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Small pets

Where do your piggies live?

26 replies

Aspiemum2 · 06/02/2013 17:43

Just that really, what room do your piggies live in? Also what do you use for their home?

We've decided to keep guinea pigs again, seems they are an essential part of life as I don't feel right not having any Sad

I haven't found ones yet as I've got my heart set on a particular breed so I'm just sorting out their home.

We have 2 hutches for summer and a v. Large run but they will be inside for a great deal of the time.

I am fairly old school and always used a cage, I have a huge one that I can use but lately I've been reading things referring to c&c cages - what are they?

I need something suitable for the lounge where twin toddlers can't get at them!

Any ideas?

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MariusEarlobe · 06/02/2013 17:46

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Aspiemum2 · 06/02/2013 18:38

How old is your dd? Do they not disturb her at all?
My dd is keen to have them in her room and she has the space but I worry that they'll keep her awake at night

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/02/2013 19:07

We have 2 adult boar brothers (we got them as one year olds so didn't have to worry about baby hogs)
Ours have an indoor 4'x2' cage for winter nights.It's in the small bedroom, away from the radiator, and with a duvet over to con them into being quiet.Grin

When I bought them,I looked at cages/hutches but they all seemed really flimsy. I thought about putting them in the DC old playhouse for shelter, but then thought "Why not let them have the Playhouse"?
It's floorspace is 5'5" x5'7". They've got a bit haybox with a 'lid'. There's a carpeted shallow ramp to let them go up on the carpeted lid.Of course they never climb it, but they do use the ramp to hide under .There's a selection of boxes to hide in. A wooden floor on a raised plinth.
At the moment they've got a little oilfilled radiator.There's a light (that's for me) and the door has a mesh and heavy gauge wire/wood screen door.One of the windows can come out and is lined inside the gap with screen,heavy mesh and a heavy metal grid.

They've got a rabbit run (IIRC 4'x8' approx) for summer.At the moment it's in the garage as a spare run.

They are spoiled rotten!

I find with mine they need the space.It's one the the main causes of Boar Discord (that and lack of food) if they don't have room to escape each other.
They go out in their Pighouse every day bar 2 heavy snow days (but that was because I was out and about all day and worried about them)

WRT breeds- IME the simpler the better. I've got a big,chunky smooth boar and a smaller part Abby.boy.
The Abby is slim, I try to keep his weight up.He's got a much shorter more chiselled nose.
The more 'fancy' the breed, potentially more problems.

TBH, I wouldn't have got boars but my DD really wanted a male hog. Which was why we got them. WinkAnd they are lovely, greedy, snuggly, messy little monsters.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/02/2013 19:10

Mine were in DD bedroom for 2 nights for Guy Fawkes. They kept her awake, she kept getting up to cuddle/chat (and woke me at 5am to tellme they were fighting -they had eaten all their food)

And the hay does smell without question. I tried hay cookies but really they prefer a nice cardboard box stuffed with hay .

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Sleepingbunnies · 06/02/2013 19:17

Ours are 2 Girlies who are 4.5 years old now... We got them when they were about 12 weeks :)

They live in a very large outdoor hutch. They come in when the weather gets v cold...

I love those girls and am desperate to adopt another little boy who I know is being neglected but it's just not happening at the mo :(

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/02/2013 19:26

I was going to post and see if there was any progress with the little boy's owners sleeping Sad
It's bally freezing here.I'm just going to get our boys ready for supper.
It's so unfair that he's stuck in a shed alone.

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Sleepingbunnies · 06/02/2013 19:51

It is indeed 70 and i'v asked for him twice more but am getting ignored now :(

My girls are snuggled in a blanket on my lap, just had some cucumber and now they are pleasantly stuffed :)

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Curlybrunette · 06/02/2013 20:34

My 2 girls live in the playroom which is next to ds's bedroom. I've never heard them in the night, they will wheek sometimes when we come to bed if they decided the pellets, 2 lots of veges (7.30am and 6 pm ish) and mahoosive pile of hay isn't enough so I get them a little snack to see them through the night!

They did live in the lounge for a bit and the smell of the hay drove dh mad so I got some dust free hay which is expensive, but it doesn't smell as strong. It does seem to last though, the box was way smaller than I expected but lasts over a month as it should at £9 a pop

We've had them since November so no outdoor time yet, at the moment they are in a 4 x 2 C&C and then come downstairs for free run of the lounge most evenings. They'll go out in a hutch/run for the day times when the weather gets better.

I bought a midwest habitat cage but I fairly quickly moved to a C&C. I just didn't feel it was big enough for them. Betty started cage biting which I took as frustration.

C&C stands for cubes and correx, so metal grids about 35cm square, often sold as storage cubes, and a correx base to line the grids. The advantage is that you can build the grids in to different shaped to fit the area you have. An area of at least 4 grids by 2 grids is recommended for 2 piggies. I feel thats a good space for the girls.
I bought the C&C grids off ebay for about £25, and spent about £15 on a big piece of lino. I couldn't get any correx at a reasonable price and the lino does the job, I've sort of curved it up at the sides.

I go on the guinea pig forum which has a gallery of people's C&C set ups. I saw on there today a link to a website that sends you the C&C set up, so grids and correx base. A 4 x 2 was £60 which I think would be worth it so have it all done for you.

