Newbie & already a little drama!

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pixachu

pixachu

Junior Guinea Pig
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We got our guinea pigs on Monday
They are two little girls, who are going to be outdoor piggies. But due to being let down by a supplier for the main hutch, I had to improvise to make them an indoor home. It is a wooden apex run which is intended to be used for grazing/playtime.
I have placed it in my daughter's bedroom with a waterproof cotton baby sheet, towel & fleece to protect the carpet. They are very happy

The main hutch has turned up and we will make it in a couple of days. I have noticed that it will need more secure latches so will need to add them before letting the piggies live out there. I am worried about the resident squirrels getting to them!
Also... it is getting cold out so I wondered what you guys use for bedding in the sleeping area? I have something called Petlife Safebed Paper Wool (used to use it for our hamsters) but this gets trampled flat so easily. Have bought a "cosy cup" bed which I am thinking about putting in the hutch as well so they don't get cold. They are only small piggies (about 9 weeks old)
Any advice greatly received

Anyway.... a few days ago we were looking on youtube at all the cute piggies and suggestions for boredom breakers. One idea was to use a small cardboard tube, stuff it with hay etc and the piggies would attack it, chew it etc.
I also read it when I was browsing on threads in here, so thought it would be ok.....

Well, I used a toilet roll tube and left them to it. I went out for a few hours, and my daughter said one piggie got stuck in the tube!
I don't know how long for.... apparently the other piggie was in and out of the bedroom area but the other one wasn't, because she was stuck in the tube. But there was a lot of little squeaks and eventually my daughter found out why and quickly rescued the piggie

Obviously we will be be doing the tube thing again!
 
Oh and I don't know if I am allowed to mention, but the Superpet Cuddl-E-Cup is only £3.24 delivered on am@zon right now. Bargain :)
 
Tubes are fine, you just need to cut them length ways the whole way so that they cant get stuck.

I wouldn't use wool bedding, if they injest it, it can be fatal, if they have to go outside, i would give them PLENTY of hay to snuggle in with cosey cups too, a winter cover and heat pads. How old are your piggies? Where did they come from? If they are only young and not used to being out, it could be dangerous to just put them out in this cold weather, piggies do not react well to sudden temperature changes. I think i would be inclined to keep them in this winter and introduce them to the outside next year, foxes are also a threat to piggies, no matter how secure you think the hutch is.

Welcome to the forum and the world of piggies. x
 
Thanks :)
I hadn't thought to cut the tubes lengthways. I will do that next time, as they were obviously happy to play with it.
I did wonder about putting them outside while they are so young. We have waited all year to get them as we had to wait until we moved house. I will have to persuade my OH that they need to stay in for this winter.
I think it will be easier for taming them as well, as they will be more easily accessible.

This forum is great for advice and ideas :)

Btw the "paper wool" is a safe bedding - the name is misleading! It is a shredded soft paper type of bedding. Seems fluffy (and was for the hammies) but the piggies seem to quickly tread it flat. If I use hay, would it be different than the nice one they eat? And if so (crazy question) how do they know which is which? lol
I got them Excel Herbage with Chamomile to eat, which they love. I thought it might help them settle in :)
 
Yes taming will be far easier with them indoors, they will get used to your smell and your voices etc far quickly, and the will obviously get far more attention, i have my piggies in my living room and I love it, the are so entertaining, as soon as were up in the morning they are wheeking for breakfast and as soon as they now bedtime is coming they wheek for dinner :)) Its lovely to see them play, interact and cuddle up with each other, and its lovely to just get them out for a cuddle and watch eastenders with them, i personally would never have them outside.

The shredded paper would be fine, but as you say it go's flat very quickly and is soon soaked and wee'd and poo'd on, so it will need replacing regularly, normal office shredded paper would be better if you can lay your hands on it for free.

If you have a "the Range" near you, they do BIG bags of meadow hay for £3.99, that would be ideal for bedding, it takes a faw big handfuls to even notice a dent in the bag because its that compact, my piggies love it, you'll find they'll probably eat any hay you give them anyway, but so long as they are eating it i wouldn't worry, they wont eat what they have laid and pee'd and poo's on, so always make sure they have a fresh handful to eat.

This forum is great for help, advice, hints and tips on anything and everything.

It would be a good idea to weigh your piggies weekly and record their weight, weight loss and extreme gain is usually the first sign of illness, they are prey animals so otherwise hide illness very well. So you know if a piggy has lost weight, therefor not eating and a piggy that isn't eating is a poorly piggy. Register yourself with a good cavvy savvy vet now, to save having to find one and register in an emergency (hopefully there wont be any, but its best to be prepared) there is a list on the forum of recommended vets so just search your location.

Anything else, please ask. We would love to see pictures of your little ones. xx
 
I am not sure how to post pics, but will try with photobucket :)

Poppy
poppy.jpg


Coco
coco.jpg


cocopoppy.jpg


I like the one of Coco who is very curious of the shiny ipad shoved in the cage! x
 
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I second the pigture request!

Anyway, yes, cardboard tube do need to be torn. My boys got stuck it them multiple times before I realised! Other boredom breaker can be putting their veggies on a willow twig and making a kebab!

As my boys are only on newspaper and hay I couldn't possibly say regarding bedding.

