Guinea Pig in the night

[Isabela]

Sorry the piggies keep you awake but look on the bright side- the waterbottle rattle is the least noisy thing my herd find to do at night! The carrot cottage crunching is the most unnerving, but if they go quiet I wake up in a panic and rush downstairs to see if they are ok I always sleep with all the doors open so I can hear my piggies, maybe I'm just weird but I sleep better knowing they are playing happily!

I know but they are just too loud No you're not weird, that's adorable. Try to imagine your guinea pig drinking the bottle with their teeth and then pulling it away and banging on the cage in the night right next to your ear

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I also have two agressive bottle drinkers. Try to imagine having that in the room with you :/ Did they drink from the bowl right from the start?

Yes, they watched me fill it and came straight over to check it out. Two definitely use it. Not sure about the third, but it’s there and they get the bottle back in the morning!

 

[Isabela]

Yes, they watched me fill it and came straight over to check it out. Two definitely use it. Not sure about the third, but it’s there and they get the bottle back in the morning!

I'll try that tonight and hopefuly it'll work Thanks

 

[dannif_piggies]

Sorry the piggies keep you awake but look on the bright side- the waterbottle rattle is the least noisy thing my herd find to do at night! The carrot cottage crunching is the most unnerving, but if they go quiet I wake up in a panic and rush downstairs to see if they are ok I always sleep with all the doors open so I can hear my piggies, maybe I'm just weird but I sleep better knowing they are playing happily!

It's funny how different people are affected by different noises. I actually love the noises my pigs make, I find it odd when I sleep at my boyfriends and there's no animal noises, but he hates sleeping at mine because of the pigs and hamster

 

[Isabela]

It's funny how different people are affected by different noises. I actually love the noises my pigs make, I find it odd when I sleep at my boyfriends and there's no animal noises, but he hates sleeping at mine because of the pigs and hamster

You have a hamster in your room? Doesn't it bother you that the wheel is loud? When I had a hamster I couldn't sleep and he was outside my room I guess you're a heavy sleeper

 

[Isabela]

Yes, they watched me fill it and came straight over to check it out. Two definitely use it. Not sure about the third, but it’s there and they get the bottle back in the morning!

Actually an interesting thing happened. I put the bowl inside the cage and the loud piggie went to it and started biting the corners. She knew that water was in there and she didn't know how to drink from it I guess that's a good sign

 

[Lorcan]

It's funny how different people are affected by different noises. I actually love the noises my pigs make, I find it odd when I sleep at my boyfriends and there's no animal noises, but he hates sleeping at mine because of the pigs and hamster

If my two went quiet they were up to something, guaranteed. Usually the quiet would be followed about ten minutes later by some exceptionally loud excited squealing as they attempted to dominance hump each other, fell off, then chased each other excitedly all around the cage. Daft eejits the pair of them.
As for the bowl, if they're investigating it, that's at least a step forward. Do you use glass or plastic water bottles? I personally think the plastic ones rattle more loudly than the glass.

 

[Isabela]

If my two went quiet they were up to something, guaranteed. Usually the quiet would be followed about ten minutes later by some exceptionally loud excited squealing as they attempted to dominance hump each other, fell off, then chased each other excitedly all around the cage. Daft eejits the pair of them.
As for the bowl, if they're investigating it, that's at least a step forward. Do you use glass or plastic water bottles? I personally think the plastic ones rattle more loudly than the glass.

I know what you mean, that's happening to me also from time to time one piggie decides that she wants to be in charge and sadly she never gets to be
Yes, it looked like good sign. I use both and they both seem noisy, the plastic ones a little less. But when the piggies decide to be loud it doesn't matter which bottle it is

 

[Lorcan]

I know what you mean, that's happening to me also from time to time one piggie decides that she wants to be in charge and sadly she never gets to be
Yes, it looked like good sign. I use both and they both seem noisy, the plastic ones a little less. But when the piggies decide to be loud it doesn't matter which bottle it is

My two were pretty evenly matched. I think Comet was the more dominant one but he never really threw his weight around. I think the two of them adored each other too much to care.
I'd continue to try and leave a bit of food around the bowl, get them going to the bowl even if it's just to eat at first. Piggies are adorable, but it can still take several attempts before they get the hint.

