Hi, I'm new, and would love a little advice!

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Only two piggies

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Hi, I recently bought two baby girl guinea pigs for my little girl....well, just as much for me actually as I loved having them when I was a kid!

So anyway, I decided I wanted to do it right, looked at Pets@Home website and decided on a two level hutch, so when they weren't with us in the house or out in a run, they would still have a ton of space to play and run around in.

Taking the advice of the young sales assistant, who said guinea pigs don't really climb and the double storey hutch would be a waste of money, I went with the single storey. Only to learn they can and do climb and use ramps very easily!

They have been in the new hutch about a week now, what does anyone think the chances are of me returning the single storey, and buying a double storey from the same store? (With a new cover etc, the store is going to get extra money out of me ultimately) Has anyone had dealings with Pets@Home for this type of thing?
I would call, but they are now closed and I am taking the two baby girls back for their free check up tommorow, if the chances are good of changing from being mis-sold, I'll try and have a quiet word with the manager tommorow, if someone has any info and feels there is no chance I would really appreciate the input, I would like the piggies to be properly catered for, and will definately go down this route if its a viable one.

Many thanks for any info!
 
Sorry I don't have any advice but welcome to the forum. Hopefully, someone will come along soon who will be able to advise you.
 
the sales assitant was right because they can find it hard to go up and down ramps, and alot of cage ramps are steep and if the piggles fall off they can hurt themselves.
 
Thank you for your response, I hope someone can give a little info. I just wish, wish, wish I had looked on here first, then I wouldn't have been swayed by the young lass in the store and not made the mistake.

Thank you for the welcome! :)
 
Shauna said:
the sales assitant was right because they can find it hard to go up and down ramps, and alot of cage ramps are steep and if the piggles fall off they can hurt themselves.
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So the best advice is to stay with the single storey? I looked and saw loads of pics on another thread, and some had ramps, some didn't. My biggest concern in starting this thread really is to find out whats best for the piggies, I thought a double would give them extra leg room if we didn't have time to get them out every day...although at the moment they are out quite a bit! (I'm pre-empting my little girl possibly getting bored of them, and if I get a little tight on time, I can relax knowing they are not too cooped up) Being absolutely honest, its whats best for them and not the extra cost thats the biggest thing for me.
 
What size is the single storey you've already got? A lot of people prefer single storeys if they are a good size.

Some guinea pigs will use ramps and some won't. The steepness of the ramp can also make a difference. A lot of people modify their ramps so that they are less slippy or add sides.

:)
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

I have a cage with ramps and ALL my pigs use them easily.

They are safe, have sides so they can't fall off and a material up them that means they can't and don't slip.

If you can modify any ramps to ensure they are safe then its likely your pigs WILL use them.

It's up to you what you do. If your hutch is nice and big then it will be fine, if it's a bit small then you may want to take it back and swap it anyway - can you claim you were mis-sold it?
 
flips said:
What size is the single storey you've already got? A lot of people prefer single storeys if they are a good size.

Some guinea pigs will use ramps and some won't. The steepness of the ramp can also make a difference. A lot of people modify their ramps so that they are less slippy or add sides.

:)
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http://www.petsathome.com/shop/dandelion-den-hutch-for-rabbits-and-guinea-pigs-by-pets-at-home-29284

Hi, and thanks for your response! I found a link to the hutch I bought, its huge for them at the moment, but then they are tiny yet.

One of the double hutches I was looking at was this, and looking at it it does have a side on the ramp. My neighbour got the one in the link below, and his piggies seem fine on the ramp. I just don't want to get caught out by doing nothing and losing the appropriate timescale to do a return if its at all possible.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/rose-cottage-hutch-for-rabbits-and-guinea-pigs-by-pets-at-home-29286
 
Lisajazz said:
Hello and welcome to the forum.

I have a cage with ramps and ALL my pigs use them easily.

They are safe, have sides so they can't fall off and a material up them that means they can't and don't slip.

If you can modify any ramps to ensure they are safe then its likely your pigs WILL use them.

