Looking After My Piggies Right or Wrong?

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iluvguineapigs

iluvguineapigs

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Hi guys
I have been looking after my guinea pigs for about 3years now and I just found this forum and have read a load of stuff. I have been told my 4ft x 2ft hutch for 2 piggies is too small, I shouldnt use woodshavings bedding because of respritory promblems, my run is too small [46in x 46in], I need a cosy and a load of other stuff. I have changed a few things but the thing is my guineas seemed fine without/wrong this stuff. So I'm not sure what to do.
 
4ft x 2ft is okay for two:))

personally I don't use woodshavings as I don't like breathing them in myself let alone the piggies but that is personal choice.
 
iluvguineapigs said:
Hi guys
I have been looking after my guinea pigs for about 3years now and I just found this forum and have read a load of stuff. I have been told my 4ft x 2ft hutch for 2 piggies is too small, I shouldnt use woodshavings bedding because of respritory promblems, my run is too small [46in x 46in], I need a cosy and a load of other stuff. I have changed a few things but the thing is my guineas seemed fine without/wrong this stuff. So I'm not sure what to do.
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Firstly there is no right or wrong way to care for your pets, only different opinions on pet care. 4ft by 2ft is fine for two pigs, everyone on here provides their piggies with what they can afford (myself included) some people can afford larger set ups, and some accommodate their piggies with the recommended size housing, its upto personal preference and choice.

Woodshavings can lead to respiratory problems, i myself found my boy becoming very ill with a URI due to wood shavings and so i changed to vetbed as i didnt want him to be in bad health. However a many owners keep their piggies on woodshavings we all have different choices when it comes to bedding.

Guinea's do like toys, its good for their mental health keeps them occupied and happy. Toys dont need to cost the earth, and you can make toys for free from cardboard boxes to loo rolls stuffed with hay.

If your piggies are happy and healthy you're doing a great job as an owner. If you want to give them more space/toys etc in their life, then just take one small step at a time. :)
 
4 ft by 2 ft sounds fine for two piggies. We all have differing amounts of space to dedicate to our pets. And some pigs/people do fine with wood shavings (personally I don't use them because I am seriously allergic to them and don't like having my eyes swell up whenever I clean out the cage!) If your pigs are happy and healthy, that's what matters.
 
Hi. I house my girls on woodshavings, hay and newspaper as they live outdoors. I have a layer of newspaper followed by a layer of woodshavings followed by a layer of hay (so that the piggies are not directly walking on the shavings). Just hay and newspaper in the sleeping area.

I personally have never had a problem with woodshavings in the 3.5 years I have been using them. However, if I ever noticed a change in my piggies, I would of course switch to something else but I do not feel the need to at present.

I do provide my girls with cosy beds and fleeces but not so much during the warmer months as I wouldn't want them getting too hot.

The way that you are looking after your piggies sounds perfectly fine to me. When I had 2 piggies, they lived in a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft hutch and they were perfectly fine. Now I have 4, they live in a 6ft by 2ft by 2ft which is the minimum requirement for 4 piggies. I can't myself go any bigger as I have a thing about double hutches as my pigs tend to get over excited at veg time and have been known to fall out of the hutch (only a tiny drop in their single story).
 
i used woodshavings for several years for my last piggies. they never suffered any health problems at all. for my current pigs i now use newspaper with cat litter underneath in the corners to soak up the wee, and lots of shredded paper which i get for free from my office! they have hay too.
 
iluvguineapigs said:
Hi guys
I have been looking after my guinea pigs for about 3years now and I just found this forum and have read a load of stuff. I have been told my 4ft x 2ft hutch for 2 piggies is too small, I shouldnt use woodshavings bedding because of respritory promblems, my run is too small [46in x 46in], I need a cosy and a load of other stuff. I have changed a few things but the thing is my guineas seemed fine without/wrong this stuff. So I'm not sure what to do.
Click to expand...

Hello, I used to use woodshavings, but they always got stuck up my boars willies and between their testicles and it must've been very uncomfortable for the poor lads and it wasn't exactly thrilling having to pull it out :x I can tell you how many times I nearly was sick while doing that! Also, George, my manboar, developed breathing difficulties when he was almost 4 years old after using sawdust since he was born, but since I switched to fleece, he's better. A fleece setup doesn't have to cost the earth. I bought Asda's fleece throwovers, cut them in two pieces, one to fit the babies home, and the other for Georges and they're just under £3.00 each, so I get a new one when I get paid because the washing can be a pain if you have to change it every other day, like I do, because my babies are little wee'ers. They never stop weeing and pooping! Sawdust was costing me a fortune, so the fleece is going to save me more in the long run, and it always looks so pretty and snuggly for the pigs!
 
as long as your hutch meets the rspca minimum size then you are fine however everyone on here will tell you that piggies love as much space as you can give them. It doesn't mean that your hutch isn't suitable.

Woodshavings are again fine, some people have had piggies with respiratory problems as a result. Mine changed to fleece because it was easier to clean them out and they are indoor piggies and I was fed up of them getting the shavings absolutely everywhere :))

They do not need a cosy, you can use towels or blankets to wrap them in when handling them which sometimes makes them feel more secure however I have one piggy who hates this, he just loves cuddles and doesn't want to be wrapped up
 
as long as your hutch meets the rspca minimum size then you are fine however everyone on here will tell you that piggies love as much space as you can give them. It doesn't mean that your hutch isn't suitable.

Woodshavings are again fine, some people have had piggies with respiratory problems as a result. Mine changed to fleece because it was easier to clean them out and they are indoor piggies and I was fed up of them getting the shavings absolutely everywhere :))

They do not need a cosy, you can use towels or blankets to wrap them in when handling them which sometimes makes them feel more secure however I have one piggy who hates this, he just loves cuddles and doesn't want to be wrapped up
 
I didn't know the RSPCA had a minimum recommended cage size rolleyes
 
sazmatazz said:
i used woodshavings for several years for my last piggies. they never suffered any health problems at all. for my current pigs i now use newspaper with cat litter underneath in the corners to soak up the wee, and lots of shredded paper which i get for free from my office! they have hay too.
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I hadn't thought of using cat litter for their beds. My cat doesn't use his tray any more now he is able to go out as he pleases (he's a rehomer). I will use up my left over litter on next bed clean~ Thanks hun x
 
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