New to the forum and piggies!

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nicfirth

I just thought I would say hello having just joined the forum.

We brought home 2 guinea pigs yesterday, having bought a 4' hutch and a run previously. We've read up quite a bit but there is no substitute for experience so I'm very glad to have found this forum, also having kept fish and cats for years I have have learnt not to trust petshop advice without doing my own research as well.

Milkyway and Thunder (2 boars named by our children!) are settling in well, I think. They have eaten well but are very nervous, not surprising for the 1st 24 hrs. We were advised to handle them for about an hour a day and to gradually introduce them to grass before we put them in a run.

They had a little spat yesterday, but otherwise seem to be getting on fine. We can see them from the kitchen window so are not standing over them constantly while they are still nervous of us. The hutch is quite sheltered and we made sure that there was plenty of bedding, although I was quite concerned that the temperature dropped quite low last night and they had not really had anytime to acclimatise.

I understand that they can benefit from having wood to gnaw and as I do quite a bit of woodwork that should be easy to provide, does anyone know if there any of there woods are unsuitable, oak, beech, walnut or sycamore?

Any comments or pointers would be great!

Nic
 
Hey there, I'm quite new to the site too :)

Don't quote me on this but I was told that for the first few days its best to pretty much leave them alone to get used to their new surroundings, I would imagine it would be quite daunting for them. After a couple of days start to handle them a bit so they get used to you. We've had our piggies a week today and they seem to be getting used to us already. We found that sitting in their run with them ( which to begin with was our conservatory ) and letting them approach us seemed to help them get used to us.
 
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the two new arrivals, would love to see pictures. Love the names. Well done for starting out with the right size hutch. It is good you do your own research, on this subject you have checked they are both boys? Pet shops often mis-sex animals.

It will take some time for them to settle into their new environment. Keep a close eye on them, making sure they are eating and drinking O.K. (they will probably do more of this during the night). To start building up a bond first start by talking to them and checking on them throughout the first few days, next let them have a run about in an enclosure/run/room etc and just sit with them so they get use to you presence. After another few days start handfeeding them and handling them for a small period of time, a couple of times a day. Then just build up the time.

To gradually introduce them to grass put a little bit in their hutch (about a handful) for the first couple of days, then put a little bit extra in for the next couple of days and then a little more for the next couple of days. After a week and a half to two weeks of doing this you can put them in the run for no more then an hour. Then after putting them in the run for a hour for a couple of days build up the time e.g. a hour and a half, two hours over the next few weeks. However, don't let them gorge themselves to much because of bloat. If they get an upset stomach stop letting them eat grass for 24 hrs. They can always go on concrete and have floor time inside for their exercise.

They will have their little spats to work out who is the boss, just keep a close eye on them. Since they are outside make sure the hutch is well sheltered from all the elements and make sure they have plenty of bedding like you have done. You can also put a blanket over the hutch, they should be alright because of the time of the year. You can also get them some natural toys for them to gnaw on rather then just giving them pieces of wood. Hope this has helped and if you have any questions or queries don't hesitate to ask. Once again welcome to the forum. O0
 
Thanks for all the replies, and advice. To my untrained eye they seem quite clearly boys, and checked in the shop. (Famous last words!)

Once they are more settled we will take a few pics and post them.

By the time I got home my wife and kids had already had them out for a short while, they seemed to be quite happy to be held up to the chest, and I think the shop staff handled them like that quite often.

Thanks again

Nic
 
Can't wait to see pictures and like I have said if you have any more questions or queries don't hesitate to ask. O0
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum :)
Awwww love the names of your boars :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Look forward to hearing all about their antics :-* :-*
Just remember any questions and there's some fab people on here that will help you, it's a family forum, you'll love it O0
 
Welcome! I just joined too!
Can't wait to see pics of your babies!
 
Been a good day!

The Piggies seem quite settled and are quite comfortable being handled, must be doing something right!

Here's a pic of the kids and their new friends.
guineas1a.jpg


Cheers
Nic
 
hi,
welcome to the forum, it's great to chat to other people who can give great advice, any problems this is the place to be.
Gets quite addictive, coming on here teaches you all you need to know about guinea pigs.
X paula
 
Aaaw, they are lovely, kids look smashing too! I'm fairly new here after seeking advice when my two boars had babies 98)

Obviously one was actually a sow! The babies are 3 weeks old now and doing very well, I'm keeping the babies, one of each sex so worked out well. Look forward to getting to know you and your family.

Nicky xx
 
Glad to hear you guineas are settling in well. They are gorgeous, presumably the white one is Milkyway and the other is Thunder? :smitten:
 
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