Guinea Pigs

[Squishymama]

We are looking to get a Guinea Pig, as we all love them, and it would be nice to have a little friend around. I had one growing up, but only ever had one of them. He was always very happy, and much loved, but I have been hearing a lot lately that it is better to get them in pairs.

What have others found? Do they work better in pairs, or is it fine to have just one?

[Bear]

Everything I read before I got mine said to get them in a pair as they hate being alone. So I got two, both females as males will fight and males/females will, well, you know what!:laugh:

we've had ours just over a year now and they are lovely, friendly little animals. They have never even attempted to bite anyone and although they can appear quite nervous they are not flightly like rabbits, they don't jump out of your hands or kick out, which makes them absolutely perfect for small children to handle.

Unfortunately about 2 weeks after we got them I realised that I was allergic to them (I thought it was hayfever at first), and they make me wheezy and sneezy! So I can't handle them now, which is a shame as they are gorgeous.

Oh, and one last thing, we keep ours in a big cage indoors. I knew no-one would want to traipse down the bottom of the garden in winter to feed them and clean them out so the rule was that they had to live indoors. They don't smell, as long as they are cleaned out regularly, and the noises they make are hilarious!

[Bunny]

get two females, pet shop made a mistake with mine and ended up with one of each so had to keep them separate, when madam Mashkins died in May we thought Mr Bangers might be very upset but he seems fine by himself, he's a very independent piggie. If you do get some keep them indoors are they are sooooo funny to watch and listen to

[Emsickle]

I got 2 males (2 brothers) when I had them, and apart from them trying to hump each other on the odd occasionally sunny day, they were the best of friends and died sadly within a month of each other. They were both 6 though and were the most friendliest, cuddliest little guys, who used to nuzzle into my neck and talk to me whilst I was chopping the carrots for tea etc.

[Squishymama]

Thank you for that. Sounds like 2 is a good number to get

[Dee1974]

I'm thinking of getting another guinea pig. My last one, Rocky, died from Bronchial Pneumonia. He was 6, apparently that's a great age for a piggy! Not sure how long to leave it before I get another one but I guess the main thing now, is how to convince the other half that two are better than one :laugh:

[Netty]

A friend decided one day to buy one, then a companion one a couple of days later ...They were all very happy together, until she realised one was expecting ... lol.

I think she carried on with the breeding programme for a couple of generations of piggies, but when her original pair passed away, she didn't replace them.

[Dee1974]

Quick update, I got the OH half to 'promise' me we could get another guinea pig this weekend :woot: Then I started talking about names, like Bill & Ben, Laurel & Hardy, Starsky and Hutch. Then it dawned on him :rolleyes: He says I'm only having one GP, not two. We'll see :cheesy:

[Jen]

Quick update, I got the OH half to 'promise' me we could get another guinea pig this weekend :woot: Then I started talking about names, like Bill & Ben, Laurel & Hardy, Starsky and Hutch. Then it dawned on him :rolleyes: He says I'm only having one GP, not two. We'll see :cheesy:

Did the same thing with my Puppies, he was in s africa and I told him I was going to buy a new puppy, when I called him I told him 'I have the new Puppies' he was silent for a while then he said did I hear you say plural?...:cheesy: he loves them really.

[Dee1974]

Did the same thing with my Puppies, he was in s africa and I told him I was going to buy a new puppy, when I called him I told him 'I have the new Puppies' he was silent for a while then he said did I hear you say plural?...:cheesy: he loves them really.

How old? What breed? names?? :D I love dogs, but with us being at work, I don't think it would be fair to get one. But, perhaps when I get my BFP and I'm at home.... :rolleyes:

[-Joy-]

I grew up with guineas and theyr wild whistling lol.. at my parents house.
One was called Oliver and the other Wesley.. they now have an indoor rabbit called Alfie .


But they did have one on its own too. And he seemed ok

If u get guineas , get some pics up ! I love `em !

