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Mice And The Impact On Guinea Pigs

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Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

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I was a bit shocked a few days ago when I spotted what looked like mouse droppings in the guinea pig hutch (thanks to working in a crummy old office in the past I was aware what they looked like).

So today I look again and sure enough a few tiny droppings. I go in the shed to top up their hay and food and see what looks like a few more droppings... and then a mouse darts across the shed and I scream!

So my query is... what threat (if any) do mice pose on guinea pigs? Are their droppings likely to cause any problems etc? And the best way to deal with this issue.

My mum immediately recommends getting a mouse trap but to be honest the mouse isn't coming into the house at all and I think its harsh to kill it just for living in my garden when I am designing my garden around attracting wildlife anyway. I live in the city and to be honest I had only really thought about cats and foxes being a threat to my piggies up til now
 
Could you set a humane trap down and then let the mouse out elsewhere?

I have no idea on the impact of them on piggies though.
 
I used to get mice in my rabbit hitches and they never seemed to harm the rabbits.Can't see how you can stop them as they are going to be attracted by their food etc.
 
Rather a little Mouse than a Rat tbh, just make sure you keep the floor clean, and maybe buy some metal containers for your feed and hay, it's the only material they can't chew into. Dispose of any waste veg within half an hour of feeding it, prevention is better than a cure. Hopefully it's just a winter related issue.
 
Thanks for the comments everyone. I spoke to my boyfriend as we are going to be getting rid of the shed in the not too distant future but obviously wanted something smaller in its place to store the piggies food and hay etc. Just wanted to check to make sure I hadn't missed anything that could link the little mousey with my piggies present ill health but there doesn't seem to be a link so perhaps just coincidence. We're not going to put any traps down as it isn't getting in the house so isn't doing any harm.
 
I do think mice can spread disease, parasites etc :( Also bear in mind if they have eaten bait elsewhere & get into your hutch & pee then your pigs are in very serious danger of poisoning :( I would set humane traps, remove the live mice & release further way. Make sure all food stuffs are in sealed containers, like Tupperware boxes/dustbins with lids etc. Sweep up any hay/dry food bits & keep the floor clean daily. If the hutch is a short legged one then you need to raise it much higher, as although mice can climb they will tend to try to find food on a lower level. If the bars are wide on the hutch then you could attach finer mesh onto the front to try to discourage them from getting in with the piggies. Good luck, I hope you can prevent them from getting in there :)
 
I had mice living in my shed a few years ago. Most mornings I would lift the guineas food bowl up and there would be a little mouse curled up under it fast asleep.

They didn't cause any harm to my guinea pigs and the pigs didn't seem to mind them being in their hutch.

Just watch out for rats as they can hurt guinea pigs and even rabbits.
 
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