Should we really make our own? - Page 4

**firstguineapig8** · #61 12-19-07, 08:17 am

Hello there. Thanks for asking.

No luck as of yet. I am looking constantly and checking the sites. I am waiting on the sex of a few piggies to see. It's alittle tough since my son does want a smooth haired piggie that is light in color. He has specifics and is wanting to look for that since he is not buying one and able to pick it. So I am trying to at least give him that. Plus, he also prefers a female. Wants it to be his girlfriend..He's looking so forward to her.
But I am looking everyday to find it. I REALLY do not want to get them from the store. That would make me feel terribly guilty.
I appreciate all the help here. Thanks again for asking and I'll keep posting if I get any more leads.

**socal805** · #62 12-19-07, 08:41 am

What does he think about getting 2 of them? Can one of them be smooth and one a different hair type? Try to encourage him to be more open with the type of pig and you might find more options. It would be so sad to think that you pass up a pig just because of hair type. I can understand wanting females (since I have 3) so if you can narrow it down to females and then be open to hair type you might have better luck.
My daughter is also extremely smart, gifted, talented..got rave reviews at our parent teacher conference, we were told she is an example to all. She really wanted a Nintendo Wii for Christmas but through my power of sugesstion I was able to talk her into wanting an ipod. I started showing her pictures of ipods and looking into what you can download to the ipod. Movies, tv shows, etc. Now she wants an ipod !!

(the wii is out of stock and cannot be bought anywhere) So maybe if you start looking at pics of piggies of all types and saying how cute and girly they look he might open his mind up. Also remember that although this is suposed to be "his guinea pig" you are the one who will be doing the bulk of the care for it and you do have a say in which pig(s) you get.
Good Luck!!

**firstguineapig8** · #63 12-19-07, 11:13 am

Hello there. Yes, he is open to getting two. So am I. I would be happy to take care of them. Although it is "his" pet, I will be spoiling them like crazy. When he's in school I am CERTAIN that I will be petting and cuddling with the little one. I can't wait.
As far as getting one smooth and one not, that would definitely be fine. He wants the smooth coat because he prefers it and also he read a few times that the ones with the swirls do not like to be pet in the opposite direction of the hair growth. So he does not want to have to be so careful with that.

I am glad to hear your daughter is like my son too. It's such a blessing right.
I have four children and THANK GOD they are all very well mannered and so sweet.
Did you get to see my son on you tube yet? If you do a search and type eight year old recital He's there playing the piano. It's fun to watch.

thanks for the well wishes. Your daughter will LOVE an ipod. It gets so crazy with all these must have toys. I saw some items going for quadruple what they actually cost! It's crazy.

**socal805** · #64 12-19-07, 11:45 am

Quote:

also he read a few times that the ones with the swirls do not like to be pet in the opposite direction of the hair growth. So he does not want to have to be so careful with that.

Tell him that we have 2 of the ones with the swirls and they both don't care how you pet them! They like to be brushed and have their little noses rubbed. Here is a picture of all 3 of the girls-from left to right-Kitty-Nutmeg-Cinnamon.

this is Kitty, she is our newest-she was underweight and living all alone in a tiny cage, I think she is much happier now!

I love them all equally!

I'll go and look for your sons piano recital today. I've got to post some videos of my daughter one of these days, she's a dancer!

**firstguineapig8** · #65 12-19-07, 01:49 pm

That's great to know. Thanks for that info. I read that the piggies with swirls don't like it either. Do you think that is just a misconception? Are there some that maybe don't like it?

I just want the one/ones we get to be ok with my son and that he doesn't have an unhappy piggy if he does something he thinks they like.
I need to learn their sounds too. I know that will help us know what they are feeling.

Definitely put your daughter up. It's an easy way to get family and friends to see how great they are.
Regards,
anabell

p.s. Your piggies are just DARLING!
I personally like the ones with the messy hair

) Plus, it will give my son something to brush.

**firstguineapig8** · #66 12-20-07, 07:19 am

another question. Do you find that things get stuck to the piggies with hair? does it tangle easily? I went to Petco just to look around ONLY. I would not buy anything there..but I wanted to see how they kept things. Poor piggies are in tanks. REALLY SMALL tanks. It's so sad.
Anyway, the guy told me not to get long haired piggies because poop gets stuck to their hair and they tend to smell.
I don't believe him one bit since I have seen MANY pictures and these piggies look perfect. But I figured I'd ask just in case.

thanks a bunch.

**Kerry** · #67 12-20-07, 09:13 am

Well my 2 never smell and haven't had poop in their fur. Sometimes Cookie gets hay in hers but that's cause she tips the hay container up over her head and burrows in! LoL But she cleans it off. They've also never gotten one knot in their hair. Maybe with the super long varieties you'd have that problem though, I dunno?

