I worry that I am not able to give them the life they need and deserve. Chief of these concerns being: space. I have them in a 3x2ft cage just now as a temporary home (this is very small, I know) as they themselves are very small just now, and they get plenty of exercise outside the cage in a larger enclosure. Now, I am worried that I have nowhere to keep them. There is little space for them in my own room, and my mother (with whom I live) is not against the idea of the Piggies, however, she won’t have them in the main living areas of the house (the areas with the most unused space).
I have been toying with the idea that they might be better off in another home, one where they will get everything they need. This has been a conflicting idea and I keep finding reasons to support both arguments: to stay, or not to stay.
I suppose my question is: is it usual to have second thoughts about new pets and your own capabilities and adequacy to take proper care of them? Any info would help.
many thanks.
 
Welcome to the Forum
:wel:

I think it is perfectly normal to have second thoughts when taking on new pets.
I think we have an idea of how things will be, and the reality often does not match up to this expectation.

You say you did some research in advance which is always a good first step.
However by doing research you should be aware that the absolute minimum cage size for 2 guinea pigs is above what you are currently offering - boars in particular need as much space as possible if their friendship is to survive the teenage years.
A smaller cage is ok when they are babies, but they don't stay babies for long, and will quickly outgrow their current cage.

Are you going to be able to offer then adequate space on 1 level with permanent access in the long term?
Have you considered a C&C cage which can be arranged in pretty much any shape to maximize floor space in tight locations?

You might find our new owner guides helpful in deciding if you are able to offer a good home for your boys in the longer term.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
I’ve had piggies for 13 years and still question my ability to care for them properly.

Your piggies however will need a bigger cage as they grow especially as they are boys. I think 5ft by 2ft is the absolute minimum you can go for two boys but bigger is better. Have you considered a C&C cage which can be made to fit a specific space?

Can you provide the basics of fresh food and water daily, a clean home and sufficient exercise time?

It’s only natural to question yourself but you sound like a very caring owner and I’m sure you will be just fine :)
 
Hi, its very common to have doubts and uncertainties about being able to meet the needs of new pets, constantly questioning yourself about this during the first few anxious weeks is what makes for a dedicated caring pet keeper!
However the space issue is a big one especially with 2 boars, I am sure most of us here brought home our first piggies with a cage or hutch that was too small, and had to rethink and adapt- but you will definitely have to rethink and adapt if you have a 3x2 cage for 2 boars once they hit their "teenage" months in a few weeks time. A 5x2 grid C&C cage is best, and as stated above you could make this an L-shape or similar for example adding another 2x2 area at floor level at the front of your current 3x2. You may just get away with a 3x3 square as a minimum, but bigger is better to avoid teenage fall outs, if they did fall out you would need 2 separate cages and a new friend for each of them!
So maybe talk to your mother and get out your tape measure and have a good think about things, best of luck x
 
Claire W said:
I’ve had piggies for 13 years and still question my ability to care for them properly.

Your piggies however will need a bigger cage as they grow especially as they are boys. I think 5ft by 2ft is the absolute minimum you can go for two boys but bigger is better. Have you considered a C&C cage which can be made to fit a specific space?

Can you provide the basics of fresh food and water daily, a clean home and sufficient exercise time?

It’s only natural to question yourself but you sound like a very caring owner and I’m sure you will be just fine :)
Click to expand...

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I am deffo getting them a bigger home, I have just purchased the Habitat cage (2 x 4 ft) hoping that this will be a little better, though I have also purchased a c&c cage for floor-time, which can be made to fit the dimensions of 3.5 x 3.5 ft, which I believe is the minimum 8square feet for two Guinea pigs.
I think I’m just a very worried guinea pig dad.
 
Worries are fine. I think that makes you a more ‘responsible’ owner. You’re correct that 2x4ft is the minimum for two piggies, but that’s only for sows or a sow/boar pairing. So unfortunately it is still too small for boars. As mentioned above, it needs to be 2x5ft at minimum. So unfortunately they will outgrow the cage you bought. I would use the grids and give them 24/7 access to the area outside the cage.

