Advice on getting guinea pigs please

squeakysue

Morning all, my daughter has been desperate for pets for years and I think that now she is old enough to take in some responsibility.
She has her heart set on guinea pigs so I agreed and have bought a hutch in preparation (not built it yet) and we have agreed to wait till the weather warms up a bit till we buy them (2 same sex hopefully).

I just wanted some general advice on looking after guinea pigs, food, bedding, shelter, day to day care etc.

My other half has told me that they will attract rats and I now feel sick :eek: think I will be having nightmares now! I understand it is the food that can attract rats?

She has her heart set on guinea pigs now and I already have the hutch, I can't back out now, can anybody reassure me that this is a good idea

TIA

clarabelle41

We had a guinea, such a sweet girl but sadly had a large growth on her abdomen had had to be PTS. We never had a rat problem, saw a small mouse once or twice in the garage in winter but we also stored bags of dog food there. I would say keep the area clean & tidy, don't leave food bags lying around, keep it inside or in a metal container if outside. GP don't like the cold so move inside and have layers to cover the hutch at night. Be aware of foxes so try & secure the garden as much as poss. In hot weather provide some shade & maybe a fly screen. Have a secure run for access to grass/exercise. Lastly enjoy and have fun!

http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/

krlyr

Do you have a garden shed with any space in it? You could set the hutch up in there and then rat-proof the shed, e.g. line the bottom of the shed with mesh or sheet metal. It will make it a more pleasant experience going out to clean and visit them in the wind and rain too!

What dimensions are the hutch you've bought though? Unfortunately many of the commercial hutches, even for rabbits, are inadequately sized. The Cavy Cages website gives minimum suggestions for cage size and for a pair they recommend 7.5 square feet minimum, though 10.5 preferred, which would be a 4' x 2' hutch. Many commercial hutches are only 18" deep meaning you lose some floorspace - it can be better to order a hutch online through some of the companies who made to better specs (lots will do 2' deep hutches) or even get a local carpenter/handyman to make one up.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

I'd recommend covering the front bars with some finer mesh too, this will make it more difficult for rats to get in, and for food to get knocked out onto the floor and attract rats. Don't go for chicken wire - rats will bite through it, you want something a bit thicker.

Another alternative would be to keep them indoors if you have the room. Saves the issue of worrying about the cold over winter too, they fare a lot less better in cold weather than rabbits and usually an outdoor guinea pig would need to be moved to a shed or garage at the very least, if not indoors.

GBNI

Guinea pigs make delightful pets! They are so cute with their little squeaks and purrs. Also much easier to tame and cuddle, unlike rabbits! Try your local rescue centre, they may be able to rehome some to you.

Only ever feed dried food made for guinea pigs as it will contain the extra Vitamin C guineas require. I used straw for bedding for mine (although been years from I kept them!) and some shavings in the 'living' area. Feed ad lib hay, don't buy stuff from pet shops as it's very dear. Try and source off a farmer. You can get a big bale for £2.50 (Pets at Home charge £11 for the same size!) as long as you have somewhere to store it.

I never had an issue with rats.

Day to day care is easy just always make sure they have hay and water and a bit of dried food. Basic health checks once a week (check teeth, any lumps, cuts etc) and enjoy! They really are fun little animals to own. I am considering getting a couple again.

narabanekeater

we have a lovely pair of GPs. They eat a dry mix with lots of added fruit and veg. We give them a total clean out every 3 days. They live indoors and come out from the cage for a good 3 hours a day. The children and myself play with them and watch TV giving them hugs and cuddles. Ive even found them on the sofa left out by mistake when the kids are at school. We have cats as well and neither bother each other. They really are a delight. Just watch out for poop everywhere when outside the cage. They go everywhere and lots

pinetree

Havent got any advise apart from I still remember our GPs when I was a child about 40 yrs ago they made wonderful pets,and I agree with the poster about rehoming as our local rspca nearly always have them, babies as well, hope your daughter enjoys them

zaksmum

My daughter had a female guinea pig that she loved and played with constantly. Then thought it might be lonely while she was at school so I agreed to getting a little friend for it.

Turned out the new GP was a boy...! we ended up with so many I lost count.

The boy was at his daughters, the sons were at their sisters and their mother...it was mayhem.

Fortunately a local pet shop took the babies for us when they were old enough and we separated the boy from the girl.

They are lovely little creatures though. Ours loved dandelion leaves and we'd only have to get the scissors out for them to all start squeaking and whistling. And in the few years we had them we never once had to cut the grass. Just put them all on the lawn on a warm day and they munched their way right along it till the grass was manicured.

Very sweet little pets.

candjsmum

Aww they do make wonderful pets. We have had them in the past and are lovely. We only had to start pulling up the grass and they would start squeaking. Any outside pets could attract mice and rats, even feeding the birds will do this so just take the advice above about storing food and keeping clean. Also be aware that they have teeth which constantly grow so need plenty of hay, grass, veg etc to keep munching on to keep them, down.
Would love to see pics when you have got them.

RachRubyD

My first pet was a guinea-pig around age 8. He was a boy named Ben and they are such wonderful pets. A little timid so have to be gentle and careful with them. They might have some to rescue in pets at home (they have a section where rabbits, mice and guinea pig etc need rescuing). I'd recommend getting females if your getting two as males are known to fight. We got a male rabbit as company as we got told not to get a male guinea pig for bens company. They got on but wouldn't recommend it. My rabbit died of depression because they live longer than guinea pigs. When Ben passed away he wouldn't eat or sleep and died in the end of a broken heart

We kept the hut inside the kitchen and my dad (doesn't live with me) does the same for his rabbit now. I'd be worried leaving it outside incase cats scared them or got at them someway. Anyway we feed him guinea pig food you can buy from pet stores and veg like carrots and so on. Oh he loved his veg and was so greedy. Would squeal and run over to the fridge when you opened it for food can you believe. I prefered the guinea pig over rabbit but still loved snowy (rabbit).

I think you are making the right choice as they aren't as much responsbility as a dog or cat but still some an child how to care for an animal. Also grieving for a pet is one of the best things for a child as it prepares them for losing people.

A little link about how to care for guinea pigs.
http://www.petforums.co.uk/small-animal-chat/64108-brief-guide-care-cavies-aka-guinea-pigs.html

helenthemum

Firstly only ever have same sex together and preferably unless you are going to breed never have boys and girls in the same house as boys will fight if they small girls.

A single go will need a lot of attention, you said you are considering 2 which is great.

They eat dried food, don't feed them rabbit food.

They can happily live outside, but bring them in during the winter. They don't mind cold so much, but never let them get too hot or leave them out in rain.

Mine eat carrots, banana skins, basically any kitchen waste, even potato skins can be boiled and mashed with bran.

Never left them eat buttercup plants it will kill them.