Thinking of...

[Anubis]

Hi,

I'm (obviously) Anubis, and I own a hamster, Toffee. I've been wanting piggies for a long time, and just as I really want either a piggie or a hamster, my friend wants to give two away.

As you've also probably guessed, I want these two piggies. They're both girls, Rosie and Sweetie, and they're sisters. They're two years old, and come with a hutch and a run (which I'll be paying for, but I won't pay for the piggies). My friend wants to give them away because she finds them too much hassle, and she's slightly allergic to them. She wants to find someone she knows, and naturally I said I'd try and take them on board.

I desperately want these piggies, but the problem is this: I've never had them before. Never ever, in my whole life. I've had hamsters, and I'm experienced with them, but I've had no other pets apart from fish (and hamsters, obviously). My mum and I have had no experience with them, and she doesn't really want to have them because she doesn't want to do the work - but I've assured her that I'll do the work, as this is my chance to prove myself to her.

I just wanted to ask the following question: Is it a sensible idea to take these piggies on board when I've had none before? I want what's best for the pigs, of course, but an oppotunity like this probably won't come around again, because I'm not allowed a new guniea pig because when I leave for university I'd have to take it with me. My friend will be around to give me starting tips and such, but I wanted an honest answer as to whether it's a good idea.

Thanks tons.

 

[Moxie]

Read up on guinea pigs, there is tons of info here. https://guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html
Is another great site for guinea pig info. Also if you do get the guinea pigs think about making them a C&C cage. When you say they come with a hutch, it an outside hutch? It is best advised not to keep guinea pigs outside. Well that’s about all I have to say. I am not a piggy expert so other people can give you some more advice.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

It is advised to not keep them outside. Build them a 2x4 C&C inside and they wil be much happier.

Follow that link that Moxie gave you. Also see www.cavyspirit.com, www.guineapigcages.com, and www.guinealynx.com.

 

[Anubis]

My friend keeps her guinea pigs outside, so I'm assuming that yes, it is an outside hutch.

How would I build a 2x4 C&C? Would it be big enough? I live in the UK, would the resources be available to me if I did have to time to build a C&C?

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Cubes will be hard to find, correx (what coroplast is called in the UK), however should be relitively easy.

Read this thread for another option: https://guineapigcages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5998

Read this: https://guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm

This: https://guineapigcages.com/types.htm

And this: https://guineapigcages.com/howto.htm

They dimmensions are on the last page, a 2x4 is 56" x 27", which is perfect for two pigs. But the bigger the better.

 

[Anubis]

Thanks for the links.

I'll probably look to buy a cage first - I know it'll be £100+, but I'd rather do that then make a cage that isn't good, because I'm really bad with my hands. I'm sure those cages are great, but I just can't make them. ¬_¬

I'll try and make sure it's bigger than 7 sq feet, and I won't trust the size that the cage measurements on the outside of the package. I know that the pigs need quite a bit of room, so I'll give them that (also because there are two, I want them to be better off than they are now (they're not played with at all because my friend is allergic, and they've got an outside hutch)).

 

[Slap Maxwell]

These cages are REALLY easy to make. You will probably only spend £30-£50, and the pet store cages are WAY to small. They don't make pet store cages any bigger than about five square feet.

 

[candi]

Yeah like slap said, if you get the cubes then it's really easy to put together. Even you can do that Liv you will just need to sort out the base which is simple too and I'm sure your dad would be willing to help a little.

 

[Anubis]

Okay, well, I'll make it a little job for after my exams. I'll try and make it in the half term. I don't want to buy a cage too small for my pigs. Hopefully my mum and dad will help me a bit - like I said, I'm not good with my hands.

 

[Anubis]

Okay, I need opinions on this hutch for two two year old pigs. Is it big enough? Is it good to keep inside (because I'm going to have it inside)? Is there enough running space?

(broken link removed)

Thanks!

 

[Slap Maxwell]

No, it dosn't seem big enough and does not list the dimmensions. I still hope that you will not be keeping them outside.

 

[Anubis]

Yes, I'm keeping them inside. I don't want them to be outside any more. My friend keeps them outside, and I don't want to. I'd rather have 'em in the house.

And, what about any of these hutches?

(broken link removed)

 

[Slap Maxwell]

They all look WAY to small. The biggest one should have been twice that size. Ask your parents about helping you build a C&C. The minnimum hutch size would have to be 2' by 4'.

 

[Anubis]

Okay, I'll probably end up building my own in the half term anyway - which is in one week! Yay! I'll probably get the cubes and cardboard, etc. at the weekend to do it, after my exams.

Also, those cages, won't two year old pigs be able to climb out of them? That's what I'm worried about. :/

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Oh, no. I have pigs from 3 months-3 years, and I have never heard of adult pigs doing it. For babies, you need to baby proof it so they don't get between the grids and coroplast. Otherwise adults won't do it.

Hutchs also have bad ventalation, so you don't want your house smelling like ammonia!

Coroplast is called correx in the UK.

 

[Anubis]

Okay. Thanks so much for your help, you've been awesome. ^.~

 

[Slap Maxwell]

No problem. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Anubis]

I probably will. I want things to be best for the pigs.

 

[Zeander]

Don't worry, the cages are easy to make! The hardest part for me was scoring and cutting the coroplast/correx. But, as long as the line is relativly straight it'll work well. The piggies don't seem to mind much.

 

[Teria]

In any case it sounds like you'll take better care of those piggies than your friend. Congrats on getting them, and of course we want to see pigtures when you have them!