nightmare with pets at home, feel hopeless and like giving up

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deeandnick

deeandnick

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I bought two 10 week old guinea pigs from pets at home on monday.

Both male, and were living together with 5 other males.

I chose the pigs, then asked for help choosing a cage. We picked out the following:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/rabbit-100-guinea-pig-and-dwarf-rabbit-cage-by-ferplast-37559

and I asked if it would be ok, especially as they are still growing and was told it would be perfect for them for as long as I had them. I spent loads of money on everything else he suggested, and bought lots of extra things of my own - so it's not like I was buying the bare minimum.

So now my two pigs are being terrible to one another. Chasing, really loud teeth clacking, mounting really angrily, hissing etc etc.

From what I have gathered from this site the cage I have is too small. I have spoken to pets at home and they have agreed to take back my old cage and let me get a bigger cage - which leads me to believe they just wanted to make sure I bought something and get me out the door instead of the pigs welfare.

They have been closed so I now have to wait till tomorrow, or monday to get the new cage due to work commitments. Meaning my pigs are in makeshift cages on their own.

I love them dearly already, but I'm so so stressed. I'm terrified to leave them together when I'm at work incase they hurt each other. I have seen no evidence of biting or nipping yet, and although they are kicking out at each other one appears to be backing down.

I just feel so silly for listening to the pet store people, and I dont know which cage to go for. Any ideas?

I was thinking...

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

do you guys think they will be ok and stop fighting in a bigger cage?

Ive had them out on floor time together for bout an hour now, and all diego does is mounth, nose barge then run off popcorning. And scruff hisses, raises his hair and the runs ater diego popcorning and sniffing his bum. So maybe they'll keep this up even with a bigger cage?

I'm desperate, spent most of the day close to tears. Can anyone help me?
 
oh you poor thing, another pah disaster.

I can not give you advice about your boys, but someone will, i just wanted to say someone is listening and sympathisin.

I really hope they are both boys, they have a habit of mixing sexes, you may be safer to check them.

Dont panic, someone will help
 
In my honest opinion i would demand a full refund on the cage and go elsewere. Inform them if they will not do so you will be informing trading standards and head office. I'd also print off and show them the rspca cage recomendation mand inform them working with animals SURELY the staff should know these things and not just be interested in a quick sale.. I have one of my loan boys in that cage and i am DISGUSTED they told you it was ok for two! unbelievable! i can highly recomend this cage for two~:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/pet_supplies_specials/gift_sets/small_pets/209457

Pets At Risk- ~Were profits come first!

As for them fighting it may just be a case of to small a cage. Once you get the bigegr one ( two bowls two houses etc) they MAY be ok.
 
I'm not sure if they will stop fighting with a bigger cage; that all depends on the temperaments of the guineas too, but a Ferplast 100 while just about okay for sows (I'd still go bigger!) is a tad on the small side for boars; even baby ones. If anything the 120 or even 140 if budget allows would be ideal for two boars. Mounting and rumbling are normal in boars. The teeth chattering and chasing is sorting out the dominance. As long as no blood is drawn then what we think looks pretty brutal is actually normal for them in establishing who is top pig.

More space and having areas in which they can get away from each other (you need at least two of everything, spread out so one boar can't hoard everything and be a bully as easily) might help. As it stands a Ferplast 100 isn't enough space when there are tensions; there's little space for them to get away from each other and chill out.

What you've said about them being in the run sounds more dominance than aggression; as I said above I would only be concerned if blood is drawn. They need to sort out who is boss and with boars this can be quite a drawn out process.
 