 

[Isabela]

My two were pretty evenly matched. I think Comet was the more dominant one but he never really threw his weight around. I think the two of them adored each other too much to care.
I'd continue to try and leave a bit of food around the bowl, get them going to the bowl even if it's just to eat at first. Piggies are adorable, but it can still take several attempts before they get the hint.

That's good, nobody wants to see piggies fight. Let them love each other
I'll try it. I agree with you is it possible that that's because they have the nose and mouths too close together and they can't drink properly?

 

[dannif_piggies]

You have a hamster in your room? Doesn't it bother you that the wheel is loud? When I had a hamster I couldn't sleep and he was outside my room I guess you're a heavy sleeper

Basically I have like a petition wall in my room which has been made to be a "walk in wardrobe" and she's in a large diy cage in there. Her wheel isn't actually that noisy and I think the fact she's not in a metal barred cage reduces like the general noise of her being awake at night The worst noise with her is when she has a destructive mood on and decides to chew away at everything wood in her cage

 

[Lorcan]

That's good, nobody wants to see piggies fight. Let them love each other
I'll try it. I agree with you is it possible that that's because they have the nose and mouths too close together and they can't drink properly?

Nope. It's entirely possible/feasible/etc for them to drink from a bowl, the difficulty is that if they've never used a bowl to drink from, they don't necessarily understand that's what it's for. Think of it the opposite way - if they'd drink from a bowl, not a bottle, it's probably because they didn't have an older caretaker to show them how a bottle works. They can still do it, but they have to learn how to get water from this metal spout they don't recognise.

 

[lilyandluna]

Thank you for the picture How much was the cage? I guess I could also try it, since they really love the attack the bottle
I've attached a picture of my cage

Well in america they are very cheap. 30 dollars each! You can connect more than one too! I hope you don't feel like you have to get a new cage! Good luck xx

 

[Isabela]

Basically I have like a petition wall in my room which has been made to be a "walk in wardrobe" and she's in a large diy cage in there. Her wheel isn't actually that noisy and I think the fact she's not in a metal barred cage reduces like the general noise of her being awake at night The worst noise with her is when she has a destructive mood on and decides to chew away at everything wood in her cage

Wow that's amazing would love to see that if you possibly have a picture
I know what you mean, I have to also take out the wooden houses in the night because they love to bite it in the night

 

[Vanessa131]

I know its probably not very helpful but I have a husband who snores... I use ear plugs which help massively! Worth a try? I get mine from this place: Snorestore

Just be careful doing that, regularly wearing ear plugs to bed significantly increases your chance of developing tinnitus.

 

[Isabela]

Nope. It's entirely possible/feasible/etc for them to drink from a bowl, the difficulty is that if they've never used a bowl to drink from, they don't necessarily understand that's what it's for. Think of it the opposite way - if they'd drink from a bowl, not a bottle, it's probably because they didn't have an older caretaker to show them how a bottle works. They can still do it, but they have to learn how to get water from this metal spout they don't recognise.

I agree with you, thank you for the description
I hope mine will get used to the new bowl in the night

 

[Isabela]

Well in america they are very cheap. 30 dollars each! You can connect more than one too! I hope you don't feel like you have to get a new cage! Good luck xx

That's very cheap I love them but I also would not trade the cages because they love the two deck appartment they love running up and down

 

[Isabela]

Just be careful doing that, regularly wearing ear plugs to bed significantly increases your chance of developing tinnitus.

I agree with you. Sadly it's not healthy.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Just be careful doing that, regularly wearing ear plugs to bed significantly increases your chance of developing tinnitus.

Thanks for this. At risk of hijacking this thread...why is this? I’d not heard that and I do use them most nights!

 

[Lorcan]

Thanks for this. At risk of hijacking this thread...why is this? I’d not heard that and I do use them most nights!

I think it's something about the buildup of earwax that earplugs cause, being a potential tinnitus cause.

 

[Vanessa131]

Thanks for this. At risk of hijacking this thread...why is this? I’d not heard that and I do use them most nights!

