Worried About My Piggie.

beckyb

beckyb

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi I have two male guinea pigs that I rescued. One is a year old and the other 6months old. They have been together since the youngest was a baby.
I have had them just over a week and my oldest is sitting right in the corner of the hutch on his own(the hutch is 5 feet long) not even in the bed part.
Is this normal? I'm so worried he's unhappy.
He's seems a very calm piggie in general and handleable he doesn't move a lot and not make many noises. I'm not sure if I'm mistaking this for calm or frightened.
This younger one is a bit more skitty but handle able.
Any advise would be very much appreciated. X
 
Is he eating and drinking normally? If he is then he's probably fine. My pigs pick their favourite corner and lay in it, almost like it's their little territory.
 
Ps I also have a pig like this that is happy to be handled and isn't skittish at all- I was worried he was poorly but I think he's just very chilled! He comes up to me and runs around when food is about!
 
As far as I know he is. Ive seen him eating out the bowl. I just thought that as they like company he would want to be with his friend but he's as far away as possible.
 
is he sitting slightly hunched up or facing the corner? If he is then a vet visit will be needed, is he in any form of pain? Teeth, urinary system, skin all ok? Is his hair slightly puffed up?

Have they got tunnels,pipes or hideys to go in or under, if its a big open space he may be sitting still to keep himself from being seen by a predator-if his surroundings are all new to him.
Prey animals freeze or run &hide at signs of danger

A lot of members on here have those open bottomed plastic kids stools, so that they have cover from above but can get out quickly &easily if they need to.
Keep an eye on his input (food&drink ) &on his output (poops etc) also try &weigh him daily around the same time. If he's up or down any more than about 50g a day then get him checked out &suggest painkillers if needed.

If he's just sat or led with chookens sticking out then hopefully he's just super mellow &chilled :)

Hopefully that's all it is:nod:

Keep us updated. xx
 
great advice above from @GPTV Do you have hideys in there for him? Is he eating his veg and hay?
 
Thank you for your advice. He seems to sit in the corner all different ways round. He's quite fluffy I think he's a teddy breed and he sits there like a little round ball. They have there bed compartment and the hutch has a second level, but they don't seem to use that. To be fair there are no hiding place in the main part. Could this be the problem? They have the bedroom compartment as I call it. On the bottom I've put hide places but there not going down there.
I feel a little bit better in the fact that late last night I check them as I was worried and the other younger Guinea pig was sitting in the same corner. Maybe it's just a corner they like.
 
If he's hunched in a ball and looks uncomfortable and you're worried about him it's worth taking him to the vet. Even if they find nothing wrong at least then it gives you peace of mind. Try putting some hideys in the section where he sits to see if he relaxes and lays down at all.
 
Thank you so much for the advise. I don't think he's hunched. He seems to sit the same as the first day I got him.
When I bring him inside In his play pen he sits the same for a bit then he lies down. I think the younger one bothers him. He permanently trying to hide under him. He shoving under him all the time. The younger one does it so much when we had floor time he started chattering at him and then went for him. I think he doing his head in. I got tubes for floor time and that helped.
I will definitely get more hide holes. Do you have any ideas for ones they like ? I just have the large tubes in the bottom. Would you suggest like a igloo in the non sleeping bit. I didn't put any hide holes here because of the hole to the lower part of the hutch but I think I will.
I have a friend who works at the vets I will speak to her.
I appreciate all your advise. X
 
Colin especially likes hiding under the bendy stick tunnel, he even sleeps under there too at times.

They also have a tunnel and a carrying box to hide in.
 
I've put a stick tunnel in the top now to hide. Good news this morning. When I went to the hutch he was in the corner but he was lying down looking out. So hopefully it's just he like this spot.
Can I ask a question about hay. I'm hoping I'm doing this right.
I put hay in for there bedding and top it up every other day and do a full hutch clean once a week. I spot check the hutch and take out old veg and top up food and water. I've been adding a handful of hay every day in the bit they run around in not where the bedding is. Is this ok? Am I giving to much? Should I just keep it to the bedding.
Sorry if I'm annoying anyone. I just want to make sure I'm doing this right. I love the little guys and want them to be happy.
 
You can't give them too much hay it should be 80% of their diet. They love to lie in it and toilet in it to. I top my hay up at least twice a day as they seem to prefer to eat it fresh from the bag!
 
