Toileting Behaviour

[Kizi & honey]

Hello everyone,

I need some advice and insight into my guineas behaviour lately, please.

I have noticed that they keep pooing in their water bowl. I really dont understand why.
When I got them they didn't like the bottle so I gave them a bowl of water to drink from instead which they like much better.

But I'm confused as to why I keep seeing their poo floating in it. I change it when I see it but later in the day it will be back again.
At first they had one corner they would use for going to the toilet but now they do it in the bowl somehow.
Maybe they are trying to tell me they want a new bowl lol.

Any thoughts would be appreciated because I would like to be able to stop it happening because when I'm at work I'm not there to change the bowl and the thought of them drinking the dirty water is not very nice for me and I feel evil.
Has anyone experienced this or know anything about it.
Thank you

 

[Reenie]

I can't tell you why they do it, but be reassured, lots do! Mine poo in their food bowl. I wouldn't worry too much about not being there to change it - they eat some of their poo, after all, so I'm sure it won't do them any harm. Just change it when you can.

 

[Kizi & honey]

Thanks for your reply it has reassured me and cheered me up. I'm glad loads of others do it too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,

I need some advice and insight into my guineas behaviour lately, please.

I have noticed that they keep pooing in their water bowl. I really dont understand why.
When I got them they didn't like the bottle so I gave them a bowl of water to drink from instead which they like much better.

But I'm confused as to why I keep seeing their poo floating in it. I change it when I see it but later in the day it will be back again.
At first they had one corner they would use for going to the toilet but now they do it in the bowl somehow.
Maybe they are trying to tell me they want a new bowl lol.

Any thoughts would be appreciated because I would like to be able to stop it happening because when I'm at work I'm not there to change the bowl and the thought of them drinking the dirty water is not very nice for me and I feel evil.
Has anyone experienced this or know anything about it.
Thank you

It's pretty much par for the course, unfortunately. The drip dishes under my bottles always have a courtesy poo in them within half an hour.

Try to switch to bottles. Piggies go where they can smell others. Use a mix of water and a little carrot or apple juice or some juiced cucumber and let them suck that from the bottle tip. Fasten the bottle above the water dish and eventually your piggies will hopefully shift onto bottle drinking. It is something they learn by copying their elders, but if they have not had that opportunity, it is much harder.
All About Drinking And Bottles

 

[Kizi & honey]

Oh ok that's very helpful thank you.When you say apple or carrot juice would that be what we would drink or a special version just for them.

 

[Janice C]

My piggies have water bottles and water bowls as some drink freely from the bottles but others don’t so I wanted to ensure there was always water handy. Yes they do poo frequently in the bowls and that’s a nuisance but as long as you change it daily they won’t come to any harm!
I’ve tried rubbing cucumber on the bottle tips to encourage my youngsters but haven’t had much success! They are all different!

 

[Kizi & honey]

Thank you I think I will mix the 2 so there its both options to choose from until they decide to use the bottle. If they do decide to do it

 

[flowerfairy]

My girls never did it but since I introduced a neutered boar (6 weeks post op) I have seen the odd poo in their bowl. Got them a glass water bottle in a wooden stand which they all really like!

 

[Kizi & honey]

My girls never did it but since I introduced a neutered boar (6 weeks post op) I have seen the odd poo in their bowl. Got them a glass water bottle in a wooden stand which they all really like![/QUOTE

Its funny that the girls never did it, it made me giggle because my culprits are two boars, lovely though

 

[Janice C]

My girls never did it but since I introduced a neutered boar (6 weeks post op) I have seen the odd poo in their bowl. Got them a glass water bottle in a wooden stand which they all really like!

Where did you get the bottle and stand?
I’ve so many different ones but some they won’t use at all and others drip!

 

[flowerfairy]

Where did you get the bottle and stand?
I’ve so many different ones but some they won’t use at all and others drip!

I got it on amazon. Its the living world medium sized one. I love it. So easy to take on and off the stand.