Typical, I guess.

[Mhera]

Parents fell for the "lonely sad little guinea pig" at the pet store. Someone returned her to the store alone, my parents bought her alone. They also got the beginner "My first home" kit, 2 floors (sturdy plastic ramp), cage floor is 30x18. I've had her for 3 weeks, she has developed mites (going to vet tomorrow for meds, found out what to get on another thread). I also know that this type of cage is a "glorified litter box" and after watching her be bored for 3 weeks I agree. I would've made her a new cage and returned the one we bought had I known then what I know now. I am stuck. I can't drive, have no money, with a sick guinea pig, can't get her a bigger cage, can't get her a piggy friend, can't be a very good friend since i'm in school most of the day. Parents are being stubborn. They don't understand that I can't take care of her alone, and she's not happy where she is. I have no idea how to convince them to believe me in that she deserves a better life. Please help :guilty:

 

[sophistacavy]

Show your parents this website's home page where it explains all about C&C cages, and go to where it says "Buy a C&C cage" on the left hand side. Maybe after they browse the homepage, you can get them to buy you one of the C&C cage kits by Susan. And, the homepage also gives detailed, good advice for finding the materials on your own and how to prepare them to build the c+c cage, if your parents would rather do it that way.

By most of the day, do you mean like about 8am-3pm or so? B/c many people on here go to school, and don't have problems (that I'm aware of) with the piggies feeling alone when they're in school all day. People who go to college even have piggies, too! You would just have to commit to spending time with her after school. Read the forum on floor time, because if you do that w/ her every day after school, that would help her too. You can sit with her on a blanket on your lap while you watch TV or a movie, too!

Maybe you can show your parents the info on this website about guinea pigs requiring the companionship of at least one other piggie. Also, try showing them Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig and Guinea Pig Education, Care, Rescue and Adoption at Cavy Spirit

Good luck! Best of wishes to you and your guinea pig!

 

[Mhera]

oh, I have another question. Daily I give my guinea pig a handful of new timothy hay, but she doesn't usually eat all of it by the next day. Should I leave it in there and put another handfull on top or take it out? It's not getting moldy or anything, not a huge stack building up in the corner, just a thin layer on her floor. I'm thinking this is ok, since hay is on the list of "litter to use", but I'd rather ask someone with GP experience.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

They graze through the hay and pick out pieces. Keep giving them fresh handfuls throughout the day. They won't eat every single piece (well ,unless you buy kleenmama!).

 

[TDGuinea]

You could post a new thread and just tell people to write something on the thread and once you have a lot show it to your parents.
I'll help you out if you make a thread and yes this website, guineapigcages.com is really good!

Also, how much do you take it out and hold it and give it floor time?

 

[hueyeats]

You could post a new thread and just tell people to write something on the thread and once you have a lot show it to your parents.
I'll help you out if you make a thread and yes this website, guineapigcages.com is really good!

Also, how much do you take it out and hold it and give it floor time?

The more time spent the closer they becomes to you.

My daily routine includes 3 hrs min free roam time in the day & 30 mins min each pig lap time watching piggy youtube & singing christmas songs with me at night before bed.

I adore spending time with my piggies.

 

[Mhera]

Took her to the vet this morning, I correctly diagnosed her with ear mites, just like I saw on the forums it took about 3 weeks to show up. I caught it early, dad took us to the vet, told the vet what she needed and walked out spending $14.50. when we got home I totally cleaned out her cage, litter, toys, food, water, everything, gave her the medicine and let her relax for a while.

When I give her floor time it's usually about 20 minutes, 15 her wandering around, the other 5 me trying to get her to go home.

Just spent about 2 hours holding her, we watched Starwars. She ate apple from my hand and nearly fell asleep on me, but the movie ended and I had to get up. She seems to like her fur being rubbed backwards, when I do she stretches out and relaxes. Really wish I could get her a friend and bigger house, but that will be number one on my christmas list since my parents are procrastinating right now.

Kinda newbish question, are guinea pigs noctournal?

 

[AnmlLvr14]

In the wild, I believe they are more crepuscular (meaning they are more active at dusk and dawn).

 

[BubuCandyBlue]

Kinda newbish question, are guinea pigs noctournal?

Kinda yes, they are mostly active at dawn, and during the night. In the wild, they are more protected by predators this way. My old piggie was active like that, and my new ones too. When we sleep they usually run around a lot and play, because I can hear them. In the morning of course I find shavings all around the cage.

 

[sophistacavy]

I heard they were diurnal. I don't think they're supposed to ever buckle down and sleep like a hamster or even a rat would, but I think they might take 2-minute cat naps. They don't ever really "sleep" like we think of sleep. Kinda amazing.....wish I had half their energy ~_~

 

[sophistacavy]

Kinda yes, they are mostly active at dawn, and during the night. In the wild, they are more protected by predators this way. My old piggie was active like that, and my new ones too. When we sleep they usually run around a lot and play, because I can hear them. In the morning of course I find shavings all around the cage.

Ohhhhhh my gosh, do I ever know what you're talking about by the shavings surprise in the morning....and its like you wake up, get out of bed, look at them, and you're like: "Dang. You girls have a couple of boys over last night or something?" Mine must be like little vampires, they get so excited when I go to bed.....oh hey, don't use shavings, they stick to fleece like madness! Try Carefresh if you can afford it, it still sticks but not as bad, and it's softer and probably causes less damage to the fleece.

