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Tommywing5b7

Tommywing5b7

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone!

So I'm nearly at the time to order everything for my guinea pigs. Here's what I plan to get. This is to house three females.

Plaza 160 cage
Hide X 2
Water bottle x 2
Bowl
Soft Hay
Aubiose or Fitch?
Nail clippers
Vitamin c tablets?
Harringtons pet food

I plan to use zooplus for pretty much all of this as they seem to be decent suppliers and I already got some cat food from them.

Does anyone else use them for hay and if so can you recommend a particular brand? Also anything not on that list that should be?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Tom
 
I would get 3 of the hides and bowls. They won’t necessarily drink at the same time so you can likely get away with 2 bottles. A cheap option is boxes, they make for cheap hides and they like to chew on them.

As long as they have a varied diet they shouldn’t need the vitamin c tablets.

How about a run? For indoor and/or outdoors?

I really liked aubiose but can’t use it long term. I’ve never used fitch but I’m sure you can get others’ opinion if you do a search.

Lastly, I’d find out what pellets they’re currently on and buy that. Then you can slowly change them onto Harrington’s if that’s what you want them to eat.

When are your girls coming home? Exciting stuff 😁
 
Siikibam said:
I would get 3 of the hides and bowls. They won’t necessarily drink at the same time so you can likely get away with 2 bottles. A cheap option is boxes, they make for cheap hides and they like to chew on them.

As long as they have a varied diet they shouldn’t need the vitamin c tablets.

How about a run? For indoor and/or outdoors?

I really liked aubiose but can’t use it long term. I’ve never used fitch but I’m sure you can get others’ opinion if you do a search.

Lastly, I’d find out what pellets they’re currently on and buy that. Then you can slowly change them onto Harrington’s if that’s what you want them to eat.

When are your girls coming home? Exciting stuff 😁
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Hi, as much as I'd like to get them sooner we will get them after our holiday. So May 11th. Thought it wouldn't be kind to get them then go away. But they're for my daughter (and me) for her birthday so we'll get everything set up first. We have a section of the house where they can run that's cut off from everywhere else. But I'll get one of those temporary things too to help with cleaning out day.

Thanks for the tips. I'll change my list accordingly 😃
 
Tommywing5b7 said:
Hi, as much as I'd like to get them sooner we will get them after our holiday. So May 11th. Thought it wouldn't be kind to get them then go away. But they're for my daughter (and me) for her birthday so we'll get everything set up first. We have a section of the house where they can run that's cut off from everywhere else. But I'll get one of those temporary things too to help with cleaning out day.

Thanks for the tips. I'll change my list accordingly 😃
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You’re a good slave in the making! 🤣 If you have a garden then a run isn’t a bad idea in any case. Good you have space they can run around in the house. We will wait with baited breath! May will soon be here, April is just round the corner 😁
 
Siikibam said:
You’re a good slave in the making! 🤣 If you have a garden then a run isn’t a bad idea in any case. Good you have space they can run around in the house. We will wait with baited breath! May will soon be here, April is just round the corner 😁
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Yes there's a bit outside that's perfect for them to run about in the summer. Thanks for all your replies everyone. If anyone has any pointers on Hay from zooplus let me know! Thanks 😃
 
Hi, this is very exciting, I love getting ready for new piggy’s :luv: just checked out Zoopla plus, I would suggest a meadow hay for bedding (they will eat it too) and a feeding hay such as the Timothy hay or dandelion meadow hay which you can give a handful for each pig at veggie feeding times. The site seems quite pricey though I’m sure there are cheaper suppliers but can’t comment on the quality of the hay on Zoopla as I’ve never used it. If you want some other suppliers let us know :)
 
G&C said:
Hi, this is very exciting, I love getting ready for new piggy’s :luv: just checked out Zoopla plus, I would suggest a meadow hay for bedding (they will eat it too) and a feeding hay such as the Timothy hay or dandelion meadow hay which you can give a handful for each pig at veggie feeding times. The site seems quite pricey though I’m sure there are cheaper suppliers but can’t comment on the quality of the hay on Zoopla as I’ve never used it. If you want some other suppliers let us know :)
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Thanks! I'm a bit confused though. Would you use the hay as bedding in place of Fitch or whatever? Or as well as?
 
