Newbie here in need of advice.

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My 4yr old daughter wants 2 guinea pigs, we have been given quite a bit of "stuff" for guinea pigs, was just worried it isn't enough. We have a hutch 110cm x 50cm, which will go IN a run which is 180cm x 120cm, The idea being that the Guinea pigs will have the access to the whole run, when the kids aren't playing with them. We have also been given a indoor cage for winter (although sis in law says Guinea pigs will be ok in a hutch in winter!).

TIA
 
Hi! Welcome to the forum.

Thank you for doing your research before buying guinea pigs!

The hutch is just a bit on the small side (recommended minimum by the RSPCA is 60x120 cm/ 2x4 ft), so you may have problems if you want to adopt from a rescue. The run sounds great; perhaps you can mount the hutch on top, so they have more space and shelter underneath? Make sure that the run has something on top (cats, foxes, birds of prey...); on sunny days they need access to shade.

You can winterproof a hutch, but you will have more contact and cuddle time when they are indoors. Many of us have an indoors run, and your children might like to watch their antics in there and building obstacles and tunnel courses for them (supervised).
 
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Here Guinea pig's don't like outside so i can't give any advice on that.
just wanted to wish you luck with your upcoming arrivals!
 
Thanks for speedy replies.
My main concern is, that the hutch i have is too small, but my wife thinks it will be fine, as they will only be sleeping in it, as first thing in the morning they will have access to the run, until late at night, but if i buy a bigger hutch, it wont fit IN the run.
In the winter we plan to cover the hutch with an old blanket and then some waterproof material, or would it be more benifical to move hutch in to our shed at night?
 
hi you'll probably end out looking after them:) guinea pigs can live up to 10 years although that is quite rare:) idealy piggys should live inside or in a shed a guinea pig will needf to come inside in the winter
I'm sure you'll find lots of info on the forum and if you have any questions ask !:) welcome to the forum !
 
Remember that you can only use the run in good weather in the garden, not too cold or damp. Think how you would feel if every bad day you had to sit in boxroom, then multiply it by the amount of bad days we have in the uk and then consider how much a little extra space for walking around in would be good. The 2 ft by 4 ft is a minimum, you should want to be more than the bare minimum. Moving the hutch to the shed in the winter would definitely help keep them warmer and drier. If you keep you guinea pigs outside in the winter you have to have outside cuddles in the winter as they can't cope with temperature changes and will cause shock to their systems which is not good !
 
The run and hutch will be in a covered (pergola) area of the garden, so should be ok for when it's raining. When it is cold, I plan to bring them inside to the indoor cage during the daytime, just need to know if putting the (outdoor) hutch in the shed at night in winter months will be ok?
Guinea Pigs come from hot countries originally, so am worried that the cold winter months maybe too much for them.
 
guinea pigs have been domesticated for many years and are unable to deal with temperatures that are to hot or to cold Also i don't think they egsist in the wild any more:{
 
Caulfield said:
The run and hutch will be in a covered (pergola) area of the garden, so should be ok for when it's raining. When it is cold, I plan to bring them inside to the indoor cage during the daytime, just need to know if putting the (outdoor) hutch in the shed at night in winter months will be ok?
Guinea Pigs come from hot countries originally, so am worried that the cold winter months maybe too much for them.
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You will have problems, if they are inside during the day then outside, in a shed at night. The temperature ideally should be constant.. But definitely the hutch should be brought in to the shed during the colder months. Usually Mid Sept - May around here. xx
 
you need to pick inside or outside for winter months they either live in or out they can't cope with both the temperature differences is too hard on their bodies. I would only put them out in the run when the weather is dry as they do not like the damp.
 
My daughters friend has some, so we said if she was good for summer, we'd get her some.
 
Caulfield said:
To recognise their name, just simple stuff
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When i call my 2 oldest boys names they will look at me but wether they "know" their names or wether it's my voice i don't know. My other piggies in the shed all recognise my voice & start wheeking :)
 
my girls and my foster piggy all know their names and do not come forward to the wrong name, which is helpful if they slip away as they come back when called! There are clips on utube showing very clever piggies doing tricks, but i think they must take a lot of patience and persistence
 
With lots of time and patience they will really respond to you personally, almost like a puppy. My boris (who has since passed on) ran to the bars whenever we said his name, even if it was whispered from the other side of the room! He also followed my husband from room to room making a little chug chug noise as he went. Very cute indeed ^) He only followed my husband though which I found most peculiar as I was the one who fed him!

They become a real part of the family given the chance, very entertaining little creatures when they are happy and secure :)

Lots of luck with your new family member, let us know how you get on :)
 
Update:
I brought a massive cage and run, but the guinea pigs (cookie + fudge) don't seem to use it, they just stay in the sleeping compartment, even at night they don't run around!
Is this normal behaviour?
TIA
 
Yes, that is normal. New territoy = hostile territory. It will take them a few days.

Can you segment their palace, so they can start with a part of their new palace and extend their radius as they become more confident?

Here is a link for shy new piggies: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

I hope that helps you. Just try to remember how you felt on your first school day!
 
just wanted to add my congratulations on the new arrivals,
like others have said piggies can live up to 10 years in which time is a rather large chance your daughter will lose interest,you have to be the primary carer for them as a four year old cannot manage all of that on her own,also supervise handling at all times just because kiddies tend to be a little rough or sometimes careless with them,
i hope all goes well x
 
I too had this trouble

Caulfield said:
Update:
I brought a massive cage and run, but the guinea pigs (cookie + fudge) don't seem to use it, they just stay in the sleeping compartment, even at night they don't run around!
Is this normal behaviour?
TIA
Click to expand...

Hi I'm a newbie 'piggy' owner....I've had my two, Marmite & Twiglet, for just over 2 weeks.

They are becoming more confident each day, and are even starting to talk to me :)
I was wondering if they'd ever move, even in their run they'd hurry to the safety of their box, which I remove for part of the day .....now they are much more active.

In the morning they are looking our for me to see what 'goodies' I'll be bringing them......
just give them some time, they'll soon come round
 
How wonderful that they have the space they need! Feed them better than you feed yourself, fresh veggies several times a day and they will love you forever. My younger ones still run quick if I want to hold them, but my Max stays and wheeks and me, purrs on my lap, helps me choose breakfast for the brood, and he always says thank you (by eating all his dinner and setting a good example for my piglets!). You will find they have their own personalities and they are quite smart (mine know when it's floor time they get a scavenger hunt for cukes and carrots). I like this forum, even though I am a pup, I have learned so much!
 
Caulfield said:
even at night they don't run around!
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Piggies are not nocternal (sp) once they get used to you they will come out and play just give them time. Ive had mine for few weeks now and they are still a bit shy but are getting better every day. where did you get them from and how old are they, would love to see some pics !
 
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