Should I rehome them?

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Alicia

Alicia

Adult Guinea Pig
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I am 16 and live at home with my parents, up until a few months ago keeping my pets was fine, they did only have the minimum space requirements but they seemed quite happy and I was happy with how they lived. Recently it's been much more difficult because their hutch broke and my Mum won't let me buy them a new one, and she wants me to put 3 guinea-pigs in a 3ft hutch (we already have two empty 3ft hutches in the garden) . Today, Mum said she wanted to discuss it, which, I thought would mean we could talk about both our opinions on getting a new hutch and I would be able to explain why they need a new hutch, but it wasn't like that at all, it wasn't a discussion, it was Mum telling me no way was I allowed to get a new hutch. I have told her I'm going to buy one anyway but I don't know if I will be able to in the near future. I've got some money but I've only got about half of what it will cost. At the moment they are living in two 3ft hutches because its the best I can do right now. They have a 6ft run and the hutches are either side, although it really is rubbish and I know they deserve so much better. Although I really don't want to, I'm starting to think maybe rehoming them would be best. If I rehomed them, they'd have space and everything they'd need without any waiting around or arguements. My guinea-pigs don't have what I want them to have or what they need, they really do have the basics of what they should have. I can't do what I want to for my guinea-pigs and I think maybe someone else could give them so much more.

I really want to keep them but I'm starting to think it's selfish to keep them, although they are loved very much they just don't have what they really should and I don't know how long it will be until I can get them the new hutch, if I do at all. I know I should just do it anyway, and I really do want to get them a new hutch, but if I get them a new hutch I know it will just lead to more arguements because Mum's said no and I don't actually know if she'd let me keep the new hutch.
I've asked friends who have just told me to keep them because they know that's what I want to hear, but I really need some honest answers, if they were your guinea-pigs and you were me, would you rehome them or keep them?
Sorry for the long post
 
Sorry to hear of your issue. Not sure what your 2 spare hutches are like but is there a possibility you could connect them in some way, if you or anyone in your family is handy with DIY? Then I think they'd have the right space?
 
If it was me i would keep them.

Until Christmas, my 3 boys lived in a cage which was getting to be a tad too small for them, and they had to wait til we had enough money to get them a bigger one, which we did eventually get for them, but they were still happy and healthy in their old cages. We would let ours out in their pen for plenty of excercise to make up for it.

Sadly money dosent grow on trees.

Have you shopped about for a hutch? You can get pretty big and decent ones for not a bad price.

How do you know if you rehomed them they would have half the stuff you give them?

Its Obvious you really care about them and love them, and you are trying to do your best for them :)
 
I think I would keep them too, because I know I could look after them enough to know they were happy and healthy, even if their cage was too small. Then in the future, when you have enough money and maybe your mum might have eased off a bit...maybe:... then you could get a hutch big enough.

You could also try getting one second hand. Maybe from gumtree or ebay, or ones advertised in your local news paper etc sometimes cages and hutches are sold for cheap. Even people on this forum sell cages and hutches sometimes. Keep an eye out :)
 
jamarcham said:
Sorry to hear of your issue. Not sure what your 2 spare hutches are like but is there a possibility you could connect them in some way, if you or anyone in your family is handy with DIY? Then I think they'd have the right space?
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You could connect them and then build onto it. Make it a bit more spacious. You wouldn't be BUYING a new hutch. Just building onto the old ones.
 
I think it depends what the crux of the issue is. Is you mum saying no to a bigger hutch because she thinks you're wasting your money or does she not want a bigger item in 'her' garden? If it's the first I think you need to get her to understand if it's money you have earnt it's YOUR money, you udnerstand her concern but you need to be able to do as you please with it as you earnt it, and that's the point of having a job (assuming the money's from a job from one of your previous posts?)
If it's a space in the garden kinda thing, you could get a two storey hutch so you're not asking it to take up an extra 3 feet in width, it could go up too.