The pressure of the ear plugs combined with the lack of noises, our brains create noise when there is little notice, when this process is repeated it can cause permanent damage.

My mum has tinnitus, she has been told by the audiologist not to sleep in earplugs or wear them for an extended time or her tinnitus will also become worse. They said over use of earplugs is becoming a common cause of tinnitus.

 

[Guinea Slave]

The pressure of the ear plugs combined with the lack of noises, our brains create noise when there is little notice, when this process is repeated it can cause permanent damage.

My mum has tinnitus, she has been told by the audiologist not to sleep in earplugs or wear them for an extended time or her tinnitus will also become worse. They said over use of earplugs is becoming a common cause of tinnitus.

That is really interesting thank you. Sleep v tinnitus! Thank goodness for a spare room.. Thanks!

 

[Isabela]

That is really interesting thank you. Sleep v tinnitus! Thank goodness for a spare room.. Thanks!

I have a better suggestion. Get your husband an anti-snoring nose clip or other mouth things for anti snoring.

 

[Willow&Sky]

Personally I've always used a bowl for my pigs. I understand that people have hygiene concerns but my girls bowls honestly don't get too dirty. I change it at least twice a day, there is usually some hay dropped in and very rarely a poop. But just remember, they eat their poop! I do change it as soon as i spot a poop in there but its really not too much of an issue. And of course poop soup is often recommended for assisting gut health during illness too! I actually feel that changing a water bowl twice a day can be cleaner than bottle spouts that might be left longer in between changes. This is in no way a criticism of water bottles, i just wanted to reassure others that i feel using a bowl is absolutely fine.

 

[Isabela]

Personally I've always used a bowl for my pigs. I understand that people have hygiene concerns but my girls bowls honestly don't get too dirty. I change it at least twice a day, there is usually some hay dropped in and very rarely a poop. But just remember, they eat their poop! I do change it as soon as i spot a poop in there but its really not too much of an issue. And of course poop soup is often recommended for assisting gut health during illness too! I actually feel that changing a water bowl twice a day can be cleaner than bottle spouts that might be left longer in between changes. This is in no way a criticism of water bottles, i just wanted to reassure others that i feel using a bowl is absolutely fine.

Thank you, that was very helpful and informative. I didn't know that poop soup is good for tresting ilness. What is it good for?
I'm really trying to get the to use the bowl, hopefuly they'll start using it

 

[Willow&Sky]

Thank you, that was very helpful and informative. I didn't know that poop soup is good for tresting ilness. What is it good for?
I'm really trying to get the to use the bowl, hopefuly they'll start using it

I'm certainly not an expert and have not needed to use it for my pigs, so if i get this wrong I'm happy for anyone to correct me! But i believe its used to help pigs that have diarrhoea/ upset digestive systems and if a pig is put on a course of antibiotics some owners will syringe poop soup as a precaution against tummy upset because of the antibiotics. And its basically poop (ideally fresh and from a healthy pig) mashed up in some water.
Hope you find a water bottle/ or bowl solution that you and your piggies are happy with!

 

[Isabela]

I'm certainly not an expert and have not needed to use it for my pigs, so if i get this wrong I'm happy for anyone to correct me! But i believe its used to help pigs that have diarrhoea/ upset digestive systems and if a pig is put on a course of antibiotics some owners will syringe poop soup as a precaution against tummy upset because of the antibiotics. And its basically poop (ideally fresh and from a healthy pig) mashed up in some water.
Hope you find a water bottle/ or bowl solution that you and your piggies are happy with!

Thank you, I'll try to do that if they'll have tummy problems I also hope that yes thank you for your help

 

[Guinea Slave]

I tried a bowl with mine once...never again, it turned into a paddling pool and toilet within about 2 hours. They thought it was great..me..not so much.

 

[Lorcan]

Thank you, I'll try to do that if they'll have tummy problems I also hope that yes thank you for your help

I'd just like to add that if it comes to a point you're using poop soup for your pigs, you need to use the poop from a healthy pig. Using the poop from your ill guinea pig isn't going to help.

 

[Isabela]

I tried a bowl with mine once...never again, it turned into a paddling pool and toilet within about 2 hours. They thought it was great..me..not so much.

Maybe it was too close to the food