Getting my cage prepared!

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cookieandsprinkles

cookieandsprinkles

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Hi,
I have two boys arriving tomorrow (far too excited!) and this will be the first time I have kept guinea pigs indoors, I had 3 girlies when I was younger and kept them outdoors for Summer and moved to the shed in winter. I have a few questions about housing:

1. So obviously, the cage will be cleaned out 2-3 times per week and the boys will be groomed regularly but do they tend to smell?

2. At the moment, I have no pet shops near me and I always feel they are against what I feel morally because of them selling live stock etc when there is overcrowding in the shelters. So where online is best to get your supplies (UK)?

3. At the moment, I have put in a shoebox as a bed and cut out a nice big doorway in the side with lots of hay inside. Obviously I know that they eat hay so I am wondering whether anyone uses anything else for bedding? Preferably not too expensive but open to any suggestions :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this
Meg x
 
How exciting to be getting your piggies! I can imagine you will not sleep tonight.

Boars do not smell but do need their grease glands cleaned regularly.

It is great you do not want to purchase anything from a pet shop. I use an online company called the hay experts to get my food but you can also use Amazon. I use burgess excel nuggets and find them to be of very good quality.

For hay I use hayforpets online.

I use vet bed as bedding. It is nice and cosy for piggies. You have to poop pick two or three times a day and wash it every three days. I use towels under it. you can also use fleece and towels.
 
Thank you I have not heard about grease glands before so that will definitely help! What does that entail? Is it a vet job and how often do you do that?
Thank you again,
Meg x
 
Hi and welcome!

Boys do smell quite a bit more than girls; especially when they get excited... Are your boys already bonded or are you starting with two unbonded youngsters?

You may find our boar guide at the top of the pregnancy section helpful (also have a look at the links included).
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?21-Behaviour
Make sure that you have everything in twos for boys - hideys, bowls and water bottles, so they cannot get possessive over anything.

Here is information on how to clean grease glands. They will only become an issue after the boys hit the big hormones from 4 months onwards. From that time, you also need to check their privates around the penis as well, as boar glue (very smelly hardened semen) can collect there and become quite painful. Please don't bathe until your boys are 12 weeks old; if necessary give them a bum wipe.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...-Guinea-Pigs-including-Ears-amp-Grease-Glands
 
Thank you Wiebke!

The boys are brothers and have been together since birth (I am hoping this means bonded?) and from the first day they were born they have done everything together - they follow each other around the cage and share their carrots etc which is hilarious to watch!

I will go and look at both of those links now, I had intended to take two girls but then Cookie (aka the White Bum one) came straight over to me when he was hours old and tried to sit on my hand - only when my friend took them to be sexed we confirmed he was a boy and by then it was too late because I was head over heels with him and his brother haha!
Thanks again :)
 
cookieandsprinkles said:
Thank you Wiebke!

The boys are brothers and have been together since birth (I am hoping this means bonded?) and from the first day they were born they have done everything together - they follow each other around the cage and share their carrots etc which is hilarious to watch!

I will go and look at both of those links now, I had intended to take two girls but then Cookie (aka the White Bum one) came straight over to me when he was hours old and tried to sit on my hand - only when my friend took them to be sexed we confirmed he was a boy and by then it was too late because I was head over heels with him and his brother haha!
Thanks again :)
Click to expand...

The key to a successful boar bond is character compatibility, irrespective of whether they are brothers or not. Thankfully, more pairs make it through the difficult teenage months together than not. Wishing you the best for your duo!
 
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PS: Please be aware that we are a non-breeding forum, and that talking about intentional breeding and showing is not allowed according to the forum rules. You are most welcome as long as you abide by these rules. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...ea-Pig-Forum-Rules-Please-read-before-posting

We would also be grateful if you only posted in the illness and pregnancy sections if you are an expert in these areas; these sections are specifically monitored by some very experienced members. This makes it easier for any people seeking advice and help.
 
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Oh meant to point out that my friend's guinea pig pregnancy was not planned as she was pregnant when she adopted her, I am just helping out by taking two off of her hands as she ended up with 4 extra's that she hadn't expected :)
 
cookieandsprinkles said:
Oh meant to point out that my friend's guinea pig pregnancy was not planned as she was pregnant when she adopted her, I am just helping out by taking two off of her hands as she ended up with 4 extra's that she hadn't expected :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for clearing up this point.
 
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