You could also sell the old ones (or at least say you're selling them to make her happy then get someone to help you dispose of them :x)
So this would make you look more money savvy.
OR as someone else said, you can join them together, this is what my family did many years ago when we had an unexpected pregnancy.
I would definately be trying to keep them, good luck with whatever you decide :)
 
do you have a freecycle or freegle site that runs in your area. they run through yahoo and people give things away and ask for items they need. you may be able to join and get a bigger hutch for free.
 
It's not money that's the problem, its the space it takes up and I've already suggested double hutches and things like that but she says no. What's the point in me working and earning money when I can't spend it on what I want to. I'm just giving up with it all now, I know that most of the things I want to do I can't do and my guinea-pigs will be living in a tiny hutch from now on. It just annoys me so much, its my money, and I can only spend it on things that she approves of.
 
I don't know if this is of any help, but i have a 4ft double hutch that I could give you. I know you said money is not a problem, but if it would help, I would be happy for you to have it.
It is 4ft wide and 2 levels, so doesn't take up much space. I have had 3 piggies in it, but have just got a bigger one as i now have 4 pigs!
I'm sorry you are having problems with your mum :(
Let me know if i can help you,
Helen.
 
Have you tried explaining to her that you feel guilty for keeping them in a small space?
If you think they're happy with their quality of life in other aspects then I don't think they need rehoming. However if they seem unhappy it may be worth considering your options. I know it's hard, try to keep it as a last resort :(
 
I am sorry; it is a horrible position to be in! How long will it realistically take you to save up for a new cage? Do you think that your mum will relent if she sees how determined you are to do right by your pets?
 
The problem is I don't know how long it will be until I can get them a new hutch, I'm not sure what to do. They have two 3ft hutches like this with their run:

hutches2.jpg


but the ramps are too steep for them to use so I put them in the run every day and shut them in the hutch at night, but I don't even know why they have two 3ft hutches because at night they can only get shut in one. I've considered seperating them so they have a bit more space but that means two would be in one hutch and another would be on its own in the other hutch, is that a bad idea? I really want to keep them and I can't imagine them not being here, but they've only been living in these hutches for a few hours and I already hate it so much and I just don't think its fair that they have to live like this :(
 
4littlepiggies said:
I don't know if this is of any help, but i have a 4ft double hutch that I could give you. I know you said money is not a problem, but if it would help, I would be happy for you to have it.
It is 4ft wide and 2 levels, so doesn't take up much space. I have had 3 piggies in it, but have just got a bigger one as i now have 4 pigs!
I'm sorry you are having problems with your mum :(
Let me know if i can help you,
Helen.
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Thank you so much, that is a very kind offer, my Mum won't let me get a new hutch at all, whether I buy one or am given one. She doesn't want any more hutches taking up space in the garden but won't let me sell/get rid of the ones I've got and buy a new one. I really don't understand why she's being like this, I don't see how it really affects her that much that she is so against it.

Wiebke said:
I am sorry; it is a horrible position to be in! How long will it realistically take you to save up for a new cage? Do you think that your mum will relent if she sees how determined you are to do right by your pets?
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It would take me about 2 weeks to save up the money for a new hutch, I don't think she will change her mind, she doesn't understand pets at all and doesn't understand how I can love them, and my Dad's not any better, when I asked him he said that he doesn't see the point, guinea-pigs don't live long and they could be dead in a few months. I really don't want to rehome them, I've had guinea-pigs since I was 5 and enjoy them so much I just couldn't imagine being without them and I know that as soon as I rehomed them I'd regret it and miss them but I don't know if its better for them. I've thought of a new way I could arrange the hutch so that they are both on the ground and connected to the run (there's a large door at one end of the run which I could open and put the hutches there to attach it to the run)
I'll try it tomorrow and see if it works. If it worked they would have two 3ft hutches and they would be able to use both of them, so at least at night when they can't go in the run they'd have more space.
Thank you for all the replies, you are all very lovely, helpful people :)
 
Looking at your setup it's a lot easier to see what you mean so thanks for putting that up :) Separating is probably not a good idea as they will get lonely. What I would suggest is getting some wood and building a walkway between the two. It depends how good you are at wood work really. Or you could rotate them so they're side by side and get rid of the inner walls then put some tarpaulin over the top to make it waterproof in the middle.
 
