Advice needed please!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lynzxx
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lynzxx

Hi there, apologies if this is in the wrong section but I wasn't quite sure where it fitted best! :-\

I want to get a couple of piggies from a rescue but I had a couple of questions to ask….hope you don’t mind! They will be living indoors in my craft room (in a secure cage) during the cold weather then they’ll be outside when it’s warm enough.

Firstly, how much time do you spend with your guinea’s each day cleaning them out, playtime etc? I don’t get in until 6pm 3 days a week and then I’m out on a Tuesday evening each week so I’m a bit worried that my piggies won’t get as much attention as they need.

Secondly, during playtime when they are let out for a run around do they leave mush mess? I’m just asking as I had a guinea pig when I was younger and she used to wee everywhere! Not sure if she was a one-off or if they all do that?

I’m so excited about getting our new additions, but I want to start off on the right foot with them……I do tend to worry a lot so I might just need to chill a little and enjoy them :laugh:

All help will be much appreciated,

Thanks
Lynz x
 
How big is the cage :)

I feed mine in the morning then about 4 ish i handle some of them but thats cause i have 28 so say if you get 2 then I'm sure theyll have company with one another so whenever youve got time really to handle them is up to you O0 whether its just when your watching tele or just letting them run around the place :D

They do poo alot and most of mine poo everywhere and not in one spot but I'm sure you can learn them and give them a corner unit ;)

Good Luck and glad you want to rescue :smitten:
 
firstly, welcome to the forums and for getting new piggies. as for the amount of time you spend on them, if you have more than one piggy they will keep eachother company. as for play time, perhaps put them in something like a pen/run so that any mess will be easily cleaned. as guinea pigs will reluieve themselves when ever and where ever they want. you sound like me a born worrier! as for time cleaning them, it takes us 30 minutes to clean them. spent 5 minutes 3 times a week grooming them(even short hairs) and feel for bumps and lumps. and for playtime they get 2 hours out while we're having tea and watching home and away. so if you include playtime i would say we spend 3 hours a day. but like i said if you get more than 1 piggy they will have company. when your not home perhaps leave the radio on for them. as for playtime as we only have 2 girls we used one of those giant plastic shells kids used for water or sand, stick some hay in it and bit of food and toys and they are as happy as larry. they also get cuddle time when we're sitting down or watching tv, on the computer. good luck with your babies and hoping you enjoy them, i know it is hard to do but stop worrying!
and they are a wonderful bunch here and very helpful, one thing to consider is to find a piggy savy vet before you get your babies. here in australia they are very hard to find, since i have been here on the forum, some in the UK know nothing about piggies too. on the index there is a thread recomended vets perhaps you'll find one near you. or perhaps the rescue you get them from caqn recomend a good vet. good luck and welcome. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Thanks for getting back to me soo quickly! :)

The indoor cage I have is 3.5ft x 2ft, it's the largest one that my local pet store had. I have a playhouse outside though for when the weather gets warmer and I'll get a nice big run made too!

I'm a bit worried about them weeing everywhere, do they even do it when you have them on your knee? Like you say though, I'm probably worrying too much ;D

The vet that I use is fab with small animals like guinea's and rabbits as he has some of his own. He often tells little stories about them when I take any animals along to him, so I'm ok on that front!

I'll keep researching I think and decide what to do......but I really want some piggies :smitten:
 
Hi Lynz,

An idea is to search out some info on the search facility above, I'm sure you'll find everything you need to think about that way.

The requirements for 2 pigs is 4ft x 2ft. Pigs do wee on your but you get to know when they need to go, they all have their little ways!

Good luck!

Louise
x
 
Thanks Louise, I'll have a look on the forum later while OH is out! Reading all about them becomes so addictive doesn't it.....the time just flies by!

Your guinea's look gorgeous :smitten: they're so cute!

Lynz xx
 
Hi Lynz and welcome to the forum :) I'm sure we would be mroe than happy to answer any more questions you have ;)

i work alot of hours too, especially at the moment, i spend about 20-30mins a day cuddle time with each one (i have 3). i will also sit in their cage and talk to them (which they prefer)

guinea pigs dont need to much lap time if they have other guinea pigs for company :) i try to give them atleast an hour a day of floor time, most of the time they will go to the toilet in a litter tray or in a corner :)
 
Hi welcome to the forum :) i clean mine out twice a week, they get hay twice a day, veg twice a day and dried food once a day :) i get 2 out each night, so they get time out of the cage every 3 days! its fine when you get into a routine! they do wee on the floor, but you can put newspaper down or use something like a paddling pool for run space to save the carpet :) they usually squeek and start looking a bit shifty when they're sitting on you and need to wee lol! good luck getting them :) love Emma xxxxxxx
 
It sure is Lynz, I love reading about them. Mine are on fleece blankets (only suitable for indoors) I change every other day or every day if needed, depends on the mess. I get mine out as often as possible I have 8 now so every night isn't possible once I've seen to them all but I tend to get the 4 boars out and the next night the 4 girls that way the boars don't smell the girls and get upset. :)
 
Thanks for all the help & advice..... I've decided to get a couple of rescue bunnies instead of guinea pigs. I've always had rabbits so thought that'd give me a head start with my next 2 :)

I'm going to see some RSPCA bunnies tonight so fingers crossed, I'll have some soon....... O0

Thanks again
Lynz xx
 
My 5 are outside in the shed all year round, in a secure run, I pick them fresh grass about 7:30am, pick them up, tell them they are treasures, then refill their hay and leave them (mum sometimes puts them out in the garden when she gets back from work in their chicken ark) Then I feed them between 6-8pm and give them cuddles again, I feed them fresh veg in the evening.

They get mucked out either early saturday before work or sunday morning :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top