About a month ago, I got my first guinea pig. I can't remember what breed she is, but Cricket is blonde and white and has long, smooth fur. She was about four weeks when I got her, so she should be about 2 months old now. She's grown quite a bit since I got her already...is this what is feels like to be a mother?!?!? :|
This isn't the very first pig my family has owned, but it's the first one that is exclusively mine. My sister has had three pigs in the past, but never really knew how to take care of them properly. I'm here to make sure I know as much as I possibly can about guinea pigs ASAP.
My first issue is, well...financial. As a 17-year-old, it's hard for me to find a real job. I work as a lifeguard during the summer and Tim Horton's a few times a week year-round. The combination of these jobs makes pretty decent money, but not quite enough to juggle pig stuff and college stuff.
My first problem would be the cage. Cricket's cage is about 2ft×2ft (30cm×30cm) and is the same cage used for the last three pigs, so it's quite old. I'm hoping to get her a new one, so if you guys could recommend some sizes, that would be fantastic. I'm currently using simple paper bedding (I've heard other kinds cause respiratory problems?) layed down about an inch thick. She has an edible pigloo, made of alfalfa and honey, since past pigs have gotten sick from chewing on the plastic ones. She chews on it quite often and seems to enjoy it. Also in her cage is a simple food bowl, a water bottle and a salt lick. She also has a carrot-shaped chew toy weaved out of wood and hay, which she's eaten almost all of. If you guys have any suggestions for what else to put in her cage, that would be fantastic.
My second question is the diet. Right now I'm feeding her basic kibble and one or two barely biscuits a day (she really likes these). I usually give her some fresh foods too; a bite or two of a banana or apple, a small piece of carrot, that kind of thing. I also give her a handful of alfalfa hay before I leave for school in the morning and refill her water bottle with fresh water twice a day (when I get up and before I go to bed). If you have any suggestions for what else she should be eating, I'd appreciate it very much!
Third stop: hygene. Cricket it very good about keeping herself clean; she grooms consistently and never smalls bad or anything. I'm not sure how to bathe her, so I haven't been because I don't want her to get sick. Sometimes I'll take a wet comb and run it through her fur (there's a spot on her back she can't quite reach to groom), but I need to know how to bathe her for real if you guys have any tips.
A fourth is bonding with her. She seems pretty content with me, though she still runs away when I try to take her out of her cage. She makes purring noises when I'm petting her, but it's hard tell whether it's because she's happy or annoyed. I spend quite a lot of time with her, but I wonder if I'm spending too much time with her and it's making her anxious?
And one last question--cage mates. Cricket does seem awfully lonely. I know her cage isn't big enough for two guinea pigs, so how big should it be? I've read up on how to introduce pigs, so I don't need any advice on that.
If you have any advice, any at all, I would really appreciate it. I love Cricket a lot and want her to be as happy as possible. Thank you for reading :3
This isn't the very first pig my family has owned, but it's the first one that is exclusively mine. My sister has had three pigs in the past, but never really knew how to take care of them properly. I'm here to make sure I know as much as I possibly can about guinea pigs ASAP.
My first issue is, well...financial. As a 17-year-old, it's hard for me to find a real job. I work as a lifeguard during the summer and Tim Horton's a few times a week year-round. The combination of these jobs makes pretty decent money, but not quite enough to juggle pig stuff and college stuff.
My first problem would be the cage. Cricket's cage is about 2ft×2ft (30cm×30cm) and is the same cage used for the last three pigs, so it's quite old. I'm hoping to get her a new one, so if you guys could recommend some sizes, that would be fantastic. I'm currently using simple paper bedding (I've heard other kinds cause respiratory problems?) layed down about an inch thick. She has an edible pigloo, made of alfalfa and honey, since past pigs have gotten sick from chewing on the plastic ones. She chews on it quite often and seems to enjoy it. Also in her cage is a simple food bowl, a water bottle and a salt lick. She also has a carrot-shaped chew toy weaved out of wood and hay, which she's eaten almost all of. If you guys have any suggestions for what else to put in her cage, that would be fantastic.
My second question is the diet. Right now I'm feeding her basic kibble and one or two barely biscuits a day (she really likes these). I usually give her some fresh foods too; a bite or two of a banana or apple, a small piece of carrot, that kind of thing. I also give her a handful of alfalfa hay before I leave for school in the morning and refill her water bottle with fresh water twice a day (when I get up and before I go to bed). If you have any suggestions for what else she should be eating, I'd appreciate it very much!
Third stop: hygene. Cricket it very good about keeping herself clean; she grooms consistently and never smalls bad or anything. I'm not sure how to bathe her, so I haven't been because I don't want her to get sick. Sometimes I'll take a wet comb and run it through her fur (there's a spot on her back she can't quite reach to groom), but I need to know how to bathe her for real if you guys have any tips.
A fourth is bonding with her. She seems pretty content with me, though she still runs away when I try to take her out of her cage. She makes purring noises when I'm petting her, but it's hard tell whether it's because she's happy or annoyed. I spend quite a lot of time with her, but I wonder if I'm spending too much time with her and it's making her anxious?
And one last question--cage mates. Cricket does seem awfully lonely. I know her cage isn't big enough for two guinea pigs, so how big should it be? I've read up on how to introduce pigs, so I don't need any advice on that.
If you have any advice, any at all, I would really appreciate it. I love Cricket a lot and want her to be as happy as possible. Thank you for reading :3