Aww he is lovely. I think he would be happier with something to shelter under in the corner if there is room in the hutch the log tunnel you use at floor time would be ideal. Piggy's often like to rest apart from each other in their own space. They may get used to the ramp and use both levels eventually although not all guineas can cope with ramps, the ones in hutches are often a bit steep. If there is anyway to attach sides to the ramp that would make it safer and maybe more attractive to them some forum members use ramp tunnels. My piggys have indoor cages with lofts, both pairs love their lofts and often rest one upstairs one down, not liking each others company all the time. There's a thread somewhere on the forum about ramps, I will go away and look for it and post you a link.
 
Sorry I can't find it but if you go to search forums in the top bar and type in ramps there's lots of threads there, you may find some useful hints. My ramp has sides I think they feel more secure, I now put a strip of fleece or carpet up it to make it more comfy on their feet.
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beckyb said:
I've put a stick tunnel in the top now to hide. Good news this morning. When I went to the hutch he was in the corner but he was lying down looking out. So hopefully it's just he like this spot.
Can I ask a question about hay. I'm hoping I'm doing this right.
I put hay in for there bedding and top it up every other day and do a full hutch clean once a week. I spot check the hutch and take out old veg and top up food and water. I've been adding a handful of hay every day in the bit they run around in not where the bedding is. Is this ok? Am I giving to much? Should I just keep it to the bedding.
Sorry if I'm annoying anyone. I just want to make sure I'm doing this right. I love the little guys and want them to be happy.
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Hi beckyb
 
Oh thank you so much. I have put the log hide hole the opposite corner as there's not a lot of room were he is but he doesn't seem to want to go in there LOL. I will try and put it in his corner. I will certainly look up ramps on the forum. My ramp does have sides but not at the very top so I might need to modify this in some way. I'm sure I can find a bit of carpet to make it more comfortable on their feet. I've never heard of hay cakes not sure what these are, do you have a picture at all please . I love my new little piggies not sure exactly what breed they are but I think one does look like a teddy and the other I have no idea. Thank you all for your help.

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IMG_4115.webp
 
Mine have igloos but they also like cardboard boxes with a Couple of doorways cut into them. The stick hideys/bridges are very good too. Your boy is really sweet :D
 
Thank you. I think the reason he keeps sitting in the corner is because the younger one is bothering him all the time. The older one will hide in the tube and the young one will push ans push until be pushes him out. They keep falling out and they have chattered there teeth at each other had a scuffle that lasted a few seconds then stopped. It's almost like my older pig wants to be on his own and they younger pigs thinks he's the boss. I contacted the rescue lady I got them from and she's says they have been together since the younger one was born and he 6 months old and she said we have to let them fight it out. My heart pounds everytime they disagree incase they fight. If they chatter I panic. Don't want them to hurt each other. X
 
I think your older piggy is a silver agouti (colouring) rex. And the youngster is a rex type, maybe a teddy. They are both gorgeous. It takes piggys a while to settle into a new home and you have only had them week so you are doing well. The move has probably triggered some dominance in the younger one whose hormones will be rising at that age. Don't worry too much about their rumbles and grumbles it is quite normal, I have 2 pairs of boars, they do it to reassert themselves, and just because they can. Have a read through the sticky threads on dominance behaviours in the behaviour and domnance section. Don't worry about asking questions no one minds, you are a very caring and kind ownner
 
Thank you. I've learnt so much from this forum in the last few days. I'm so great full. I have one more subject I would like to ask questions about if anyone could advise me please.
Is it ok to give the piggies, cabbage( I read somewhere not to give and others say to give it. I'm unsure) , cauliflower leaves, coriander, Brussels sprouts and carrots tops?

I currently give:
Kayle- everyday
Parsley - everyday
Pepper - everyday
Carrot - going to give twice a week
Cucumber - everyday
Broccoli - everyday

Or can anyone recommend any I've not mentioned.
 
I don't think you should give kale and parsley every day due to the high calcium content but somebody else with more experience will be along soon to advise you on that I'm sure.

Mine enjoy cauliflower leaves (I have to take it of the stalky bit in the middle they are very fussy and don't touch it if I don't!), celery, parsley, kale (not every day for the last 2), carrot (again not every day), cucumber, brocolli stalk, bell pepper (green is favourite but they will happily eat any colour) lettuce, dandelion leaves, plantain leaves and hazel leaves. There are a few more things that they enjoy but I have forgotten them!
 
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