My C&C is open at the top but you could make a lid out of grids, and you can add 2nd levels etc. Some people have a 'hay loft' ever so poshe, my girls don't have such a luxury yet

HTH
x

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damppatchnot · 06/02/2013 20:39

Mine live in workshop at end of garden. Insulated and heated in large pens and the boys in large 5ft hutches

Got one due to have piglets anytime so gave her a hot water bottle which she's leaning on for comfort bless

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alemci · 06/02/2013 20:47

My boy is in the kitchen by the back door in an indoor cage. he will go outside in his hutch when the weather warms up. It is by the back door outside.

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FernieB · 07/02/2013 08:08

My boys are inside, in what is supposed to be the dining room (no-one except them eats in there). It connects straight to the conservatory and they have a run around in there daily. They live in a large indoor cage and a blanket is thrown over at night to encourage them to go to bed. We have a galleried landing and so can see them from upstairs (and hear them). I don't notice any smell from the hay, but maybe I'm just used to it. They were supposed to be outside pigs but as soon as it got slightly cold the first year, we brought them in. They do have a large outside run for the summer which they love and I love as I hardly ever have to mow the lawn.

The rabbit lives in a similar set up in the same room, although he is let out every morning and allowed to roam free until bedtime.

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Aspiemum2 · 07/02/2013 13:14

Thanks for all your answers. I see what the cage set ups are. Will probably stick to my cage as its roomy enough and they'll be out and about plenty.
You've sort of confirmed my fears 70, I think my dd would be getting them out for cuddles.

Breed wise, I'm just after teddys - nothing too fancy. Have previously had shelties and Abby's. mind you there's a cute texel rescue who's caught my eye

Feel very Envy of you all, quite impatient for some piggies but in 30 years of piggie keeping (bar a few piggie free years) I've always craved a teddy. Had one a long time ago but he was an elderly boy when he came to me so only with me a short while. Really want to hold out but think I may cave soon!

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thethreeblondies · 07/02/2013 14:51

Our my piggies are inside at the mo, Ive got them in an xtra large dog crate, it was supposed to be a temporary measure but it works! Dh has put some narrow skirting board inside to stop them kicking hay out then shouting at me to give it back! Have various boxes or large pipes to hide in and have a blanket over the top to try keep them quiet ay night, only problem is from their corner they can see me open the fridge or food cupboard! Even dh has said he will miss them when they go back outside! DD takes them in the washing basket to her room (while I get to clean them out!) and they sit nicely watching her play x

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Aspiemum2 · 08/02/2013 20:08

Eek! I found some GrinGrinGrin
They're not available yet but getting them next week! So excited GrinGrin

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/02/2013 20:36

Aspie Grin
Are they baby hoglets?
Boy/Girl
Colour
Flavour?

You need to give us all the details when they are with you and..................................PHOTOS

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Aspiemum2 · 08/02/2013 21:00

Girls, brown teddys with a dash of white. Just a few months old but still in quarantine (not been ill, just standard precaution)
Went back for a second look at the texel but he'd gone and they had a couple of pairs in so even better as they're already bonded Smile and female which I prefer anyway as there won't be any spats famous last words

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SconeInSixtySeconds · 08/02/2013 21:06

Ooh we have got a baby teddy and she is so cute! Dd is intrigued by her curly whiskers. Grin

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Aspiemum2 · 08/02/2013 21:07

It is utterly daft how excited I am, the dc's aren't even as excited as me!

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Aspiemum2 · 13/02/2013 13:28

They are here! We actually ended up with 3, the 2 I mentioned and a 3rd girl who is grey & white.
They are settling in really well and starting to get more confident at exploring, although all trips out 'the nest' are currently made through the hay tube!
One of them seems to have not been handled much so taking it easy with her but the other 2 seem quite tame.

Will try and get pics when I can and figure out how to add them Smile

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Curlybrunette · 13/02/2013 20:38

Awww how lovely, and 3!

I sometimes think about getting a 3rd but I'd need it to be able to live with my 2 girlies and they are so settled together I'd hate to do anything to upset that. I defo don't have room for a seperate cage if they didn't get on.

Can't wait to see pics, I think people use flickr or photobucket, sign up, upload your pic and then use the link from that page to post on here. I've never done it but believe that's how it's done.

x

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BonkeyMollocks · 15/02/2013 13:06

marking place for pics Wink

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/02/2013 17:04

Grin three girls - lovely.
It'll be really nice to see their piganalities develop as they become more confident. There'll be one that's the Boss Lady and she'll be first to the food, quick to keep the others in their place.
Once they've sorted themselves out they really flourish with their 'pecking order'.
(GP2 waits patiently while gP1 goes into the haybox to check for adders and scorpions y'know. GP1 does a huge puddle of boar pee to mark his territory. Then GP2 runs through the pee ) Confused

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Aspiemum2 · 15/02/2013 17:21

I think the boss might be established - she even squeaked at me to let me know the food had run out.
She's the one always foraging about and the one who purrs when you pet her.

I had the shy one out today - she is suspiciously plump at the rear Shock I shall have to keep an eye on that

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/02/2013 19:40

Oooooh plump as in Too Many Pies Plump or Plump as in Harbouring a Few Extra Passengers Plump?

You'll need to ask the Rescue if they were kept with boars at any time (and work out what will happen to the piglets)
Hopefully she's just porky .........Shock

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Aspiemum2 · 16/02/2013 22:26

Here's hoping 70! Whenever I keep guinea pigs I end up overrun - people seem to think that they can just offload them on me when they get bored (and I always end up taking them and half the time they turn out to be bloody pregnant Angry)

They've all had a thorough health check before being rehomed but easily missed if its early days.

Time will tell but I really just hope she's a bit greedy - babies are cute and all but she's not much more than a baby herself.

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