HELP! It's a girl!

[teacher_susan]

I had actually posted this message on the general board. I decided to post here as well in case anyone may be able to offer any help, suggestions, advice, etc.

Well I have gotten my three little piggies home. The poor babies were left in a "Florida room" - all windows, no AC, no ventilation - all by themselves, in a fish tank with no "hidey" places and an empty water bottle.

The 10yo son (whose pets they were) told me that this was the third litter that the mom had - she was 9 mo old. She had a litter of 3, then a litter of 4 but 1 died and then this litter of 2. The father told me that it was a difficult labor and she died a few days later.

They were so thirsty that on the way home I had to stop to refill their water bottle and add another so there would be less arguing over whose turn it was! They are very skittish, their nails are very long and when I tried offering veggies they didn't know what to do with them. While they are yet to realize it's a good thing when they see the big giant lady coming, they will settle down for me when I hold them.

So, the big catch to all this - I took a closer look at the three of them and I am 99% certain that one is a female. All three have been housed together since the piggies were born - 6 weeks ago. So now I am on pregnancy watch.

I currently have them in my ferret condo which was converted to be more piggy-friendly. (I covered the wire floors and ramps and put traction pads on the ramps) I closed off the ramp to the top floor and I am housing the female there.

This is definitely more than I had bargained for! I need to get them into more appropriate housing ASAP. If there is anyone out there living in south east PA, DE or northern MD who has a spare cage I could borrow it would be GREATLY appreciated.

I have contacted a local GP rescue and am waiting to hear from them. Ideally, I would like to foster these guys at least until I know whether or not the female is pregnant and then either keep the female or both males and find homes for the other(s). If she is pregnant I would keep them until she had the babies and them find homes for all but a pair.

Anyway, sorry for the long vent.

Susan

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Have you looked over the main page?

You can buy a box of cubes at Target for 15 bucks, and a sheet of coroplast at a Plastics/ sign store for under 20. You can build a bunch of cages.

I would put more than one food bowl or bottle out.

There is good care info at www.guinealynx.info . You can place ads up at www.cavyrescue.com and www.petfinder.com classifieds.