5 little piggies

SusanMcManes · #1 10-23-06, 09:24 am

Hello!

My name is Susan, and I just adopted 5 adult guinea pigs from a coworker who could no longer care for them. The only guinea pig experience I've had previously was my sisters little guy, Murphey, when I was a kid. He lived to be 10 years old. They are the friendliest rodents I've ever met! My husband suggested we put their cages in our bedroom, and this morning jokingly told me they must move and did a lovely rendition of their "singing" that apparently went on all night.

I'd really like to learn more about them and make sure thye are happy and healthy. Right now they are housed in 2 large wire cages. 3 in one, and 2 in the other. Thet are 4-5 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. One has a nesting box attached to the outside of the cage. They drink from water bottles, eat a pelleted food which I am supplementing with vegetables, fruits, "orange drops", and timothy hay. They also have mineral wheels and a couple of really cool looking puzzle toys (which I hope they enjoy) made from wooden sticks to make a ball, with a nut inside. They have little houses and a big cardboard tube to hide in. I have a little playpen to let them run in, and 40lbs of aspen litter in my truck at the moment. Is there anythihng I am missing??? Their names are:
Mullet (neutered male)
Princess (intact female) housed with Mullet
Queenie(intact female)
Donna(intact female)
Midnight(neutered male) housed with the other 2 females

Midnight is blind, but the most curious, and trusting one of them all. He always comes over for some petting when he hears the door open.

I am a vet tech who is also owned by 3 dogs, 6 cats(2 are being bottle-fed and fostered by me at the moment) 7 ferrets, 11 hermit crabs, and one hamster.

**nonamian_girl** · #2 10-23-06, 04:19 pm

Wow, FIVE pigs for a first timer? That's a lot to take on!

When you say wire cage, it has a solid bottom right?

If by orange drops you mean vitamin drops, get rid of them! They make the water taste bad and the only vitamin the pigs need from there, vitamin C, decompozes when it mixes with oxygen.

Also, get rid of that salt lick. Other than that, check out this thread for TONS of good info: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ost-first.html

SusanMcManes · #3 10-23-06, 05:53 pm

Solid plastic bottoms, yes. The orange drops are not water additives, but solid treats.

I know 5 is a handful to start with, but I have a hard time saying no when there is an animal in need. That's actually how I got most of my "kids" in the first place!

**nonamian_girl** · #4 10-23-06, 06:22 pm

You are quite the rescuer!

**lynn's Cavies** · #5 10-23-06, 06:42 pm

Congrats on your new 5 babies! Guinea pigs will bring you lots of joy. I adore them, well, I guess we all do on this forum.

But anyhow, sounds like you are off to a good start.

Take care!
Lynn

**Percy's Mom** · #6 10-23-06, 06:46 pm

Sounds like you have quite the big heart! As far as those orange treats go, it's best to get rid of them as well. Even though the store sells them for guinea pigs, they're really junk. Mostly sugar, other additives, and often some dairy products which cavies really shouldn't have at all. Make sure they get at least a cup of assorted veggies daily along with their pellets and unlimited hay, and they don't need a vitamin C supplement anyway.

**fashion victim** · #7 10-23-06, 08:25 pm

Wow it's so great of you to take in all those animals and care for them. Wow, Hermit crabs as pets! I've never met anyone with one before! My parents have a beach house and I see lots of hermit crabs walking all over the place but I never knew they were good pets. I wish I could have a bunch of animals that I've rescued from all over but since I still live with my parents my freedom is a bit limited. I have one baby bunny (found in backyard) and a dog that I was given by a friend (Chihuahua because they don't like big dogs inside the house) and 2 hammies I got from a friend whose mom got tired of cleaning up after them.

However, I'm greasing up mom so that I'll be allowed to foster animals for the shelters around here. She's caving in because they won't be permanent (the shelters told me they'd give me baby animals to raise until they could be put up for adoption).

SusanMcManes · #8 10-24-06, 05:32 pm

Well, I live at the beach, so the hermit crabs are sold with little or no thought to their care to tourists. I buy them up as I can, and try to educate people on their care. 5 of the 7 ferrets are rescues, the other 2 were gifts from my husband, 2 of the cats are pre-existing pets, 2 are "feral" and 2 are week old kittens. Bean, my Min Pin came from a breed rescue, the other 2 dogs are pre-existing pets. The hamster was a birthday gift 3 years ago. My house is a zoo, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

**nonamian_girl** · #9 10-24-06, 08:02 pm

I've seen them selling hermit crabs at the mall, with painted shells. It's sad.

_chaxa_ · #10 10-25-06, 01:46 am

wow you have lots of pets!!!!! you are a good rescuer and i am shure ur animals love you for it!!!! i own 7 dogs, 7 horses, 2 cats, and lots of farm animals since we live on a big farm.i am hopefully getting 2 guniea pigs soon .my family had had LOTS of experience of animals and through out our (my familys) lifetime we have probabley had over 100 pets!!!! and just if u r wondering we breed horses and dogs and i have rescuded and relesed many wild animals!!!! ok thanx _chaxa_

**smileyface cavy** · #11 10-25-06, 09:59 am

Welcome! You are certainly quite the rescuer!

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