Preparing For Guinea Pigs

[<3candiceclews]

Hi, I just found this forum and it seems great!
I am looking into getting 2 guinea pigs in a couple of months and would like to slowly buy essentials for keeping them.
I have previously owned hamsters and my mom and sister both have rabbits.
I have chosen a hutch to get... The bluebell rabbit/guinea pig hutch from pets at home ... Opinions on this hutch?
I will also purchase the cover that fits the cage.
And will more than likely lino or vinyl the flooring so it lasts longer.
I have brought a metal run today too.
I would like to create a list of things to get, if people could help me that would be great and would also ensure I buy the correct things.
Thank you!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I do belive the bluebell hutch gets good reviews bit I'm not 100% it looks big enough for two piggies especially with the metal run you've purchased. There are loads of threads on here detailing health etc that I advise you get stuck into so you're one hundred percent ready for potential illnesses etc. I do belive their is also a thread detailing the essentials you should get when starting out. Here is what I would get:

The bedding you want (baring in mind it could get damp so fleece probably isn't a good option),waterbottles,heavy dish that can't be tipped over,nail clippers and brush(if getting long haired pigs or a breed that requires grooming,tubes,hidey houses,toys,hay,more hay lol, treats,veg - phew I think that's the basics? There is probably more but that's all I could think for starters.

Are you planning on adopting?

 

[Lady Kelly]

the bluebell hideaway is the minimum size for two piggies. My local P@H had the last of the Rose Cottages for around £10 more than the Bluebell and it gives a little extra space I think (I believe its being discontinued as I can't find it on their website). Apart from getting hay, pellets, water bottles, bedding and bowls I wouldn't bother buying anything else and I would instead make them toys as they always get more appreciation than the expensive toys

 

[<3candiceclews]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I do belive the bluebell hutch gets good reviews bit I'm not 100% it looks big enough for two piggies especially with the metal run you've purchased. There are loads of threads on here detailing health etc that I advise you get stuck into so you're one hundred percent ready for potential illnesses etc. I do belive their is also a thread detailing the essentials you should get when starting out. Here is what I would get:

The bedding you want (baring in mind it could get damp so fleece probably isn't a good option),waterbottles,heavy dish that can't be tipped over,nail clippers and brush(if getting long haired pigs or a breed that requires grooming,tubes,hidey houses,toys,hay,more hay lol, treats,veg - phew I think that's the basics? There is probably more but that's all I could think for starters.

Are you planning on adopting?

Hi, thank you that's really helpful! Yes I'm hoping to get them from the pets at home adoption centre x

 

[<3candiceclews]

the bluebell hideaway is the minimum size for two piggies. My local P@H had the last of the Rose Cottages for around £10 more than the Bluebell and it gives a little extra space I think (I believe its being discontinued as I can't find it on their website). Apart from getting hay, pellets, water bottles, bedding and bowls I wouldn't bother buying anything else and I would instead make them toys as they always get more appreciation than the expensive toys

Thank you! I will check the store out when we go next and see what they have in x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Just to let you know, although the P@H say it's the "adoption centre" it is just "old stock" and they're not proper rescues. It's just animal "over stock" as they put it

So if you wanted proper adoption you can only get that from rescues

 

[Lady Kelly]

Just to counter act the last comment; SOME p@h adoptions are left over stock but not all. It is usually easy to tell which ones are as they usually say "I have been in the store for a while so the charity are trying to help me find a home". When I got Daisy she was there because her owner wasn't allowed to take her to their new home with them.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Well I've never worked there so I can't say for sure, I'm just going on what an ex head office employee has said. It's always worth asking where they have come from though, they should know as the charity is part of and run by P@H I believe.

 

[<3candiceclews]

Well I've never worked there so I can't say for sure, I'm just going on what an ex head office employee has said. It's always worth asking where they have come from though, they should know as the charity is part of and run by P@H I believe.

Yes some are because they've been in store for a while where as others have been brought in as to be put up for adoption.

 

[Tom's Pets]

I have made a video on the essentials for guinea pigs here it is