Advice Wanted!

CatSlave

My 11 year old daughter has kept Rats for several years - and recently she lost Bing and Bong! She has now fallen in love with a Guinea Pig and really wants one! She is a very responsible pet owner .... but ..... I haven't owned a guinea pig since I was a kid and I'm not sure about what they need by way of hutch / feeding etc. And also whether its better to keep them indoors or out? I'm sure my old Smokie used to live in a cage in the kitchen but we used to put him in the garden in an old tyre covered in chicken wire during the day! But he fell victim to a neighbours cat when I was about 10 so ..... you know what I mean!

Basically I would like some general advice on what kind of pets these make / handling etc. What do I need to look out for if I let her have one and where will I find a reliable breeder?

I did a Google search earlier - but I think I'd rather get advice from other owners please.

annestaff

Someone will be along soon Skippy with lots of piggy info Very Happy

snuggles

hi skippy try these sites
http://www.treenspigs.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/pe2/cavyclan/
http://www.theguineas.bravehost.com/tips.html
http://www.kornage.co.uk/
http://www.freewebs.com/aaguineapigs/guineapigs.htm
hopfuly these are some help

Lu-1

WEll coming from someone who has kept them most of my life, bred and shown them i know pretty much most there is to know bout cavies, to give them their proper name.
Well mine all lived in wooden hutches in a specially built shed, all stacked upon one and other, they were very ahppy.
They are like any animal easy to handle as long as handled often, i must say i have had cavies for many years never been bittne by them once. They can and do become skittish if not handled regually.
Cleaning wise well that is a full time job, caives lack continance so to speak so thier motto is 'when u gotta go, u gotta go'. They need clenaing very regualy, and should have a good sized hutch with sawdust or wood chippings on the floor with lots of hay for eating and a either hay or straw in the bunch full for bedding.
They should be fed guinea-pig mix buty should get lots and lots of fruit and veg for vittamins, and i mean loads they should have at least 6 portions of fruit and veg combined each day, their favourites being oranges.
They need lots of grass and love dandelion leaves. They should be in a portable run or grazing ark with a secure lid preferably with a lock on, it also must have a shaded part to escapoe the sun, the run should be full of tubes, tunnels, pipes boxes, fruit logs, everything.
Never keep a guinea on its own they need company, we only have one now due to a fox attack and she is so lonely. They must be kept in same sexed pairs, boars (boys) must be littermates otherwise they will fight. Sows are usually easier to keep together. Contrary to popular belief cavies and rabbits should NEVER be kept together, rabbits have been known to kill cavies with a sharp kick so this is a no no, also never feed them on prepared rabbit mix as it cxontains something which is lethal to cavies.
The best book is the ultimate guinea-pig guide-Myra Mahoney, thjey have it on anamzon or in your local pets at home, this is the holy grail in the cavy world.
ANything else that i havent covered just ask
Best wishes[/b]

CatSlave

Thanks for the info. I think I'm really going to have to look into this before I decided.

fish_face

hiya!
My eleven year old daughter has a guinea pig and they are honestly fantastic pets for children. Very calm, hardly ever bite (unless they are telling u u r hurting them) and also great fun to play with!

Mine live in the garage in an indoor cage with a blankjet over the top in winter and alot of hay to burrow in. They are quite hardy little creatures so living outside would not hurt them, but living indoors means they will get alot more attention!

I hope this has helped!

Jungleking

My 2 live in a hand built 1mx1m square hutch which is in the living room with is the social point in the house.

Mine live indoors because it gets to cold outside for them during winter when it warms up the get to go in there big run for an adventure.