It's up to you what you do. If your hutch is nice and big then it will be fine, if it's a bit small then you may want to take it back and swap it anyway - can you claim you were mis-sold it?
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Hi and thank you!

I definately could say I was mis-sold it, as the young lass definately said that guinea pigs don't climb, and I even recall her saying that the ramped ones are fine for bunnies, but not guinea pigs. I really, really don't want to drop her in it either as she was actually a really nice girl! But I do want the best for my piggies, and bearing in mind they will grow and the extra space if they will use it will be great for them.
 
Well yours is a wonderful size for 2 girls, really nice size. Personally I think as long as they get enough out of the cage time (run and stuff) that will be fine.

The other one is shorter length wise by 30cm which is quite significant. It's all open which in summer is okay but quite cold in the winter.

It DOES give them downstairs which can be enrichment I suppose - change of scene.

Tough one - I think you need to decide!
 
Lisajazz said:
Well yours is a wonderful size for 2 girls, really nice size. Personally I think as long as they get enough out of the cage time (run and stuff) that will be fine.

The other one is shorter length wise by 30cm which is quite significant. It's all open which in summer is okay but quite cold in the winter.

It DOES give them downstairs which can be enrichment I suppose - change of scene.

Tough one - I think you need to decide!
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We are having massive works done to our kitchen and then the garden will get tackled as we are taking down a big and pretty useless sunroom, and early next year we'll get some type of lawn in, its all paved at the moment so a run is definately, definately on the cards so they can have some summertime running and grazing!
There is a run specially designed to go on the front of the hutch that stops them being able to run underneath and escape...its this one,

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/rose-rabbit-run-by-pets-at-home-31897

The other aspect to all this is we have two cats, who while we are around seem paticularly dis-interested in the piggies, but cats are cats and I don't trust leaving the piggies out in a run inside the house. I would be devastated if I nipped off to answer the phone or something, and one of the cats seized the opportunity while my back was turned. When the piggies get bigger I realise it may not be such a problem as I really don't think the cats will tackle anything as big as a full grown piggie!

I think the best solution, taking on board your comments about the other hutch being colder, is to set aside time eveyday where I can sit with them, and get them in the house with us. Afterall, they aren't messy and love being fussed!
 
Minimum recommended size for 2 guinea pigs is 120cm x 60cm so it's good that you weren't sold something too small (often happens). As Lisa says the one you have is a good size and plenty of floortime or time in a run will mean you'll have happy piggies. :)

I think this is really just down to what you feel comfortable with. Do you have a sheltered/ inside space for them over the winter?


Your pigs will be fine in a run on a paved area until you have grass. It will keep their nails filed down.
 
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Thats great

Just be aware that in winter you can't bring them in then put them out again as they don't cope well with big changes of temperature.

But right now that's ace! :)
 
flips said:
Minimum recommended size for 2 guinea pigs is 120cm x 60cm so it's good that you weren't sold something too small (often happens). As Lisa says the one you have is a good size and plenty of floortime or time in a run will mean you'll have happy piggies. :)

I think this is really just down to what you feel comfortable with. Do you have a sheltered/ inside space for them over the winter?


Your pigs will be fine in a run on a paved area until you have grass. It will keep their nails filed down.
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I did look at some other hutches, and to the young girls credit who I bought the hutch from, she did point out about the fox proof wire, I already decided I wanted as big as I could go to give the piggies as much space as possible, so when I said I wanted the one I got, at no point did she try to talk me out of it.

Good point about keeping their nails down, I'll get the run soon as I'm sure our typical British weather will buck up soon and they can have some playtime outside!

I didn't have anywhere to put them specifically in the winter, I was going to put them in the shed, its a brick one....but then I realised thats going as part of the kitchen re-works! My neighbour is getting a bigger shed than the one he already has and has very, very kindly said he will put my hutch in the shed with his hutch.
 
