Scruffbag And Binky! Noob Here, Please Help!

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MelScruff&Binky

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image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp hello!

I got my first 2 guinepigs 2 weeks ago from Pets T home, 2 girls, Scruffbag and Binky.

I love them and want to do right by them so some experienced owner feedback would be awesome!

I'll put pictures of them and their setup below.

They get a handful of nuggets each day, unlimited Timothy hay, a handful of dandelion herbage type hay, and 2-3 cereal type bowls of leaves / greens a day. I might be over feeding them?

It's mainly spinach, kale, herbs, raspberry leaves and pea shoots from my garden, dandelions, and then assorted other bits for variety like coriander, corgette, cucumber or baby corn, Apple, basil, dill etc.

They didn't seem to drink any water when I added the probiotic vit C I was sold so I stopped adding it as I was worried about their intake in this heat.

They don't make much sound, I hope they're OK. They pee and poo plenty so I'm not worried about their eating!

They're still shy and hide a lot, one is braver than the other (binky) and I let them have a run around in their garden run for an hour a couple of times a day, I also have been brushing and stroking them daily, I don't think they like it very much they just sit there and let me do it.

I'm like a nervous first time mum with no clue! Help! Anything I'm doing wrong / not doing? And hints and tips?!

They have hidey places and balls to play with and a nibble stick. Oh and a water bottle for the cage that's fresh every other day.

Kind regards,

Mel

And Binky and Scruffbag
 
Your piggies are gorgeous!
How old are they?

I'm by no means experienced, but I have read spinach and kale (especially spinach) are high in calcium so shouldn't be given every day. If they're under 6 months though I don't think it's such a problem as they do need extra calcium at that age, but I would be wrong. I just wouldn't give too much of that.

Also, you shouldnt add vit C to their water for exactly the reason you discovered -B it makes it taste yuck and they don't drink. The vit C also degrades within 20 min so becomes pointless anyway. As long as they have a balanced diet including fresh veg that contains vit C (like bell pepper) daily that's enough. Most good quality pellets also contain vit C.
 
Vit C despite what pet stores tell you shouldn't be added to the water. 1: it doesn't last long at all in the water 2: it can put piggies off drinking. As long as they have pellets with vit C and some veggies they should be just fine. A good rule of thumb for veggies is that each piggy should have 1 cup per day of veg along with the unlimited Timothy hay. My piggy was very quiet the first couple weeks he was home with me. But don't worry, some pigs are quiet, but more likely once your two settle in they'll start chorusing when they hear the food bag! My youngest boar wakes the whole house at 7am demanding his morning veggies so cherish the quiet if you can! Spend as much time around them as you can. They'll get used to your presence. Some pigs don't like to be pet but you might find they each have a special spot they like stroked. For example my Abyssinian loves having his nose stroked. Other pigs may like it but it might take them time to show you this. My long haired boy used to run the instant anyone tried to pet him, now when I stroke him he lays down and out comes the chooken legs! Piggies don't need to be brushed everyday or at all depending on their fur type but if your girls enjoy it then by all means go ahead :)
 
Hi & :wel:

Your piggies are beautiful! It's good that you have come here for advice it shows that you love your piggies and want the best for them :D
I think the first bit of advice I will give you is take what pet shops say with a pinch of salt they are there too sell, there is no need to put anything in their water nor give tablets etc as long as your feeding a balanced diet which includes high vit c veg like sweet bell peppers they will be fine, plus my piggies certainly enjoy a slice of pepper over a vit c pill anyday :D next thing is the veggie amount should be 1 cup per pig per day I split this into breakfast and tea time so they have a routine which piggies love! Things like kale and spinach are high in calcium though so I only feed these once a week sad they LOVE kale! Carrots and apples are high in sugar so I only give them once a week also.
They will be quiet until they find their paws, my Ted and chewy didn't say anything hardly for 6 weeks then we got two very vocal babies from the RSPCA and it's like a chorus in our living room now when one starts their all at it :D but as I say it will take time so be patient with them.
I spend a lot of time with my piggies just sitting talking/singing to them they have learnt too trust me now and know I'm not a threat! to the point where Ted chases the dust pan and brush when I'm trying to clean :D
Enjoy your piggies just give them time xx
 
Thanks guys/gals, I just realised I have no idea how old they are :(

A friend of mine who had guinepigs growing up said they are small, Binky (white)is tiny she said so must be very young.

I will try and weigh them tomorrow in case that helps!
 
Is it the dandelion and marigold burgess excel herbage hay you are using that is very good hay keeps their teeth in tip top condition :) I agree woth gp crazy reply kale and spinach should only be given occasionally things they can have daily red bell pepper and other colours a slice per piggie coriander a couple of sprigs cucumber one slice per piggie keep the peel in it's the piggies favourite and some celery per piggie but bell peppers especially red are high in vitamin c
 
You have the same worries as me..We only got our babies yesterday from pet shop. No chance of me getting a photo yet so you must be doing ok.Mine don't appear to be eating pellets but the red pepper keeps disappearing
 
You will soon notice what their favourite veggies are my 2 boys are from the same litter and at present are at peace with each other and follow each other around so hopefully will stay that way I've been successful with keeping 2 males together in the past without any fighting and I got them from pets at home too
 
They said allin the pen were same litter but there was around 10 in the pen and all happened to be girls!
 