Amy
x
 
Yay they worked, oh they are gorgeous, still very young as they have big ears they need to grow into :)) I love ginger pigges x) i have one of my own. xx
 
I don't have a "Range" shop close, but will visit one soon as there is one about 20 mins drive away. And as I have never been to one I am looking forward to it!
I am still unpacking from the move, but need a few house things, so I think a trip out is due :)

The hutch I bought is a raised single one - I keep hearing that some piggies don't use the ramps so decided not to get a double one. Instead I ordered the biggest raised hutch I could find which also has a cover. It is W 152cm x D 61cm x H 91cm so I am sure will be fine. The only thing it seems to lack is the latches, but that is easy and cheap to rectify. But I am going by the pic on the box - just checked the online pic and it has a latch. Will only know for sure when I open it up.

The main reason I wanted them outside is that my daughter has asthma and also I became allergic to our hamsters. Badly. I think using fleece will help, but will have to see how that works out.
I am hoping that I will not be allergic to the piggies (I have an epipen handy just in case!)
 
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Alot of members on here are allergic and just take tablets or use sprays so fingers crossed you'll be ok. Visiting the range when you've just moved is a must, all of the lovely home things they have there, we live dangerously close to one and a next at home store, its so hard not to go and spend money every week.

xx
 
We will keep the piggies inside for a while :)
I have been contemplating whether to stick with the current set-up or get an indoor cage.....? As I have already spent a fortune on everything I think I will stick with the current cage and see how things go.
My daughter likes them in her room and it is so much easier to interact with them, plus so far using fleece seems ok. I don't want to make too many changes for them, so will leave things as they are for now. I have put a cozy cup in there now, with hay in it, to encourage them to snuggle there.
They seem quite happy - eating all the fruit & veg we have given them, plus their food/hay and not too skittish. Hoping they stay that way :)
Must remember to weigh them later, so we can keep an eye on how they are doing.
 
Aw i am really pleased you are keeping them indoors, putting them outside would be such a shock to their system, especially now its gotten really cold.

Try to keep the fruit to only a couple of times a week as the sugar and acid n them can be bad for them, but veggies they cant get enough of, especially things like cabbage, broccoli, de-seeded peppers, cucumber, celery, kale. If you need any advise on food just ask.

You could always keep an eye out for a second hand cage on gumtree/freecycle/ebay, though they will need something atleast 120cm long, but you can always pick bargains up on those websites.

x
 
Thanks. I was thinking that fruit is never as good as veg, so will keep that as an occasional treat. And I know that shop bought treats are bad.... have persuaded my daughter that sticking to veg is best for them. She likes choosing stuff at the supermarket. Are carrots ok, or should they be limited and just stick to mostly green veg?
So far they are having about half a small carrot a day plus a handful of lettuce/broccoli.
 
So glad you are keeping the piggies indoors,little ones lose heat so quickly. It is much more fun when they are near to you and you will get a lot more out of them. Sometimes trying different sorts of hay helps till you find the best one for your allergies. I cant use baled hay but meadow hay in bags is fine.Try not to shake it out too much just pull it gently apart.
 
How lovely that you are so concerned to make sure the guineas are OK. You will be a great piggy mummy :)) I am also delighted you will keep them indoors, they will love you for it and at 9 weeks they are just too young to go out yet just as the weather is getting colder. xoxo

I am very allergic to hay but find dust free hay from here http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/index.html is great and very reasonably priced. Order online and its with you in a day or so. Very sweet smelling and the guineas love it and it really is dust free!

I also find paper bags are a 'must have' play station for any guinea. I was at my hair dressers the other day and bought some shampoo, I was about to decline the paper bag to carry it when I suddenly thought...guineas! Unfortunately I also said it out loud and declared that actually I needed the bag as my guineas used it as a play toy..its a very 'trendy' salon and you should have seen the looks I got ! :)) LOL!

Good luck with your guineas...they are gorgeous!
 
Ooh what gorgeous girls! Love the fleece too!

I had a tube incident too when I first got my boys. I have since given up on toilet rolls because Rodney always ends up getting his head stuck & ends up staggering about crashing into everything :(|)
 
Ps someone will give you a great link for food lists - or visit the feeding section on this forum. You will find something to tell you how often to feed what veg.

I can't at mo as I'm on my phone but I'm sure someone will... X
 
Thanks! I was just searching for it then noticed you had posted the link :)
 
Hi! Your little girls are gorgeous indeed!

You may want to look at this link if you are still keen on having your piggies outside. Please do not so during the coming cold spell, and if possible keep them somewhere inside anyway. Guinea pigs struggle with big changes of temperature (especially spring/autumn), dampness, as well as the extremes of weather like frost and heatwaves. It can make them more susceptible to illness (especially respiratory and urinary infections or heat stroke).
Cold weather care: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54309
 
Thanks for the link
I have been a busy piggie mum and not been nipping in here much.
They are still inside - we built their big outdoor hutch and found room for it. They are happy and seem to be doing well. They are so cute, always squeaking for food if they hear a rustle of a bag or the fridge opening. Their fave food is green peppers - I get them a big bag of mixed peppers and they love them. They have other veg too but mostly peppers as it is one thing I never find lying round the cage, they eat every bit.
I am not sure if I am giving them enough though?
I know it says a cupful a day per piggie.... but mine are so small I don't want to over feed them and give them what an adult might need. I give them the equivalent of one mug of fresh veg a day, is this enough? They are only about 4 months old.

piggiesdec17.jpg
 
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