New Mom

[thislittlepiggy]

[FONT=Arial]OK. Here I go. I'm a bit nervious. Never have done a forum before. My husband and I became first time parents on June 30th. Our piggy was born on April 28th. My niece got a guinepig for her two children from the pet store and surprise, surprise she was pregnate. She wanted the babies to go to homes that she new. We had just lost our cat about a year before and I really needed someone to love (pet wise). I did some research and off to Petco I went. I bought a beginer set and all the fixins. I was ready for our new pet. She stays in the living room with us and gets a lot of attention throughout the day. We are in and out through the day and always sit and talk with Teal'c (explanation at a later date) and give a stick of chicory when the squells compell us. haha At night is lap time. She loves to be scratched and her belly is a favorite spot to which her leg will go like a dogs. She pops and rolls, talks and pops some more. She is too funny! She'll lay with me or my husband for up to two hours.I use a thick towel to place on me which she seems to love to cuddle in. She likes to pull at it pretty aggressiveley and I wonder if thats alright. I worry a little bit about any possible material she may get. She doesn't appear to get any but I'm a nervious Mom sometimes. It is now time for new quaters. I surfed and found you. I like what I have found here. I plan and have the room for a 2x5 grid / 14 grid / 71"x 27" gage. I would love any info from all of you and have one question. Should I get another quinepig? I'm am far from interested in breeding and would want another female. Would they fight? Should I get one the same age? Two would be plenty and if I could get away with only one it would be my preferance. But, I want her to be at her happiest. Thanks and I hope I haven't looked to silly. [/FONT]

[Aertyn]

April 28th is a great day (my own birthday)

and Teal'c is a great name (Stargate right?) Teal'c is my favorite (Indeed), closely followed by Daniel.

My pigs pull at the blankie during laptime as well, for mine it means that they need to go to the bathrooom and they are warning us.

Welcome to the forum, any chance of some pigtures?

(I'll let someone more experience answer your questions, as they would be able to add personel experience as well, whereas I would just be quoting from sources)

[My Piggies Rock]

Hi New Mom! You are already on the right track because you are looking into a bigger cage! The experts all say that guinea pigs are herd animals and that you should have atleast two piggies of the same sex. If you put a young piggie with an adult, they usually do fine. But, letting them smell each other first and start out meeting in a neutral area is a good idea before you make them share a cage. And, don't forget to make sure she gets some floor time everyday. My piggies look forward to that! I didn't know piggies could run so fast until I started letting my Pipsqueak out to run laps! They are so much happier now. Best Wishes, Patti

[thislittlepiggy]

Yes Stargate. She has a white band on her forhead. Thanks for being so prompt. Should I keep my old gage for the possible new comer to stay in until they are friends?

[Aertyn]

I'd keep your old cage as a quarantine cage, and a travel cage, for vet trips and such.

With introductions you will want to make sure it is in nuetral ground, and with a big pile of hay and veggies, then just let them sort out the pecking order, you don't want to be putting them together then splitting them up again over and over as the introductions will just start all over again.

You might want to check these out though
Newbie thread
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ost-first.html

Social Life
http://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

[My Piggies Rock]

Yes, hold onto the old cage. You should always quarantine any new piggie for 3 weeks before putting it in with your healthy piggie. Sometimes a piggie could be incubating a virus like an upper respiratory and just not showing symptoms yet. You don't want your wee piggie getting the sniffles from a newcomer.

[thislittlepiggy]

Wow! Wish I found you guys sooner. This is great!

[Rachel's Cavy Cove]

April 28th is the best! It's my birthday too. This forum is amazing. There are lots of related forums that Teresa supports that I am sure you will find great too. If you want to learn something you can do a forum search and almost always get an answer. This site has been a lifeline for me. Not only for piggies but to help with the rough spots in your life. I hope you enjoy your time here. Best of luck with those piggies!

[jdomans]

I had Polly for about 6 weeks when I got Jenny. I did floortime with veggies and hay and the girls have been together ever since. I have 9 sows and 1 neutered boar in a 28 sq. ft. cage. Floortime intros with veggies and hay work great.
Get your next pig from a rescue. Good rescues won't let a pig go until they know it is healthy and has been treated for mites. 7 of my pigs have come from SC GP Rescue and each time I just put a grid divider in the cage. For about 4 days to a week the pigs could interact through the grids and by the time we had intros it was not bad at all. (please note I did not have to quarantine because I knew my adopted pigs were healthy. My boar came from a young lady in FL and I did quarantine him as well as have a vet check)

[thislittlepiggy]

Thank you. I'm spending some time on the site getting to know the rules and gathering lots of informaton. I send out my apologies if I have begun in the wrong way. I sure appreciate all the help so far. I'm very excited about my soon to be new home for my baby. I be by often!

[jdomans]

You have no reason to apologize at all. You have started out like most of us here did. No you are here and that is what matters. We look forward to hearing updates on your new pig and the soon to be cage and friend!!

[nonamian_girl]

Check out Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten. to find a homeless pig near you!

[Susan9608]

April 28th is indeed a very good day. I had my very first date with my husband on April 28th, 2001.

[thislittlepiggy]

Well...seems Teal'c was born on a very good day! I can't believe how big she has gotten compared to the day she came home. We have been around her from almost day one of her birth. I am Mom and she knows Dad. Even knows Dads van when it pulls into the driveway! He's the chicory feeder. No doubt they have excellent hearing. I have another question. About bedding. May I ask it here or do I need to go to another forum?

[thislittlepiggy]

found my answer!