Hello,
I have been researching guinea pigs for a few weeks and had planned on adopting one within the next two weeks. Well...today things happened way faster than I had planned.
I have my cage design on paper, I just hadn't started shopping for supplies yet. Today, I went to a local sign shop to make sure I could buy coroplast and to the local stores to find the wire blocks. I then wanted to go to the locally owned pet store to see what types of things they sold before I placed an order online. I also thought it would be a good idea to let my girls see the guinea pigs and possibly hold a few. (Just as an aside, we are getting the pigs for them, but we in no way expect them to take total responsibility for them. We know that we are the main caregivers and feel that we are ready to do that.)
So, we got to the pet store and there were five very large cages with open tops, two or three pigs in each. There was also a rabbit-type wire cage on top with two cute little long haired pigs. Their cage was stuffed with crap but they looked very sweet. I asked the girl working there why they were in a cage and she told me that their previous owner had just dropped them off...she no longer wanted them after having them for a year. Of course, this just about made me cry, so I asked if they were available. She said yes and that she would be relieved because they didn't need any more at the store...she said she had three in the back "ready to pop" and a few in the cages that were preggers! :sad:
I asked to take them out and we did, one at a time in a corner of the store on the floor. They were very affectionate and seemed to really take to us. The employee told me that they were both girls which is what I wanted and that I could take the cage with me.
I swear I stood in the store for an hour thinking about it. I couldn't bear the thought that they would be put in the cages with the other guinea pigs, some male and end up having babies after babies.
The clencher happened, though when I went to the cage and one of the little piggies was staring at me...at that point, I knew they were mine! : )
I didn't want the cage, but I needed something until I could get the big cage built. Of course, I have bad luck shopping and even though I then went to every store around to find the wire stacking blocks, I could not find any. The bad thing is, I had a ton of those things and sold them in a yard sale last year!
When we got home, I cleaned the cage with hot soapy water, put in carefresh bedding and a new water bottle, a new food dish, and a corner litter pan. I also removed the salt lick and the string of carrot shaped chewies that hung from the top.
I bought the most expensive food thinking it would be best, but after reading here, I am not so sure. It is ecotrition brand and they seem to love it, which makes me think it may be unhealthy for them. They had iceberg lettuce, apples, and oranges at the store and I gave them some Kaytee timothy hay that I purchased and some romaine when they were settled here at home. I am getting ready to place an order with Kleenmama for hay and pellets.
I guess I will either need to go to the next city or order the wire blocks online.
I hope I did the right thing. I paid the pet store, which sucks, but I did adopt a pair that had only been in their possession for a few hours. To be honest, I was having a hard time finding any to adopt around here, so I took it as a sign.
I would like to know if there is anything I am missing. Because I am starting fresh, I would like to do it up right. What other essentials should I have?
Any and all info will be very much appreciated!
Thank you so much!
I have been researching guinea pigs for a few weeks and had planned on adopting one within the next two weeks. Well...today things happened way faster than I had planned.
I have my cage design on paper, I just hadn't started shopping for supplies yet. Today, I went to a local sign shop to make sure I could buy coroplast and to the local stores to find the wire blocks. I then wanted to go to the locally owned pet store to see what types of things they sold before I placed an order online. I also thought it would be a good idea to let my girls see the guinea pigs and possibly hold a few. (Just as an aside, we are getting the pigs for them, but we in no way expect them to take total responsibility for them. We know that we are the main caregivers and feel that we are ready to do that.)
So, we got to the pet store and there were five very large cages with open tops, two or three pigs in each. There was also a rabbit-type wire cage on top with two cute little long haired pigs. Their cage was stuffed with crap but they looked very sweet. I asked the girl working there why they were in a cage and she told me that their previous owner had just dropped them off...she no longer wanted them after having them for a year. Of course, this just about made me cry, so I asked if they were available. She said yes and that she would be relieved because they didn't need any more at the store...she said she had three in the back "ready to pop" and a few in the cages that were preggers! :sad:
I asked to take them out and we did, one at a time in a corner of the store on the floor. They were very affectionate and seemed to really take to us. The employee told me that they were both girls which is what I wanted and that I could take the cage with me.
I swear I stood in the store for an hour thinking about it. I couldn't bear the thought that they would be put in the cages with the other guinea pigs, some male and end up having babies after babies.
The clencher happened, though when I went to the cage and one of the little piggies was staring at me...at that point, I knew they were mine! : )
I didn't want the cage, but I needed something until I could get the big cage built. Of course, I have bad luck shopping and even though I then went to every store around to find the wire stacking blocks, I could not find any. The bad thing is, I had a ton of those things and sold them in a yard sale last year!
When we got home, I cleaned the cage with hot soapy water, put in carefresh bedding and a new water bottle, a new food dish, and a corner litter pan. I also removed the salt lick and the string of carrot shaped chewies that hung from the top.
I bought the most expensive food thinking it would be best, but after reading here, I am not so sure. It is ecotrition brand and they seem to love it, which makes me think it may be unhealthy for them. They had iceberg lettuce, apples, and oranges at the store and I gave them some Kaytee timothy hay that I purchased and some romaine when they were settled here at home. I am getting ready to place an order with Kleenmama for hay and pellets.
I guess I will either need to go to the next city or order the wire blocks online.
I hope I did the right thing. I paid the pet store, which sucks, but I did adopt a pair that had only been in their possession for a few hours. To be honest, I was having a hard time finding any to adopt around here, so I took it as a sign.
I would like to know if there is anything I am missing. Because I am starting fresh, I would like to do it up right. What other essentials should I have?
Any and all info will be very much appreciated!
Thank you so much!