I'm new to your forum (unless you count lurking around for awhile - haha!) but not a new piggie mom. I've had "Piggie" (a really original name don't you think?) about 18 months now and my Avatar is a picture of him. We took Piggie in from a friend who was relocating to Germany. The friend bought him at a pet store and was treating him according to their recommendations. Needless to say when he came to live with us in his small store bought cage, I did research on the Internet and found the CavyCages website. Piggie has had a 2x3 C&C home almost from the beginning.
I have to credit your forum for correcting some of my own errors I've made in feeding, etc. We have fed Piggie vegetables from the beginning -- his favorites are red/green bell peppers, carrots, and parsley. He's also had unlimited supplies of Timothy hay year round and fresh bluegrass from our yard throughout our long growing season here in the Southwest. My "perfect yard" husband is actually cultivating a patch of dandelions just for Piggie because they are another favorite. My mistakes involved feeding pellets mixed with other things and not making sure the pellets were Timothy based. I also fed Piggie yogurt drops for vitamin C supplement until he refused to eat them (he's smarter than me) and I started reading your forum looking for options. We are now feeding Piggie Timothy pellets (he's still getting used to them) and don't give a vitamin C supplement at this time. We're just being more careful and complete with his vegetables and limited fruit feedings. I'm hoping the fact we've fed him vegetables and Timothy hay from the beginning will outweigh some of the feeding errors I've made in the long run.
Piggie is very laid back -- doesn't say much in his cage but is very vocal when being held. He loves to gurgle and is very generous with his piggie kisses. We're weighing our options in bringing a second piggie into our home. There is a wonderful guinea pig rescue within 15 miles of our house, so that's where we will go when we're ready. Their website is SaveACavy.com if you want to take a look.
Again, thanks for all the help you've given me so far. I get excited every time I see the message "You MAY post" now instead of seeing "You MAY NOT post". HaHa!
I have to credit your forum for correcting some of my own errors I've made in feeding, etc. We have fed Piggie vegetables from the beginning -- his favorites are red/green bell peppers, carrots, and parsley. He's also had unlimited supplies of Timothy hay year round and fresh bluegrass from our yard throughout our long growing season here in the Southwest. My "perfect yard" husband is actually cultivating a patch of dandelions just for Piggie because they are another favorite. My mistakes involved feeding pellets mixed with other things and not making sure the pellets were Timothy based. I also fed Piggie yogurt drops for vitamin C supplement until he refused to eat them (he's smarter than me) and I started reading your forum looking for options. We are now feeding Piggie Timothy pellets (he's still getting used to them) and don't give a vitamin C supplement at this time. We're just being more careful and complete with his vegetables and limited fruit feedings. I'm hoping the fact we've fed him vegetables and Timothy hay from the beginning will outweigh some of the feeding errors I've made in the long run.
Piggie is very laid back -- doesn't say much in his cage but is very vocal when being held. He loves to gurgle and is very generous with his piggie kisses. We're weighing our options in bringing a second piggie into our home. There is a wonderful guinea pig rescue within 15 miles of our house, so that's where we will go when we're ready. Their website is SaveACavy.com if you want to take a look.
Again, thanks for all the help you've given me so far. I get excited every time I see the message "You MAY post" now instead of seeing "You MAY NOT post". HaHa!