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Piggy Help Needed!

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Crackers4

Junior Guinea Pig
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As still being new to owning Piggies, (just 3 wks) I am in need of advice to make sure I'm not doing things wrong!
How often do people handle their piggies? My other boy's (children aged 4 & 11!) want to cuddle them everyday but I don't know if this is ok? The adoption place said they like lots of cuddles, but reading books, articles say they don't like to be handled much!

Hay.....I'm feeding mine Timothy hay from P@H as that's what they came with. My local pet shop only sells farm hay or compressed hay with dandelion and lovage? Any advice please?!

Nuggets.....I'm feeding them P@H nuggets and lots hay but need advice on fresh stuff, they love herbs, but not much else! Should I worry if they just want hay and nuggets or keep trying different fresh stuff?!

Many thanks in advance for advice
 
Handling your guinea pigs is fine for 5-15 minutes at a time. They will tell you if they want to go back by weeing on you, tugging at your clothes, biting your clothes, or twizzling around!

These links may help you. Ideally for the pellets you could try bunny or vitacraft, because these are grainless which are healthier.

http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/bunny_food/guinea_pig/195679
http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/vitakraft/262148

For fresh veg which needs to be fed twice a day, you shouldn't over feed it because this can result in diarheao.
Members on here feed a variety of veg which I will link below, but I feed the Ic diet which helps to prevent cystitis and bladder sludge. No veg should be cooked or boiled, veg to piggies must be raw.

Ic diet:
This is a diet especially designed to prevent bladder sludge and cystitis. Twice a day per pig:
1 slice cucumber
1 sprig coriander
1 slice spring greens
2 pieces celery
1 green bean
1 piece green pepper

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

We find this the easiest and safest way of picking up too.
 
I would aim to handle them every day while they are young. It's important to encourage your boys by letting them hold them, but it's also important that you handle them. It's likely to be calmer and quieter if you can do it on your own, and you can build up the time they are out for. You might also want to hold them together if they are young, they will feel safer. As they get older I like to give them one-to-one cuddles!

Time wise short bursts is enough for your boys, building up to 30 minutes with you. Always look for fidgeting, this is a sign to put them bag. Have a look at getting a cuddle pouch, they will feel safer and it's easier for children to hold them. Also, its worth using a puppy pad on your lap so you don't get a wet patch!

I find it's the same price to buy hay online but it's better quality than a pet shop.

http://www.hayforpets.co.uk/
http://www.timothyhay.co.uk/

P.S keep trying with veg & salad! It's important but they can need some encouragement, much like kids! They should get better as they get older, depending on where you got them from, they may not have had much before.
 
Oh thank you so much for the advice! Just over the last few days they have started to become really friendly and loving, I was having a cuddle with Coco last night and was getting lots of licks on the chin! Veg is getting better as well as I have put them on the low calcium diet posted on here and they seem to be really enjoying it. They had a vet health check on Saturday and she was really pleased with them and their new C&C cage should arrive today so they will have lots more room so hopefully they will be much happier piggies! I will check out the hay companies as well! x
 
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