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Where To House My Single Guinea After Her Buddys Passing

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Sam Varley

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Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and really need a bit of advice. One of my beloved pigs sadly passed last night, leaving her little friend Sage alone. I am pretty upset but am now concerned for Sage. They would normally be housed in our garage over winter with heat pads, lots of hay and each other to snuggle. It feels wrong to make any drastic changes to her living quarters, but i'm thinking maybe I should be bringing her in doors over winter, now that she's alone? She's 7 and unfortunately my Husband really doesn't want any more pigs, so getting her another friend wouldn't be an option :-(.

Also, should be cleaning her hutch out straight away or do i need to leave it a day? I hope that doesn't sound like a daft question, but she has gone very quiet and not herself now, should I be getting rid of the scent straight away? I'm pretty sure she had paid her respects already before I took poor little Bramble out, as Sage was over the other side of the hutch and not paying her any attention.

Sorry to ramble! Thanks in advance

Sam xx
 
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It's always a hard time and trying to do the right thing for your remaining piggy can be hard too.

If you are not able to get her a new friend then I would consider bringing her inside. That way she will be warm enough as well as have the social company of the human family. 7 is a great age for a piggy but being alone will make it difficult for her to keep warm enough outside even in a sheltered garage etc. as the temperatures begin to drop especially at night. Piggies don't cope well with extremes of temperature and big changes in temperature so inside might be best.

I am sure wh will enjoy the extra fuss that being inside brings as well :)
 
Oh I'm sorry for your loss. 7 is a good age for a piggy. If your husband is in agreement I would bring Sage inside, she will be lonely outside in the garage on her own without the stimulation and company of her friend.
 
I'm sorry to hear of your loss, if poss bring sage inside over winter it will do her good to be around you in the house she want be lonely. RIP bramble x
Kell.
 
I'm really sorry too. I agree that it would be best to bring her inside so she has some interaction with you and your family.
 
Thank you everyone for all your kind words and advice, It has really helped! I am in the UK so it is getting chilly now and my Husband is very easy going when it comes to my animals so i think i'll bring her in for the Winter, and just give her a usual garden run in the day times (providing there's no ice or snow of course, and fingers crossed there's not).
My friend suggested getting her a teddy, although I'm not sure whether it'd just be a choking hazard.
Thanks again everyone, its all much appreciated.
Sam xx
P.sThanks PiggieOwner for the link
 
Hi there
I don't personally give my piggies teddies (I have always worried that they would eat the stuffing!) but I know that some rescues use them when they are bonding boars, as long as they are new born baby safe - so no eyes or beads for them to choke on. I did once give my rabbit a stuffed toy rabbit for company and she attacked it and ripped its head off - it was quite a traumatic event!

Cassandra
 
Sam Varley said:
Thank you everyone for all your kind words and advice, It has really helped! I am in the UK so it is getting chilly now and my Husband is very easy going when it comes to my animals so i think i'll bring her in for the Winter, and just give her a usual garden run in the day times (providing there's no ice or snow of course, and fingers crossed there's not).
My friend suggested getting her a teddy, although I'm not sure whether it'd just be a choking hazard.
Thanks again everyone, its all much appreciated.
Sam xx
P.sThanks PiggieOwner for the link
Click to expand...

If you bring her in, personally, I wouldn't advise letting her out for a run over the winter as it will be too cold - guinea pigs don't responsd well to such changes in temperature. It's much better to have her indoors. There's lots of advice on this forum about ways to give her exercise indoors.
 
You could always set her run up indoors - I move the coffee table out of the living room during the day for Pumpkin and Boo to have play time in their run. Jack and Hector's run is set up during the day in my son's room (he is at school) and the girls are out all evening/night in their indoor run or free ranging in the living room. I don't have boars and sows out of their cages at the same time. I used 8 sided sectional metal runs but you could use a wooden frame one inside as well - they are just heavier to move around.
 
Thank you for that PiggyOwner I completely didn't think about the temperature changes. I have a portable run that i can set up indoors for her. Thanks Goth Mummy! It sounds like your pigs have such a fab set up, they must be so happy :-) xx
 
I'm sorry for your loss of bramble and good job getting them to live to 7 you must take excellent care of your pigs, I agree wit the indoor run thing as well because it's to cold to let them out, hopefully sage will be happy and to not upset about the loss of her friend.
 
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