**I<3MyBabies** · #68 12-20-07, 09:23 am

Long haired piggies are a little bit more upkeep, only with grooming. I try to brush my girl Sukki everyday. Bedding, and hay can get stuck and cause tangles. I also give her a good trim every week or so in the bum area to avoid that poo problem. But she is wonderful. She is an aby/peruvian. I think a little more peruvian though because her hair is very long. I think long or short are just about the same, maybe 20 minutes of extra care time a week? Like I said, just brushing and trimming. And she does have to get a bath every month or so because my girl is messy when she eats her veg and it gets her white fur all dirty.

**socal805** · #69 12-20-07, 10:07 am

Take a look at this!!

FREE ADOPTION! 1,2 or 3 FEMALE GUINEA PIGS

There are 3 female pigs in New York, she has a HUGE C&C cage...I know you wanted to start small but as a mom of 3 guinea pigs I say go for it!!

I hate that she is wanting to seperate them, 2 are mother and daughter and it would be wonderful to keep all 3 together.

**firstguineapig8** · #70 12-20-07, 10:44 am

Hey there.Thanks for the info.

I wish I could go for it..but I think I will bite more than I can chew. Being so new to this..I get scared that I will be overwhelmed.

Also, I am not sure if I can handle such a big cage.She said it is huge.
And it takes some time to get them out because of it.

The ones she has pictured are not the ones she has for adoption.She is going to send me a picture later. BUT I would hate to separate them at all.

The search goes on...

**firstguineapig8** · #71 12-20-07, 10:52 am

thanks for the info..it really helps

**socal805** · #72 12-20-07, 10:58 am

Actually the cage looks like its a 2x4, maybe 2x5-if you are going to get 2 of them you need a 2x4. Her cage is not any bigger than the rest of us with C&C's and if you want to do whats best that is the size you will need to make.They do look huge and yes they do take some getting used to as far as the cleaning and catching pigs. Yes you have to chase them around in the bigger cages but that is the price you pay if you want to have guinea pigs and house them properly! Many people do not realize that guinea pigs are so much work and need so much space. They are more work than my cat and 2 dogs!

oh and she is wrong, newspaper is NOT enough for beddding. They would get soaked and end up sitting in the pee. Where do people come up with this stuff?? I'm wondering if she is a breeder??

**firstguineapig8** · #73 12-20-07, 12:00 pm

I wonder too. But she did sound nice and was giving he cage away for free. I am actually not sure if I would take it though. I don't think it would be fair to take them away from each other.

I had planned on getting a 2 x 4 cc cage for the one piggie. I am doing fleece bedding with a cat pan for the hay and carefresh. I am hoping that cuts down alittle on the cleaning.

Funny thing, I had asked once if dogs were more difficult and someone said yes. But in my opinion, I would think piggies require much more care.
I am happy to give it. And hopefully in return I can find a cute cuddling piggie or piggies.

**GuineaPinny** · #74 12-20-07, 01:03 pm

Maybe I'm paranoid, but I think that is someone posting someone else's pigs, like an exboyfriend or roommate. The guinea pigs show so much care, but she's dumping them for free and not caring if they're separated or not. And she could easily downgrade the cage if space were really the issue. Plus saying that newspaper is fine as bedding--anyone who knows about guinea pigs (and someone with that cage knows about guinea pigs) and cares about them would never say that.

Here's a two year old abby boar on an urgent rehome, owner moves Saturday for Sweden, the home he was supposed to go to fell through. Brooklyn, NY: The cutest guinea pig is urgently seeking a home!

**GuineaPinny** · #75 12-20-07, 01:04 pm

Oh and I think the loft is what makes it so large, and it overlaps the base. I think the first floor is the basic requirement, but then there's a whole nother cage's worth of annex.

**firstguineapig8** · #76 12-20-07, 02:59 pm

Thanks so much.
I just called her. She said he has been alone for his whole life and is totally happy about it. She says he plays and does not hide all the time and he's used to being held. That is a big plus.
I will probably still get him a friend in the future. I am not getting my hopes up though. She already spoke to a woman that will let her know whether she will take him or not by 5pm today. I will need to go drive to Brooklyn to get him..I am not sure how I will do this..but I will if it works out.

Wish me luck and cross your fingers.

thanks again. You have been a blessing in our search!

**socal805** · #77 12-20-07, 04:27 pm

Quote:

She said he has been alone for his whole life and is totally happy about it.

Can I just tell you that EVERONE who has just one pig will say that. This is only true if they have tried him with other pigs and he does not like them. Do not assume that just because he has been alone his whole life that he is fine. My little girl lived alone her entire life and the old owner said the same thing. I can tell you that she was NOT fine and was NOT just like my other pigs who were socialized and happy. Anyone who loves and cares about guinea pigs will tell you that they are much better off in pairs. So, if you get this little guy, plan on getting him a friend as soon as possible!!

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