If you tell us a little about your setup we can help you. Is the cage on the floor or on a table? How much space do you have where they’re currently housed - in other words how much space can housing take up so you still have access to your room and can move around reasonably.

I would offer them the space they need as soon as possible. They establish the hierarchy when they move into their new digs and will do that before they reach their teenage phase (4-14 months). Another thing is that changing up cages during their teenage phase can also cause issues between them. So it’s better you do it soon rather than wait.

It’s good you’ve researched and are asking for advice. I will admit when I got my bars, they didn’t have enough space. So I bought another cage and put them together so they would have more. I then upgraded them to a C&C not long after, as I felt space was still not enough 🙄😁

PS do let them settle in a few more days then you need to start the weekly weigh-in as part of their lifelong health checks. Have a read of the guides in the link you were given above. The dietary one is a good one. Also read the ones below about boars and (general) dominance behaviour. I would also book them in for a general health check. Vet locator also below!

Read up on behaviours so you don’t just jump in when you see what is considered mild dominance behaviour. Most boars do survive their teenage phase together so don’t be worried. But just be aware that it’s character compatibility that matters. Age and being related won’t count. We look forward to seeing your boys as they grow up. Pigtures are more than welcome when you get time 😁

Vet Locator
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
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I agree with the other members comments.

Sadly the new cage you have purchased is still too small. Two boars need 12 square feet - a 6ft x 2ft cage - to have enough space. I originally had my two in a 5ft x 2ft but it was still too small and upgraded within a couple of weeks of having them.
 
My bad, I was thinking of the number of grids. A 2x5 grid c&c equates to 2x6ft.
 
Thank you so much for your kind advice.
I must say, I knew all along that the cage would be too small, however, having no where else to put them, I bought the cage when I got the piggies.
Just now, I have the cage on a chest of drawers in my room (I didn’t want them on the floor, ‘cause I thought I’d look too big to them 😂). The enclosure I have measures about 3x3ft Which I set up every day in the sitting-room. I know it is advised to leave them be when first bringing them home, however, I felt so bad having them cooped up in their tiny cage, so I have them out as much as I can throughout the day.
my room can - at a stretch - house a 3x4ft cage or, if I’m really cunning, a 3x5ft one. Will either of these be suitable?
I also forgot to mention that my piggies are brothers from the same mother (so I’m told).
I have also found a vet nearby which I think is suitable, and will book them in some time next week as advised by the vet.
 
Babycables said:
Thank you so much for your kind advice.
I must say, I knew all along that the cage would be too small, however, having no where else to put them, I bought the cage when I got the piggies.
Just now, I have the cage on a chest of drawers in my room (I didn’t want them on the floor, ‘cause I thought I’d look too big to them 😂). The enclosure I have measures about 3x3ft Which I set up every day in the sitting-room. I know it is advised to leave them be when first bringing them home, however, I felt so bad having them cooped up in their tiny cage, so I have them out as much as I can throughout the day.
my room can - at a stretch - house a 3x4ft cage or, if I’m really cunning, a 3x5ft one. Will either of these be suitable?
I also forgot to mention that my piggies are brothers from the same mother (so I’m told).
I have also found a vet nearby which I think is suitable, and will book them in some time next week as advised by the vet.
Click to expand...

a 3ft x 4ft cage is absolutely fine - it’s 12 sq ft

Being biological brothers has absolutely no bearing on whether their relationship will work out. A successful bond comes down to character compatibility and being related does not mean they will have compatibility. Hopefully tehy will be fine but it’s always something to keep in mind.
 
Hello and welcome to the Forum.
Well done for several things. Mostly putting piggies care as your concern.
As said lots great advise on here and even years down line I still use it.
Space lol. I have 2 piggies in a space for 6/8 and still look thinking emmmm. Lol.
Photos your piggies be lovely if possible
My 2 say hello. .20200823_162751.webp
 
Fabulous, most wondrous update! I have just persuaded mother to allow me to keep my piggies in the upstairs sitting-room! So, I shall be able to build my boys a wonderfully spacious, 2.5 x 5ft home! (A severe upgrade from the pitiful 2x3ft home which they currently inhabit). A very happy dad 😁
 
I'm so glad you can make them a bigger cage! As you’ve got C&c grids then that helps as grids can be overlapped and cable tied etc where needed If you need to make adjustments to make it fit the space you’ve got. That’s why c&c cages are so good as they’re flexible!

