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kim

hi i am new i have just brought a hutch 4ft wide by 4ft apex roof hight and I'm just wondering wich guniea pigs are best to buy they are for my grandchildren obviously i will be looking after them but I'm not to sure what to buy i want 2 that will get on together should i go for boys or girls
any information would be great I'm not in a rush to go out and get anything i want the right ones id like small babys so the children can get used to them and they get used to the children under supervision
thanks kim
 
Hi Kim,

Welcome to the board. Most people would say get females as they don't fight like boys. With boys they can bond I have two that are perfectly fine but I think starting out girls are your best option. My third boar doesn't like my other boys so he is seperated.

I have two girls too they are sisters and are so great. They are smooth haired and very calm. I think as they are for children then smooth haired pigs would be perfect, long haired pigs do take some grooming and need more work with trimming etc.

You are better getting the pigs from a rescue centre, if you go to Pet shops then they may not be the right sex and could be ill. My Sheltie (long haired pig) had Mites and I got him from Pets @ Home.

What area are you? There may be a rescue centre in your area.

Good luck!

Louise
:)
 
Hi Welcome to the forum! :D

Id definetly try a rescue place first you get the satisfaction for adopting and like sunshine said their pigs will have been vetted so less likely of piggys will an illness, ive got a group of 4 sows ( they were 2 pairs and i introduced as a group) I have a single boar that I'm just in the process of either finding a baby to try to introduce or having him castrated and letting him go with the girls. I personally think just my opinion girls would be easier as your less likely to find problems with their pairing ..but you could find an eshablished pair of boars...Let us know how you get on and post some piccies please O0
liz x
 
I would third the rescue option :) Whilst baby guineas are incredibly cute, they can be very skittish and hard to hold. If you go to a good rescue centre then they could help you to pick out a pair that are already bonded and have been well handled so are easier to deal with. Also, as has been said, you are less likely to get an ill piggy or a pregnant one :o
 
Hello and welcome!

You've had good advice, a nearby shelter may well have a pair of bonded sisters (fighting between boars can occur even when a pair has previously bonded).

I have boars, and I love them, but I would definitely recommend females if you are just starting. Guinea Pig Rescues sometimes take in pregnant sows, so maybe you can still get a young pair of sisters.

Best of luck, your hutch sounds great, too. O0
 
You also have to bear in mind that guinea pigs are not ideal pets for children - the adult needs to be ultimately and fully responsible. Their fragile little bodies are easily hurt by enthusiastic little hands and there have been many instances of children sneaking to them unsupervised and dropping them or sticking males in beside females. They also need to be indoors in winter (be it a heated shed or car-free garage) as they do not cope well with cold and draughts.

Small baby guinea pigs are fast and can wriggle out of hands in a flash as well. Like the above posters I would recommend going to a rescue where you have more of a guarantee the piggies will be healthy.

Welcome to the forum - you'll find lots of good info here!
 
I heard the ideal age for pigs was around 9, my daughter is 6 and is gentle with the pigs although I found her yesterday trying to stroke Flora in the hutch and Flora kept running away so its hard work telling her not to do that. She means well but sometimes she needs telling that you can't always do what you want with them!

She reads them stories which is really sweet and my two year old wakes up and the first thing she does is blow a kiss to Cuzzy (who is her pig.)

I think ideally 9 is a good age to start from I'm finding my time isn't my own with pigs and children! :D It's cool though, keeps me on my toes!

Louise
:)
 
thank you all for the information i live in birmingham if any one knows of a rescue centre near by i wont be letting the grand children hold them just to stroke as we are going to make a run for them and they can watch them
thanks kim
 
Hi Kim,

Try here http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp Scroll down to the area you are in, in the West Midlands there are a few.

I have a couple of huge pillows (the ones with childrens characters on) and Emily puts that on her knee then she is able to stroke the pigs as long as we supervise her. I don't let her pick them up either. At the mo it's just me doing all the hard work but as her and Caitlin (2 year old daughter) gets bigger they can become more involved. I think it's great as it is something all the family can do!

Take care,

Louise
:)
 
My elder 2 kids hold the piggies my girls are 9 and 5,but they are made to sit on the floor I put a towel on their lap and then put the piggies on their lap,they don't actually hold the piggies,they just talk to them and stroke them
 
Starshine on here runs a rescue in Birmingham its called cornflower cavies contact her she always has a few piggies in ;)
 
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