Oh no I feel so bad for you. I have the cage you have and I had just one piggy, Isiah. When I got a new one, Ollie, I put them in it for about an hour and then realised it was way too small for them. I had to put Ollie in a make shift cage.
You should seperate them imediately. Put two cages next to each other so they have time to bond, let them play together in a run for a few hours a day when you can monitor them. Give them lots of treats and loving when they're together so they are happy.
I have bought a two tier cage for mine which I'm still waiting for it to arrive but in the mean time they have now moved in together (I've had them both of them for 3 weeks now) but I have left the front of the cage open and made a run for the to get out and about. They are very happy together.
They have their own private bedrooms as Isiah doesn't really like to share, but this morning I woke up and they were snuggled together in one bedroom.
When the two tier cage comes I am still going to keep the run for them and the cage door open. I have come to realised piggies do need a lot of space.
Have a look at some of the C&C cages people have created as if you have the room, this may be a better option for you.
Hope they get on ok. I know how it feels. But my only advise for now is to seperate them before anything bad happens.
 
i don't know a whole lot about boars bt fighting is normal to establish the 'boss' pig you don't need to seperate unless there is blood even tho it is extremely distressing for us to watch, cage size is important anytime but more so with boar's i think, have you considered making a C&C cage which wouldn't cost more than £50 to make and you couldhave it to your design

heres mine (for 8 sow's)
utf-8BSU1HMDA2MTAtMjAxMTA3MTAtMTUyNi5qcGc.jpg


another design
utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTItMjAxMTA1MTItMTQwMS5qcGc.jpg
 
I'd recommend C & C cages. Much better value for money and loads of space. There's plenty of threads on this forum on how to make them and where to get the cubes and correx. Deffo try two of everything with the boys before despairing, that will hopefully be enough to calm things down.
x
 
Thank you all so much for replying - I feel lots better just reading what you guys have said.

They are 10 weeks old, nearly 11 weeks now :) The guy did check them to make sure they were boys, but not sure I trust what they say now.

It is so distressing to watch, but I do understand that they do have to figure out a pecking order so I'll just keep watching them until they start biting. Being in such a small space will only be making it worse so I think the C&C cage might be a better option.

I'm not sure if pets at home will refund me, as I have used the cage. Thats why I was going to upgrade with them, but after all the upset they have caused I do not want to give them any more money. I really hope they give me the refund. However I'm guessing it will take a bit of time to make the C&C cage so will have to try find a temp solution...

Do the rspca guidelines state my cage is too small!? God if they do I feel awful.

The boys got on so well for the first day, so hopefully they can be happy again in a nice big home.


Honestly, I have been miserable all day and last night - thank you so much for taking the time to help me, I really needed to hear that it wasn't my fault for being a terrible owner.
 
120cm cage is the minimum recommended size cage but you are by no means the only one to be caught out by petshops. I also bought a 100cm cage when I got my girls. It looked huge at the time but I quickly realised that I needed to upgrade. My pigs are in a huge c & c now.

Don't beat yourself up. You obviously care very much as you are looking for help. :)
 
deeandnick said:
Ive had them out on floor time together for bout an hour now, and all diego does is mounth, nose barge then run off popcorning. And scruff hisses, raises his hair and the runs ater diego popcorning and sniffing his bum. So maybe they'll keep this up even with a bigger cage?
Click to expand...

Popcornind is good sign, as mentioned before this may just be a dominance issue which all boars go through.
If you're thinking of going the C&C route then check out this other thread with one for sale. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44976
 
Oh you poor thing. Mine are outside piggies, but if you can find a temporary solution I'd suggest a c and c - then if worst comes to worst and they don't get on you can always use a grid to separate the cage in two, then they can have company side by side but not be a risk to each other.
 
That cage for sale was brilliant! Has given me some ideas :) It's a pity it's gone.

I cannot believe that 120 is the minimum - how can pets at home say to me, on on their site that the cage is suitable for two pigs!?! Seriously I am outraged! I'm def taking it back and demanding a refund now.

I would be able to separate them in a C&C too, thanks I never even thought of that.

So with C&C, is it a case of buying these grids and simply connecting them and using this correx stuff as a floor, with soft fleece and bedding on top of it? It sounds too easy!
 
does anyone know of a website or book which states these guidelines? I would like to take some proof with me to the shop. I am so angry, how can these people look after these animals and knowingly sell them on with kit that is not suitable!
 
Afraid I don't know where you can get the info but other members will.

I too purchased that same cage when I got my pigs....bad move....my pigs are now free range.

However even I am having trouble with my boys who are 1 and 2 with dominance issues as the 1 year old has just started rumble strutting and Sam is not impressed!

Hope you get everything sorted and your pigs sort out their hierarchy x
 
I managed to find it, but its only a guideline so thats how pets at home can get away with it. Terrible.