I would be quite tempted to phone the RSPCA on your own mother! As you are under 18 it falls to her to provide adequate accommodation and she isn't quite honestly, 3 piggies need a minimum 5ft x 2ft hutch. Can she not see that each piggy when it together barely has room to wander about?

I really feel for you as your mum is being incredibly unfair and unkind to your animals who have done no wrong at all. Why is it if you had a hutch taking up the space before, and it has now fallen to bits, you can't put another one in the same space?
 
Totally agree with doeylicious and can't understand her logic at all! ?/
Bit baffled as you say, why you cant have another if the others are gone, what difference it makes?

Maybe show her this thread?!
 
I can't really offer advice other than what has already been offered but I am so sorry that,you are in this situation :( I know you keep your pigs in the shed during the winter where they free range. Could the not live in their during the summer as well? They could come out to their current hutch /run set up during the day and back to the shed at night. At least they would have lots of space xx
 
Seeing the hutch now, I can see a few ways in which you could modify it so that they can all live there

You could move the hutch onto patio, and put some vinyl or rubber flooring down under the run for warmth for piggy feet, then get two fleece tunnels to stick to the ramps so that your three are more confident going up/down them. Then if possible cover up the run area from draughts - i'm not sure how much money you would want to spend but I know a guy that makes perspex shutters and he could make you removable shutters for your entire run so you could take them off when it's warm and dry - you can see them on my hutch in pic below. Then your pigs would have a play area with a warmer floor than concrete/grass and it would be free from draughts/wet too. Then two hutch areas to cosy up into, one could be stuffed with hay and the other fleecy?

photo14.jpg


I think there's a lot of potential with that hutch/run. I do think your mum is being unfair but if she's not changing her mind then you have to work with what you've got.
 
Thank you for all the suggestions, unfortunately Catherine I can't move them onto the patio, there isn't enough space and Mum won't let me put more slabs down. Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult, I just can't do much in the garden with them.
I've asked before and she won't let me keep them in the shed all year either :(
I have moved the hutches around a bit so they have access to both, but I'm going to try out some other things too.

I know it looks rubbish, one hutch had to face the other way because the hutches both have a little sliding door on the side that opens, and I've attached the hutches using these holes. She won't let me cut the sides off or anything either, it's really annoying I'm trying to work with what I've got but Mum's not making it easy.

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I put a tunnel through each hole on the hutch so they have access to both of them
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I've also put the hutch covers on the hutches now. It's still rubbish and I'm going to change it but I'm very restricted on what I can do so I'm not really sure how else I can change it :(
 
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I think you are doing everything you can for your piggies. I'm sorry to say but I think that your mum is being really harsh :( it is very obvious from your previous posts that you love your piggies and have a clear head on your shoulders. Your mum should be proud.

Why on earth won't she let you have the pigs in the shed all year round?

I think that your tunnel idea is good. At least they have a little more space
 
Fair enough, I don't think you're being awkward at all, in-fact I think you are being very grown up about this, I doubt most 16 year olds are this conscientiousness about their pets...

It's a shame you can't move onto the patio. Is there a bit of grass that your mum wouldn't mind you using (bearing in mind it would die if you were to put something on the ground as a warmer flooring)?

I think what you've done is great, although are you going to leave it like that? I'd be worried a fox could get it's paw in there and separate the hutches/scare the piggies :...
 
catherine said:
I think what you've done is great, although are you going to leave it like that? I'd be worried a fox could get it's paw in there and separate the hutches/scare the piggies :...
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Good point :... I didn't think of that.

By looking at one of those single 3ft hutches, it is unlikely that three piggies would be comfortable in there :( I really do not understand your mums logic in thinking they would be fine. They wouldn't even have 1ft of space each as some of that hutch is the bed area and in this heat, it would be totally unfair to expect a guinea pig to stay in the bed.

Have you tried showing your mum this thread? May be she doesn't understand the importance of why guinea pigs need a certain amount of space. I know it is rare with sows but what if they all fall out due to not having enough space, what would your mum expect you to do then?