Sounds like you've got everything covered. If it's very sunny you can lay a towel over the run to create some shade, especially as the paving might get hot. There's a recent thread on keeping guinea pigs cool, I'll have a look for it. :)
 
Lisajazz said:
Thats great

Just be aware that in winter you can't bring them in then put them out again as they don't cope well with big changes of temperature.

But right now that's ace! :)
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Ok, its so hazy from when I had them as a kid at 6/7, getting on for *ahem* 36 years ago, I never had them in the house. Now I'm older and more responsible, I did wonder about bringing them in for a play, then putting them back out again when the weather really does turn cold. When they go in the neighbours shed, thats where they will be all winter, is it advisable not to bring them in at all.

I remember mine were in a shed all winter, but looking back I don't remember being that thoughtful as to thier wellbeing and boredom when I was 6/7 years old, not like I am now. I did clean them out, feed and water them etc. But as it was cold it was all done as quick as possible. I only had my parents to guide me, and as long as they were clean fed and watered thats all my parents really cared about.
 
flips said:
Sounds like you've got everything covered. If it's very sunny you can lay a towel over the run to create some shade, especially as the paving might get hot. There's a recent thread on keeping guinea pigs cool, I'll have a look for it. :)
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Thank you! The link was invaluable! At whatever cost, I do want to make sure they are properly catered for. Mostly if I get tight on time running a house etc, that they won't suffer any kind of neglect, hence my keeness to make sure they have a ton of space to fool about in when I get short on time. I do remember having a run in the summer for my two when I was a kid, and they did frisk about a lot so I know they are quite playful little creatures.
 
There's tonnes of great advice on the forum and feel free to ask whatever questions you like. I've learned a huge amount since I joined. :)
 
flips said:
There's tonnes of great advice on the forum and feel free to ask whatever questions you like. I've learned a huge amount since I joined. :)
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Thank you for your lovely welcome! I am having a good wander about and enjoying the reading and pics!

I'll be sure to get some of the fly screen stuff I read about, and have already earmarked an old biccie tin for putting ice cubes and water in for them to lean on when it gets hot. I have thought of where I stashed an old towel to throw over the run for extra shade too.

I have decided to stick with the hutch we have and get the compatible run to go with it. Feels a relief as I didn't want to really make an issue of it in the store and get the young lass in trouble (She could well have done, however diplomatically I phrased my concerns). I'll just have to make sure we give them a very secure place to be, and they have lots of playtime! Now I can go look at toys etc for a run and get that kitted out!

I am so going to enjoy this time around of keeping piggies!
 
I don't know if P@H would take it back as they've used it, they would probably send an apology letter and some vouchers.

However, what you could do, is clean up the existing hutch really well, and sell it. Say only used for a week and you could probably get pretty much all of your money back, then put it towards a new hutch! But it sounds like you have decided to stick with it.
 
Just a quick, and very delayed update, :red. I stuck with the hutch I got originally,bought the run that goes with it and then a waterproof cover/shade to go on that. There seems to be plenty of space for the little girlies to run about and play, even when its raining they can get out for a good zoom around!
They are growing well, healthy and just the most adorable little creatures I have ever met! My DD still seems very captivated with them and has learned a lot by having them around, how to be quiet, gentle and patient and that they respond well to her if she is, she is getting a lot of joy out of them in return which is wonderful.

I have come across a couple of things since having and caring for them, the best so far is putting a sheet of lino in the bottom of the cage. I put newspaper down, two layers, shredded paper inbetween where I have noticed they wee a lot (soaks up the wee a treat and stops the sawdust and paper getting too soggy and smelly too quickly) The lino means that I can quickly roll everything up and chuck it away with minimum fuss, wipe the lino and its good to go again (be great in the winter months when its cold and I don't want to be hanging about outside to long) stops the wood of the hutch getting wee sodden and smelly, seems to work as I have only seen the odd fly about. I have made sure there are at no points any lino sticking up over the newspaper, so they don't chew it.

I have also found that moving the tubes and hidey place in the run on a regular basis seems to amuse them, and I hide food in them, soon as I have finished moving the tubes etc, they are straight out hunting for the hidden food!
 
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