HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

[paul]

HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

Going to buy two guinea pigs for my daughter. Would like to keep them in her room. She has a air conditioner in her room. Can they stay in the room with the conditioner on? And if they can should I cover them at night so that they do not get too cold. :rollin:

 

[Mish o Toma]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

[/i]Going to buy two guinea pigs for my daughter.

uh oh. That's a bad sign there. I don't know how old your daughter is, but, first and foremost, do you realize children get bored of things quite easily? and that guinea pigs live for 4-7 years often longer. That your child will be bored to death of the piggies by that time and probably will not want to clean their cage for that long, and, if you have a teen, the teen is probably going to move out soon, you realize that you might be stuck with these piggers?

Also, is your daughter going to be part of the adoption (you are adopting right?) process? Just slamming a kid with piggies is crazy. Might be a squeal for awhile, but I assure you you will end up with taking care of them (and you most likely will any ways)

Moving on, is your daughter's room the only place you have air conditioning? Piggies can do fine without AC. There was a great thread <a href="(broken link removed)" target="_new">Keeping Cool</a>

If you still insist on putting your piggers in there, then just make sure there is no draft on the cage. More than likely, if you and your daughter are comftable, so are your piggers. Most pigs can actually thrive in cooler temperatures (without any drafts) it's the hot stuff that gets to them.

 

[LisaJ429]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

I think that each child is different though. My daughter (6 years old) has two piggies and is constantly with them. She will hold them on her lap when reading, playing on the computer or watching t.v. She even helps with cleaning the cage, filling the water bottle, and feeding.

 

[Mish o Toma]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

I see. I wouldn't leave my piggies alone in the same room with any child, but that's just me. You know your daughter best. I was just warning you. A six year old is going to grow up and grow out of many things. You are going to be willing to take over cleaning and care of the piggers if this happens?

 

[LisaJ429]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

We all share the responsibility (hubby included) of cleaning the cage, etc. Actually my husband and I enjoy holding them in the evening after a stressed out day at work. We totally enjoy them and my husband has really gotten attached to them. :evil: . It is funny because my husband has his own bathroom in the basement and the piggies know when he comes down in morning and he speaks and plays with them. Then my 6 year old pays and visit with them too.

 

[2steps]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

I think that's the best way to be lisaj429

Although many children do get bored of pets, some don't. I've had pets since I was about 7 and cared for them myself. My parents aren't really animal people so they would just buy the things I needed and leave me to look after them. My sister on the other hand always got bored with her and theyy stopped her having anymore. I think most parents end up doing a lot of the care. I have 8 guinea pigs, 4 rats and 2 hamsters and 2 children who are 2 and 6. I care for the animals and try to involve them if I can so they can learn responsible and proper care for them. They help clean them, wash the bottles, bowls etc and also hold them. My son likes to brush the piggies. He has special needs and sometimes it's calming for him to sit stroking one. Emily is 2 but she can help with cleaning as I use an old hoover and she loves holding the pigs. She was unwell recently and sat with one of the boars, Cookie for ages just gently stroking him. She has grown up with animals round her so she's used to them and they are used to her. The rats all rush to the front of the cage when she's there cos she likes to give them little treats so they know she brings nice food :evil:

I think it really does depend on the child/animal and parents involved as to how well a suituation will work.

One thing that can be a problem is that if the pigs are in a childs room sickness or injury may not be noticed as soon as if they were in a more busy area of the house. Also you may not notice if they need water or more food/hay. As pigs are prey animals they don't show sypmtoms of illness often untill they are quite advanced so it's important to know them well so you can tell if something maybe wrong. They may also stay shyer for longer as they won't be around humans as much. Mine are all in our livingroom and though they were all nervous at first now they pay no attention to the tv or the kids running around or being noisy. Sometimes I think they are watching the tv!

Are you making a cc cage?

 

[2steps]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

sorry, about the air conditioning. I believe it's fine for pigs as long as it's not to cold. If your ok they properly will be fine. They mustn't get too hot though. If you need to you can freeze soda bottles of water and put them in the cage to help the piggies keep cool

 

[CavySpirit]

Re: HELP!! RE: Air Conditioning

Do yourselves a favor right from the beginning and DO NOT put them in her bedroom. Please see this page for why (from my Adopting page on my rescue site):

cavyspirit.com/nocagesinbedroom.htm

The odds of you being one of those very rare exceptions where it works great for the guinea pigs is next to nil. I will flat out not adopt out in that situation. I know how it will turn out in the long run.