Tommywing5b7 said:
Thanks! I'm a bit confused though. Would you use the hay as bedding in place of Fitch or whatever? Or as well as?
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As well as, Fitch or fleece or wood shavings as bedding then hay on top -topped up once or twice a day. You’ll notice they eat most of it quite quick when they are cleaned out so may need to restock a few hours later, but hay should be a continuos supply.
 
My 5 are on puppy pads and hay and they love to eat they hay they have pooped and wee'd all over :vom: instead of the nice fresh stuff in the hay bales that is always available.:hb: It must taste nicer with a bit of "flavouring!" :drool: They have always done this and it hasn't done them any harm they are healthy happy piggies.:D
 
Interesting. Well they're animals after all I guess, just pads and hay then. That sounds simple!
 
Tommywing5b7 said:
Interesting. Well they're animals after all I guess, just pads and hay then. That sounds simple!
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They eat their first poops anyway to get all the goodness out of them so I suppose it's no different. Mine are outside piggies in a hutch if you want to use hay and puppy pads indoors you may find they smell quicker than if you use a different substrate. A lot of members find fleece works well for them. The initial outlay can be quite expensive but they last for years.
 
Ok! I've placed my orders. Will get everything set up and it'll all be ready for when we get back. Went with Caviera Rape straw bedding in the end as it looked the best for us. Much as I'd like fleece we already struggle with endless laundry as it is & if it can't be washed on 30 and tumble dried we don't buy it! 😂
 
Um, there is a problem with straw bedding, the piggy’s might try eating it and straw isn’t good for them. You need hay for guinea pigs for their digestive and teeth health, it is the most important part of their diet. :doh:
 
Straw can cause hay pokes to the eyes. I use cheap big bags of meadow hay as bedding
 
Hi guys I mean the one that's recommended on the site this one

Caviera Raviera Rape Straw Bedding

Not just normal straw 👍
 
Everything is starting to arrive, I'm so keen to get our new friends I even suggested we get them before our holiday, but my wife correctly told me to be patient. 🤣
 
Betsy said:
She is quite right of course. It is very exciting getting piggies. Have you chosen them yet?

Here are a couple of threads you may find useful when your piggies have landed ...

How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
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We haven't no. We're getting them from p@h on may 11th so well have to see who's there on the day. I asked to reserve 3 girls but they don't do that sadly. Some great tips in there, I've done so much reading it's silly 🤣
 
Remember to double check the sex of your girls when you get them. I got mine from PAH and one was already "with pig" which is how I ended up with 5. Apparently the breeder had gone away on holiday and his stand-in hadn't removed the boys quickly enough.
 
i use bliss/and caveria and both are suitable for guinea pigs.i do find hemp bedding more absorbent,but i have a few mini herds of 4 piggies in a herd.
 
Tommywing5b7 said:
We haven't no. We're getting them from p@h on may 11th so well have to see who's there on the day. I asked to reserve 3 girls but they don't do that sadly. Some great tips in there, I've done so much reading it's silly 🤣
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Are there no other options for you on regards to where you get your pigs from?
 
badwolf said:
Are there no other options for you on regards to where you get your pigs from?
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Not locally. We don't have a car and I want to keep the journey as short as possible once we collect them so p@h is the best option for us.
 
Betsy said:
Remember to double check the sex of your girls when you get them. I got mine from PAH and one was already "with pig" which is how I ended up with 5. Apparently the breeder had gone away on holiday and his stand-in hadn't removed the boys quickly enough.
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I will do. I've been there twice with Nina and I must say they've been really friendly and helpful. It must be hard to prevent the odd "accident" tbf!
 
Tommywing5b7 said:
Not locally. We don't have a car and I want to keep the journey as short as possible once we collect them so p@h is the best option for us.
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Any particular reason for wanting to make the journey as short as possible? Pigs travel perfectly fine, so public transport or couriers are a great option.
 
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