I'm sorry as I don't want to sound like I am having a go but your mum is being totally unreasonable especially as you have even offered to buy or even make a new hutch yourself with your two remaining ones :(

I understand that it is her house and she probably doesn't want hutches taking up her garden but I really do not see the problem of you having / making a new hutch if you are prepared to pay for it yourself. A 5ft hutch isn't going to be taking up anymore room than what is already there and if she allowed you to use the shed, there wouldn't be any hutches in the garden at all mallethead
 
I have now moved the hutch so they only have one for now in case of foxes. I really just don't know what to do, Mum's being so difficult about this and I really can't see a way to change her mind. I love the guinea-pigs to bits and I can't imagine being without them, but they must be miserable :(
 
I just typed a long post in the rehoming section about my piggies and then I went to tell Mum that I'm rehoming them and she changed her mind! I think she knew I was serious because I'm not arguing anymore, I really was just going to rehome them because I didn't think she'd change her mind and she's said if I get rid of the two 3ft hutches I can buy a new hutch! You wouldn't believe how happy I am right now :)) I've just got to find a way to get rid of the 3ft hutch (although I'm keeping one to use as a base in the shed for winter) and I need to find a new hutch. Unfortunately I can't buy one just yet as I don't have enough money just yet, but in about 2 weeks maximum they will be in a new hutch! I know this is a very long time for them to be in a tiny hutch but they will be in the run all day every day and at least I know that they will have a bigger home soon and won't be stuck in the little hutch forever.
Aaaah I'm so happy! If anyone can recommend a hutch please do, I have been looking but just as I think a hutch looks good for them, I read something bad about it so I haven't found the right hutch yet.

Me, Edie, Willow and Marmalade are now celebrating with a carrot :))
 
Alicia said:
I just typed a long post in the rehoming section about my piggies and then I went to tell Mum that I'm rehoming them and she changed her mind! I think she knew I was serious because I'm not arguing anymore, I really was just going to rehome them because I didn't think she'd change her mind and she's said if I get rid of the two 3ft hutches I can buy a new hutch! You wouldn't believe how happy I am right now :)) I've just got to find a way to get rid of the 3ft hutch (although I'm keeping one to use as a base in the shed for winter) and I need to find a new hutch. Unfortunately I can't buy one just yet as I don't have enough money just yet, but in about 2 weeks maximum they will be in a new hutch! I know this is a very long time for them to be in a tiny hutch but they will be in the run all day every day and at least I know that they will have a bigger home soon and won't be stuck in the little hutch forever.
Aaaah I'm so happy! If anyone can recommend a hutch please do, I have been looking but just as I think a hutch looks good for them, I read something bad about it so I haven't found the right hutch yet.

Me, Edie, Willow and Marmalade are now celebrating with a carrot :))
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yaaaay! So pleased for you!

I guess at the moment, with the weather as it is, they're spending most of their time in the run anyway?

The two small hutches that you have there look like they're in pretty good condition, you could see if there's a local rescue that could make use of them if you need to get rid of them? Or maybe someone would buy them off you to use as a sheltered area in their run or something?
 
Amanda1801 said:
yaaaay! So pleased for you!

I guess at the moment, with the weather as it is, they're spending most of their time in the run anyway?

The two small hutches that you have there look like they're in pretty good condition, you could see if there's a local rescue that could make use of them if you need to get rid of them? Or maybe someone would buy them off you to use as a sheltered area in their run or something?
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Their hutch is attached to their run, so I open the hutch door at 7am and close it at about 10pm so they can go in and out as they want. Normally I'd shut them in earlier but because the hutch is so small and its been good weather they've been staying out later :) I will have a look for a local rescue, I'm not sure where the nearest one is but I'll find a good place for the 3ft hutch to go :) My rabbits live in a 6ft hutch and Mum won't let me have a hutch that big so the biggest I can get is the minimum size requirement for 3 guinea-pigs, 5ft x 2ft x 2ft. I feel bad that I can only give them the minimum size requirements but at least its better than what they have now and I think with their 6ft run attached they should be happy.
 
I am so happy for you and am so pleased your mum has come to her senses. The dandelion den hutch from pets at home is 5ft and is pretty good. There are lots of 5ft hutches for sale on eBay too
 
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