I am determined to make my pigs a great home and an amazing life :)

And make pets at home seriously suffer on Monday!

Thanks again everyone :)
 
no more tears - promise!

Sitting with my little diego on my lap feeling optimistic about the future! thanks to all you guys taking time to help me.

Hope all of your little piggies are happy, healthy and if there is anything i can ever do to help I will! x
 
C & C is easy but you'll probably find it takes you longer than you think to put it together (and lots of cable ties :(|) ).

This site gives great instructions.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/howto.htm


You don't have to use fleece as more traditional bedding works well too. I have one section with fleece and the other with just newspaper and hay.
061.jpg
072.jpg
 
Hmmm... Are you wanting them inside or outside? If inside I would have a C&C cage. If it was outside get the one you like at the moment. If it is outside, make sure nothing can get at them!
Hope your boars stop fighting soon.
 
this is probably the best to go for:
[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004RJ1K36/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2KE7FHJP4LD4G[/ame]
And there is a sticky in the housing section on this forum with a link to a company which sells corex.
 
Boys! Hopefully they will settle down with a lot more room and two of everything. No dead ends either so no one can get blocked in a pigloo or anything. Cardboard boxes are great to take their frustrations out on!
If I were you I'd just double check that they both match! Don't want any babies. If your not sure please post some photos of their bits and we'll have a look.
 
I have bought the Safco ones (the ones that hayleyh linked to) before and they are the right size. the ones you found are too small and your piggies would be able to get out over them as they grow.

Sorry to hear you're having a terrible time and hopefully your boars will be able to get along with some time and a bigger space. If not, be sure to ask on here as everyone is so helpful, or you could always get in touch with a rescue near you. But, GOOD LUCK! stupid p@h, it's hard to believe, but they really don't have animal welfare in mind. You are perfectly within your rights to demand a refund for the cage.
 
B & Q do the normal ones that most people use for £22.98.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10687690&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories<{9372014}/cat
If your store or any near to you don't have it in stock phone them up ( with the product number ) and they'll order it in for you.
Make a fuss in P@H, they'll soon give you your money back just to stop you complaining in front of other customers - especially if you're quoting rspca guidelines. :)
 
120cm cage at a bare minimum for two piggies. If you get the bigger cage and after a few days they are still fighting, you may have to do the whole process of having 2 cages next to eachother and then getting used to eachother, then taking them out to be with eachother and gradually have them together for long enough where they should be able to live in the same cage.
 
I don't have any more advice to say as everyone else has been absolutely fantastic as usual but just letting you know I hope you give P@H hell on Monday and get all your money back.

Let us know how you get on!
 
deeandnick said:
your little piggie looks so cute!

I am looking forward to trying to build it, shopping for grids now. Did it take you a while to build yours!?

I have seen these on ebay, any idea anyone if these are suitable?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/**-MODERN...=UK_Storage&hash=item4aa9778d8a#ht_3752wt_907
Click to expand...

Thay are only half the size of the normal ones so I would say that you shold leave them be. these are the ones you are looking for.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10687690&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories<{9372014}/categories<{9372040}/categories<{9392024}/specificationsProductType=boxes___baskets/specificationsSpecificProductType=boxes
 
What lovely lovely people you all are :)

I am going to take a picture of their bits, and try to figure out if they are indeed boys just incase. Thanks for that advice!

I am hoping that the bigger cage will help them get on, and if not then I'll divide the cage into two parts. I couldn't be without either of them, it would break my heart :(

Thanks for all the c+c help. I have ordered the right size cubes and they should be with me tomorrow :D

I am also returning my cage to scumbags at home tomorrow so will let you all know how it goes! x
 
deeandnick said:
What lovely lovely people you all are :)

I am going to take a picture of their bits, and try to figure out if they are indeed boys just incase. Thanks for that advice!
Click to expand...

Its not always easy to tell just from looking at their bits as both boys and girls look very similar. There is a knack to pushing just above the penis to expose it to see if they are boys but be careful not to hurt them. If you want to be 100% sure just pop into your local vets and ask them to check for you.
Check out this site too...
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
 
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