Sister wants piggies.

[Lizzie.1987]

So my 10 year old sister wants piggies as well cause it’s “not fair” that I got them and she didn’t. Trouble is I know she’s not ready for them, she lacks the patience to care for piggies; if the piggies were to run she’d probably shout at them, scaring them and increasing the risk of them biting her. Also if I were to explain to her that taming piggies takes time she might decide she doesn’t want them after all. But I think I have a solution. A few weekends a month she can help me with my piggies and if she learns enough to look after them sufficiently my mum will think about it. There’s no promise of definitely getting piggies but she learns how to look after them.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! That is a good idea.

 

[Sammi1]

That's a great idea!
Make sure to include your sister on a full clean out day, iv got 5 cages/hutches at the moment & people don't realise it takes hours/the whole day to do a proper clean.

That's without the usual daily jobs they require.

Guinea pigs aren't just cute cuddly things they take alot more time & patience than people think!

 

[Lizzie.1987]

That's a great idea!
Make sure to include your sister on a full clean out day, iv got 5 cages/hutches at the moment & people don't realise it takes hours/the whole day to do a proper clean.

That's without the usual daily jobs they require.

Guinea pigs aren't just cute cuddly things they take alot more time & patience than people think!

Oh that’ll be one of her first duties. And she won’t be allowed to handle them until they get used to her voice as well. We will see if it’s serious about wanting guineas or if it’s merely jealousy...

 

[Claire W]

My 11 year old niece wants piggies but her mum won’t let her. When they come to visit, she always takes over feeding and spot clean duties (then she’s allowed to hold them) but I doubt she would want to do the full cage clean every week. She hated cleaning her hamsters cage!

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

Sounds like a fabulous plan and well done you for being so responsible and making sure your sister understands the responsibility. Guinea pigs aren't easy animals to look after. If everyone was as responsible as you, there would be far fewer animals in rescue centres.

Quite aside from the time it takes to clean them out (mine are cleaned daily) but there is so much else to consider...

Expense - on top of the expense of food, bedding etc, piggies can be expensive if they get ill so if your sister gets pocket money, is she willing to put most if not all of it into a piggy-bank to pay for vets bills?
Bathing - it takes calm and confident handling to put piggy a ease plus the rather undesirable part of bottom cleaning.
Nail clipping - takes a great deal of patients and being willing to adapt and learn the best way to get it done safely.
Time - piggies take so much time. Just sitting and observing behaviours and interactions with the other piggy can let you know of any problems early on.
Health checks - looking at teeth, eyes, ears, coat, skin, bottom etc and regular weighing.

I'm sure if you tell and show your sister all that is involved in being a guinea pigs person, she might think again about it.

Best of luck to you xx

 

[Flutterby]

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

Sounds like a fabulous plan and well done you for being so responsible and making sure your sister understands the responsibility. Guinea pigs aren't easy animals to look after. If everyone was as responsible as you, there would be far fewer animals in rescue centres.

Quite aside from the time it takes to clean them out (mine are cleaned daily) but there is so much else to consider...

Expense - on top of the expense of food, bedding etc, piggies can be expensive if they get ill so if your sister gets pocket money, is she willing to put most if not all of it into a piggy-bank to pay for vets bills?
Bathing - it takes calm and confident handling to put piggy a ease plus the rather undesirable part of bottom cleaning.
Nail clipping - takes a great deal of patients and being willing to adapt and learn the best way to get it done safely.
Time - piggies take so much time. Just sitting and observing behaviours and interactions with the other piggy can let you know of any problems early on.
Health checks - looking at teeth, eyes, ears, coat, skin, bottom etc and regular weighing.

I'm sure if you tell and show your sister all that is involved in being a guinea pigs person, she might think again about it.

Best of luck to you xx

I meant patience instead of patients Lots of sick people wont help to cut piggies nails

And sorry for keep mentioning 'bottom'