The cage size needed for two boars is a 5 grids x 2 grids which measures 180cm x 77cm (or 6ft by just over 2ft).
if you’re going to make it 5ft x 2.5 ft then that is essentially a 4 grid x 2 grid cage (which measures 150cm x 77cm (or 5ft by 2.5ft)) . It’s absolutely fantastic that you can upgrade their cage but do bear in mind that a 4 grid x 2 grid cage may be pushing it for two boars (mine were originally in 4x2 c&c and it wasn’t big enough for them) so it’s something to bear in mind.
 
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Along with removing the plants from the temporary cage ( some plants are toxic to piggies), Id made sure they’ve got more hay and a bit more enrichment in their cage. More hides, boxes for them to climb in etc, large piles of hay on the floor so they can just run into them and hide in hay. You can put it in a shallow but large plastic tray as it can help it stay tidier as long as the piggies can get into it and be amongst vast quantities of hay

This thread may help you with enrichment ideas - Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
This thread contains cage set and lay out ideas Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages
 
Sorry to rain on your parade, but for safety’s sake the grids need to have 9 holes and not 8. I think the ones you’ve used are the latter.

As mentioned above, the plants aren’t needed and you need to add in a lot more hay. Make sure there is something under the blanket to wick the wee away.
 
Now I think about it, A 4x2 c&c cage (which is the cage measuring 5ft x 2.5ft you mention you’re going to build) is actually roughly the same size as the 3x3 you currently have them. Both the 3x3 and a 4x2 use 12 grids, so they won’t be gaining space really.
 
Welcome to your Guinea-pig adventure! It's all new at first but you soon get into the swing of things, don't worry. And well done to Mum (Hi Mum) for supporting your new venture - I'm sure she'll love them too 💕 Don't be anxious... sometimes by preparing for what might go wrong you can overlook that most of the time things will simply be fine (and yes, it might have taken me many years to realise that). There's a girl on another thread who has just rescued 2 poor piggies dumped in a cemetery in the states and she's managing in the short term with a plastic box, so we're all getting there step-by-step!

I wouldn't risk the plants (although the aesthetic is lovely). I've seen people use a big tray full of hay with a few veg bits in that the pigs jump into and seem to love which makes things look a bit 'natural' and you can also get wooden things - eg tunnels made out of wooden sticks wired together that they can go under and over - which give a similar effect. There is an idea that piggies won't eat what is no good for them which may be true - some of the time - but it's a risk, and they can be adventurous with fallen leaves. Of course, if it's anything obviously edible and too delicious like parsley they'll be knocking the pot over and scoffing the lot. If you're desperate for plants perhaps a balance might be struck with something like rosemary or lavender... leaf-fall should, I think, be non-toxic as these are edible for people. However, I have both in my garden and my guineas have never attempted to eat either (lavender is weird though, it makes food taste like soap, I wouldn't eat it myself!) Ultimately you might find you just end up with a set-up that is simplest to clean!

Good avatar btw
 
Piggies&buns said:
Now I think about it, A 4x2 c&c cage (which is the cage measuring 5ft x 2.5ft you mention you’re going to build) is actually roughly the same size as the 3x3 you currently have them. Both the 3x3 and a 4x2 use 12 grids, so they won’t be gaining space really.
Click to expand...
They’ll be in a 2.5x5ft though, not a 2x4ft. This takes them from 9 sqft to 12.5 sqft. I say this as I won’t be using C&C grids for this final cage. I’m having the cage built for me to fit the space I’ve allocated for them.
 
Babycables said:
They’ll be in a 2.5x5ft though, not a 2x4ft. This takes them from 9 sqft to 12.5 sqft. I say this as I won’t be using C&C grids for this final cage. I’m having the cage built for me to fit the space I’ve allocated for them.
Click to expand...
It sounds like your boys are going to have wonderful home x
 
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