Oh, you gotta hear this one, BubuCandyBlue: This one time I was cleaning/renovating their cage, I decided to try this idea I came up with for the 2nd time. I thought that if I could recycle a cardboard box by using it as a sort of "kitchen/ litter box" to keep hay off the fleece, then that would be great. It worked so well, the 1st time, that I wanted to try it a 2nd time once I came upon another appropriate box. Well, this time I made the mistake of cutting the entrance too low, and I thought it would hold, but.....one morning I woke up (they're in my bedroom), and the lip that held all the carfresh, hay, poops, soiled carefresh in there, had been knocked down flat, and the things I just described were over-flowing out onto the fleece, and was practically everywhere:yuck: . I looked at the girls, and they just started getting all excited, and walked all over the "nasty-stuff-on-the-fleece-thats-not-normally-supposed-to-be-on-there-in-such-large-quantities" w/o a care in the world, like they didn't even notice it was there. They were wheeking so much and popcorning all over the mess that I really didn't even feel upset. I just cleaned it up (with some difficulty), and they came over and tasted the hand-trowel, and sniffed the mess, and tried to hitch a ride on the hand-trowel:silly: . They're so carefree, I love them so much!!

 

[BubuCandyBlue]

I heard they were diurnal. I don't think they're supposed to ever buckle down and sleep like a hamster or even a rat would, but I think they might take 2-minute cat naps. They don't ever really "sleep" like we think of sleep. Kinda amazing.....wish I had half their energy ~_~

I know what you mean. I had rats and hamsters. They def. don't have the same behavior/habits.
My old piggie snoozed with his eyes closed. The ones I have now rarely close their eyes during sleep, maybe only when they have the lap time, they close their eyes half way (Alvin more then little Theodore), like a purring cat that gives you that look of she is in heaven. Otherwise, they make a big deal of any bag they hear, or knife cutting smth., or the almighty fridge, and then run around like crazy and chase each other, and popcorn, and make everything possible to wake us up even during the night with their play. I usually whistle, and they kinda recognize it, and they calm down for a bit. Silly boys!

 

[Plague.Jester]

Man, that is an adorable story Sophistacavy. I wish my pig would popcorn. Maybe he will when I get him a friend.

 

[BubuCandyBlue]

Ohhhhhh my gosh, do I ever know what you're talking about by the shavings surprise in the morning....

Very funny. I use aspen shavings and Carefresh Ultra in the problem areas, and I have fleece on the upper decks. Just finished the new cage https://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/13252
I really don't mind either for my boys to make a huge mess, I guess I am used to it, since my other pig did it too. I keep the shavings down because they like to poop in there more (they poop anywhere but anyways, they have some spots in there they like) and run around in it. And mine move things around the cage all the time, the hidey houses, the food bowl, and chewed the cardboard on the upper deck (when the cage wasn't ready with coro). They also like to make fun of me, after I clean the shavings around the cage, they get it all out again. They look at me cleaning down my knees, I guess they say look mommy is venerating the cage again. Oh little brats as we call them, they are so spoiled. When you see shaving in the morning all over the place, and then their "angel" faces like good morning mommy, feeeeeed us, feeeeeeed us, got foooooood? you forget everything and spoil them even more.

 

[Mhera]

Floor time, ugh! whenever I take her out for floor time, she runs straight for her cage. If I close it (I have another little box with hay for her) she goes nuts trying to chew the bars of her cage so she can get in. When I try to pick her up, she takes off and hides. Is floor time worth scaring her so much?

 

[BubuCandyBlue]

Floor time, ugh! whenever I take her out for floor time, she runs straight for her cage. If I close it (I have another little box with hay for her) she goes nuts trying to chew the bars of her cage so she can get in. When I try to pick her up, she takes off and hides. Is floor time worth scaring her so much?

She will get used in time, encourage her and have lots of patience. And treats of course!

 

[mummy2niamhy]

maybe put some veg on the floor for her to eat to encourage her to stay out and be more comfortable?

 

[hueyeats]

Treats... hand feeding treats is key when you are bonding with them.

Piggies love their foods and it will probably help too if you chomp a bite on their fav. foods then feed it to them to show you eat the same stuff as they do.

If they are afraid, its your job to put their heart at ease!
Everytime you feed your piggy... make noise so they know its food time. Before putting down the food... make sure she sniffs your hands to remember your scent. When you want to hold them... have them smell your hands first before herding them into your arms.

Also... you need to take charge 7 should never shy from your piggy's nibbles (unless they chomp down and bite that is). It is how they know you (from tasting as well as scent).

You know they will never bite you unless you really did something to hurt your pig & cause it distress. You should not show 'fear" of the nibble or your piggy will "nibble" you even more often to make you let her do things her way (like to escape being held).

I also find that watching youtubes during laptime with my piggies help me with bonding with them. I love the ones that show the hooman slaves totally gaga over their piggy like "the most laid back piggy" or "knut" or "the most cuddly guinea pig in the world".

Even my most freedom loving pig "Bubbles" will settle down in "resignation" (litterally turning & doing that "making the bed" move to seek a comfy spot then lay facing the screen) and watch all the vids with me. Real cute!

Have fun bonding with your piggy... it is how you know them and how they know you too!

P.S. Talk to your pig often & keep repeating their name when you talk in soft tones to it... they will get the gist!