Yeah I didn't get my new piggies from pets at home this time I got mine from a private seller
 
Very few for rescue nearby me here in Scotland (hopefully a good sign) but pet shop info definitely differs from the forum. Glad I did some homework.
 
Most pets shops are not really interested in the animals tbh that are more for making money out of people I also have a bearded dragon pets at home told me to use sand and sand is a big no no as it can impact a bearded dragon so I got him a reptile carpet instead
 
I found a lot of useful tips on here about Guinea pigs more than any pet shop can explain
 
MelScruff&Binky said:
Thanks guys/gals, I just realised I have no idea how old they are :(

A friend of mine who had guinepigs growing up said they are small, Binky (white)is tiny she said so must be very young.

I will try and weigh them tomorrow in case that helps!
Click to expand...

I asked one of the people who worked in p@h the other week how old their piggies were and he said 9-10 weeks and I know that was a new batch in, so yours may be around that age.
 
They told me 9-12 weeks! and I needed vit c in water and a salt lick. I asked if I needed special hay /pellets as they are so young but told Timothy Hay and normal pellets? Would that be why they don't seem to be drinking?
 
Vitamin C in the water will stop them drinking the water. Always provide just plain clean water (preferably filtered especially if you're in a hard water area).
No salt lick - not necessary.
Timothy hay is the most important. Good quality pellets (only 1/8 cup per pig per day) are also good.
 
I haven't put vit c in but thought maybe pet shop had and they weren't used to it. I keep reading young ones need alfalfa?
 
Most pellets are alfalfa based so they don't need extra. They do, however, need unlimited grass hay like timothy hay or meadow hay. Alfalfa is a legume hay, not a grass hay, so they still need the grass hay in unlimited quantities.
If they are not on pellets or in the first 3-4 weeks they can have 1 handful of alfalfa hay a day in addition to the timothy, but generally it's not really needed and is included in the pellets anyway.
 
I read somewhere that they generally need their own size in hay per day. Obviously give them unlimited, but as long as they're eating as much hay as their size then that's fine. If they're quite small still you might not notice as much missing if that makes sense?
If you're worried about them not drinking much try giving them high water veg like cucumber to help get in that moisture. I read they drink about 10ml per pig per day so again, it's not so much for our eyes to notice. As long as it's fresh daily and available they'll take what they need.
 
Also, how much of the pellets are you feeding per day? And how much fresh veg?
If they have unlimited pellets they might eat those instead of the hay which is not good. Guideline for pellets is 1/8 cup per pig per day - so I give mine 2 tablespoons of pellets in the morning, and another 1-2 tablespoons at night (2 pigs).
veg should be roughly 1 cup per pig per day. If it's watery veg that could influence how much water they actually drink (not necessarily bad - just means they get their liquid from the veg rather directly from the water bottle).
 
Thanks for all the replies and help! I've been and got them some bell peppers for daily munching, all 3 colours, let's see what they enjoy!

Also my 3 year old has taken to sitting in the corner of their outside run with a lap full of veggies and Scruffbag is more than happy to wander over for a munch and allow a stroke! (Binky just does a runner, we'll get there!)

I'm glad Scruffbag is easier to handle, her coat is amazing!

:)

image.webp
 
I feed my piggies, a little green pepper, cucumber some celery but watch the strings. I rotate those. everyday they get a mixture of romain, red leaf and green leaf lettuce. I also give them cilantro. I get parsley, kale 1x or2x a week since high in calcium and carrots 1x-2x a week, a little apple acouple seedless grapes even banana periodically. Someone told they give their piggies watermelon rind. They do love it.Not sure if it is good for them or not. I have a hard time finding dandelion :( I also feed them pellets in the morning and timothy hay round the clock. Your piggies are beautiful!
 
Liked this thread. Your set up is practically the same as mine except we have no piggies yet lol. They certainley seem to be settling in well. I got one of the pyramid runs as they're covered so thought would be better for predators wishing Id bought one of these so we could sit in with them as your daughter is x
 
We've had them for 4 weeks now and they're really come out of their shells. Tiny White Binky has chunked up nicely and runs and jumps all over her place, and Scruffbag loves nothing more than to sit on / next to you and eat veggies!

image.webp
 
Todite88 said:
Liked this thread. Your set up is practically the same as mine except we have no piggies yet lol. They certainley seem to be settling in well. I got one of the pyramid runs as they're covered so thought would be better for predators wishing Id bought one of these so we could sit in with them as your daughter is x
Click to expand...

Erm actually my husband made it out of some recycled timber and chicken mesh! All he needed was a staple gun and some nails and he was done!
 
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