Complete Newbie

[Jo83]

Hello
Was looking for some advice as I’ve never owned pigs before but interested in rehoming however I don’t have any grass in my garden, it’s all paved & decking so wondering if this would even be suitable?
Am happy to buy hay and anything they need but thinking no grass for them to graze may be a problem?
Any advice appreciated, want as much info as I can get before I look at actually getting them.
Thanks in advance

 

[Featheryfriend]

Hi. I'm new too, but there is a section here on housing that I found helpful:

Housing, Enrichment and Seasonal care

And on food:

Food

And lawn time:

Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

Ideally you'd be keeping your guinea pigs in the house, or if you live somewhere with mild weather and they absolutely must be outdoors, they'd be contained in some kind of shelter, so I'm pretty sure what your garden/yard is covered in is mostly irrelevant. If you really wanted to do supervised lawn time perhaps you could rip up a small section of pavement and grow it out. Or if it's the fresh grass you're interested in, you could grow wheatgrass in containers. I was thinking of spouting some grass inside since I already have some soil-less indoor grow kit materials. It's just for a treat though.

They must eat lots and lots of hay - I just ordered 45 pounds of hay this morning from KMS hayloft (woohoo!) so that should last us a good long while.

My guinea pig is happy lounging indoors on fleece bedding all day. Going outside is not an option here in Arizona because it's hotter than blazes and guinea pigs don't tolerate heat. My place is small but I tossed out some furniture and shuffled things around to make way for the piggie cages and a moveable indoor run. You can provide a good home even if you have no safe outdoor space for them at all. Inside is almost always best, from what I've read.

 

[Flutterby]

 

[Fantasimo]

I have artificial grass, so I just pick some grass in the summer while I’m out walking the dog. They actually prefer carrots tops, kale, parsley etc. to grass anyway and as long as they have lots of nice hay they’ll be absolutely fine

 

[Swissgreys]

Having grass is not essential for guinea pigs although they certainly do enjoy it if you can offer some occasionally.
We have many members who do not have a garden that is suitable for guinea pigs and this is fine.
I do have a garden, but often the weather isn't great for the piggies outside, so I tend to wander around the neighbourhood and cut grass for them and then feed it in their indoor cages.

A good place ot start for more information would be here:
Are Guinea Pigs For Me? - A Guide

 

[PigglePuggle]

I live in the city with only a small patio garden and my piggies live indoors. I grow grass for them in window boxes on my patio in the summer then pop a window box in their indoor playpen sometimes, but most of the year they are fine without grass as long as they get a good selection of veggies and lots of nice hay! There are arguments for and against indoor vs outdoor piggies, as long as they are well cared for I think its a matter of personal preference. Piggies like grass, but they also like watching what the hoomans are doing and wheeking at the bars and getting a bit of a veg treat every time someone rustles a bag of salad or chops the dinner veggies...

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have outdoor piggies and I would recommend a spacious hutch (bigger than the recommended cage size) that does not sit directly on the floor. In other words, one that has legs and a small gap between the floor and the bottom level instead of one with a run underneath that gives the piggies direct access to the floor (if you go for two storey that is). Mine have a separate run for grass time but haven't had much this year as we now have a puppy who is still weeing wherever he likes in the garden

 

[VickiA]

Hello and welcome. Some great posts above.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome
You can always grow some grass in seed trays, it’s quite easy to do in spring. I have planted some herbs for the piggies such as parsley, rosemary, fennel, marjoram and mint you can grow them in pots and use them too. Grass is great for their teeth, you can always go foraging for grass, as long as you give it a good wash, just avoid grass with no weeds in as it’s often being weed treated.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello
Was looking for some advice as I’ve never owned pigs before but interested in rehoming however I don’t have any grass in my garden, it’s all paved & decking so wondering if this would even be suitable?
Am happy to buy hay and anything they need but thinking no grass for them to graze may be a problem?
Any advice appreciated, want as much info as I can get before I look at actually getting them.
Thanks in advance ☺

Hi and welcome

You may find our Wannabe and New Owners information and practical help collections useful as they specifically concentrate on all the areas that we get the most questions and concerns about and also include information on important aspects that many new owners are not aware of. The guides cover all the things in preacise and practical detail that pet shop literature glosses over!
Are Guinea Pigs For Me? - A Guide
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Access to grass is a bonus, but you can keep guinea pigs without it as many people in urban areas and rented flats do. You can always grow some grass in seed trays and rotate those on a window sill or outdoors in summer. Artificial lawn is not necessary; eating plastic is not recommended!

Hay is the mainstay of piggy diet; it should make over 80% of the daily food intake and is the one staple they can never do without.
A carefully balanced selection of fresh veg and herbs (but no or very little fruit) and 1 tablespoon of hay based pellets are more in the way of daily treats. Your piggies will be healthier if you look at making feeding time fun rather than feeding fattening and sugary veg, fruit or pets shop treats.

Please consider getting your piggies from a good standard rescue (lists for several countries are in both guide collections); they will be fully quarantined/vet cared, guaranteed not pregnant carefully paired up, used to handling and their personalities are known. You also get support during the settling period and have the rescue to fall back if you are in trouble at some point - in short, you can neatly avoid all the pitfalls that await the unwary for a little extra effort and a lot of extra service!

It is great that you are doing your research beforehand! We could help you even better if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to location in your account details (accessed via clicking on your username). this makes it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is relevant and available were you are straight away. We have members and enquiries from all over the world.