( Ive got 3 cats so no guineas for me )

Joy
x

[Dee1974]

I know what you mean about the whistling! Everytime we opened the fridge door, he would make sure he wasn't left out :cheesy: We have one cat, and seemed okay with the other GP. Well, I say okay, Rocky seemed to like the cat but the cat ran off all the time :cheesy: Going to look for GP's tomorrow morning :D

[curlywurly]

We've had GP's before - but they've been outdoor GP's....

My brother rung me yesterday and said he thinks his girlfriend is alergic to their indoor ginueas - so I'm having them for a holiday so they can find out if this is the case. If it is, we'll have two more additions to our menagerie....;)

[Bunny]

ooooo I want more guinea pigs, it is cute when they wheek when you open the fridge door

[curlywurly]

I love the noise the boys make then they're feeling frisky :D

[Bunny]

I love the noise the boys make then they're feeling frisky :D


LMAO me too and the way they wiggle their hips while they are sexily purring to attract their woman

[Dee1974]

We've had GP's before - but they've been outdoor GP's....

My brother rung me yesterday and said he thinks his girlfriend is alergic to their indoor ginueas - so I'm having them for a holiday so they can find out if this is the case. If it is, we'll have two more additions to our menagerie....;)

Menagerie? What exactly do you have? A zoo?:cheesy:

Went to Pets at Home this morning. The OH said we would only get one, but when we got there, there were only two males left. The OH couldn't bear to leave one in his own. So I got my way, I now have two 8 week old GP's :D Now I need help with names! :D Any suggestions? The OH likes Ben & Jerry... I'm not convinced.

[Bunny]

Starsky & Hutch

Bill & Ben

Laurel & Hardy

[-Joy-]

Hows about

Bubble and Squeek.

Itchy and Scratchy.

Pinky and Perky.

His and Him ( maybes not lol)

Sonny and Moony.

Zippy and Bungle.

Cookies and Cream.

Ohh I could go on and on ( I usually do lol)

x

[Dee1974]

These names are too funny!:cheesy:Not sure I would want to stand up and answer to Zippy and Bungle when I'm sitting in the vets waiting room :laugh: I love the Bubble & Squeek one, but we have a cat called Bubble... when he was a kitten he used to blow bubbles in his sleep, now he just snores :rolleyes: I love Starsky & Hutch!!

[-Joy-]

Looks like Starksy and Hutch is winning lol
x

[sadierhianne]

We have two, mother and daughter and we got them from the pet rescue place, they were 18 months and 12 months old and whilst babies are cute, they are fully grown by the time they are 4 months old.

Ours live in the kitchen, don't smell and they are great, they start to climb the front of the cage the second they smell a favourite food - ours love pineapple and carrots and so get loads of peelings and all the wasted apple cores etc so cost nothing to feed, just costs in hay and a small amount of dried food. The drink more when kept indoors though for some reason.

They are hard to catch, a bit scatty but once they are held close they will lick you and nuzzle into you, a bit like mini cats really - the can malt in the summer which makes a bit of mess but nothing that isn't easily hoovered up. We also bath ours in a little oval bucket thing, one loves it, the other ain't keen. The youngest one is eating her way through a partition in the hutch which is fine and so they need things to keep their teeth short and their nails can get long but they are easy to cut.

If you are keeping them outside just make sure that you get a good hutch, we paid £35 for ours and it is bobbins, the legs are dropping off and it lets in water - hence them being indoors but as they are not a problem, they can stay in all winter - they chat to me anyway so i love em.

Fabby pets and they will sit still for hours on end on a young child's knee - ok they may pee and shat a few times but hey ho, its not major amounts, we have kicthen towel on hand.

My little tomboy with Daisy and Blossom

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i70/willowanne1/DSCN0723.jpg

[avilo]

My DH has finally agreed that we can get our DD a pet, and we have decided to get a guinea pig (or two:cheesy:). I am curious how you would go about keeping them indoors, what sort of cage/run would you use? At the moment, my plan is to get the Eglu (http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Guinea%20Pigs)to house them in, putting them into our summer house during the winter months.

All advice welcome!

[Dee1974]

In the end, we decided to go with Bodie and Doyle :cheesy: I'll get some pics up over the weekend, now that they've decided to come out of hiding!

[-Joy-]

Cant wait to see them :D
xxx