My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

Who weighs the guinea-pigs and picks them up and says "Yes you're fine"?

17 replies

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/09/2013 18:08

I started a guinea-pig 'log' on the computer when we had GP1 and GP2 but I think the scales were a bit out. Their weights never seemed to tally (even weighing GP1 then again 5 minutes later gave quite a discrepancy)

My GP1 lost weight after a traumatic time in the summer (and the heat didn't help him).
Now he's putting on his body fat muscle Grin and getting chubby for winter.
GP3 seems to get heavier every time I lift him up Grin . If it wasn't for the fact I know he's a boar, I'd be worrying he was pg .

So I invested in some nice digital scales and I can put a decent sized bowl on them - unlike my old scales that had a shallow rectangular pan. I think the pigs panicked and didn't sit still either,

First weigh in of the season is tonight.....after they've finished grass eating of course Wink

OP posts:
Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/09/2013 18:09

And as the title asked , I have been a pick up and "Oh you're getting chunky" type of owner .
Not very scientific I know Blush

OP posts:
Report
ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 22/09/2013 18:12

I have had my fair share of GPs and I can say, hand on heart, have never weighed a single one of them Grin Little fatties were never in any danger of fading away! I miss having them :(

Report
TheCrackFox · 22/09/2013 18:13

Are you supposed to weigh them?

My two are a right pair of fatties - who knew celery and carrots could be fattening?

Report
fridayfreedom · 22/09/2013 18:23

I weigh mine every few weeks just to keep an eye on their weight , big pig would be even bigger if we didnt keep an eye on it.
They seem to have the same fear of the scales that I do :))

Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/09/2013 19:46

just weighed my boys in the new snazzy scales....

gp1 is 33.5 ounces - which is 2lb 1 1/2 oz if my maths is right which i think sounds ok for an adult boar

gp2 is 30.6 - so 1lb 14 1/2 oz
or only 3 ounces less than gp1

i'm mega-sure that my little boy is a rex so will get huuuuge.

goes off to google rex weights.............

OP posts:
Report
Sparrowfarts · 22/09/2013 19:50

I used to weigh ours. It gives you a warning that something's amiss long before they look ill or are visibly thin.

Report
FernieB · 22/09/2013 21:30

Marking my place as a reminder to stick my boys on the scales tomorrow at some point between one of their many mealsGrin. Anyone know what the ideal weight is for an adult boar? BMI? Grin

Report
RandomMess · 22/09/2013 21:35

I was always weighing fine, it's just something you do Confused

I even weighed fat cat over the road when I was looking after him in the summer, was curious to see if he was as obese as he looked Grin

Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/09/2013 21:37

Fernie I thought it was between 1000g and 1200g for an adult boar (which is about 2- 2.5 lbs) .

My little abby was always lighter than GP1 (who is a smooth) and smaller.

GP3 is only slightly smaller than GP1 now. I did a quick search. If he is a Rex (and I think he definately is rather than Swiss) he could reach 3.5lb.
Shock
He'll have to give up bonking my GP1 if he does.

OP posts:
Report
Sawdust · 23/09/2013 14:47

I weigh mine weekly now - lesson learned the hard way. I might have picked up illnesses earlier if I had done so before.

I have been amazed at how fast my baby pigs have put on weight. One of them literally doubled in size over 9 weeks! Shock

Might be something to do with the fact that I just can't resist their squeaking, and they know it!! Blush

Report
FernieB · 23/09/2013 15:09

Have just weighed the boys much to their disgust. Scruffy weighs in at a healthy 2lb 13oz. Smooth is a hefty boy and he clocked up 3lb 7oz, but he did do an enormous wee after I put him back so I can probably deduct a couple of ounces Grin.

I think it's diet time for them.

Report
Chopstheduck · 23/09/2013 15:11

not got piggies but I weighed my rabbits regularly! Don't you need to know their weights for worming any way?

Report
YoniBottsBumgina · 23/09/2013 15:14

For medication in general yes, but the vet will weigh them when prescribing. I don't think you worm GPs, we never used to worm ours.

Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/09/2013 21:17

Diet Fernie Diet ? Shock

They'll be well judgey.

But how the devil do they get so big on vegetables?
I've had some right porky guineas in the past but it's not as though they eat a load of junk food. Their diet is basically hay/grass/veg/pellets and fruit.
I think they live to eat rather than eat to live Wink

OP posts:
Report
123rd · 23/09/2013 21:22

Oh. We have never weighed our boys. Shall I start? Both look quite bigSmile but as everyone says...how do they get so big? ( apart from constantly eating of course!!)

Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/09/2013 21:30

123rd I started weighing ours when I had GP1 and GP2 but as the scales were really inaccurate I stopped because a false reading would be more misleading.

WRT knowing their weight- my GP2 died within a couple of days of him being "guinea downhill" but his weight didn't fluctuate though he did stop eating and we had to take over with Critical Care.

My GP1 has lost weight this summer, I can tell just holding him, but it's going back on (he was always a chubby boy with more than a suggestion of a double chin )

But in Costco the other day I saw a flat digital scale and persuaded DH we "needed" it Grin
So they'll be subjected to weekly weigh-ins.Wink

OP posts:
Report
FernieB · 24/09/2013 08:11

They only had 3 bits of parsley this morning instead of 5 - have discovered they can countGrin. Maybe diet is not the way to go. I'll increase the exercise instead - Current Bun will have to chase them round a bit more (usually they chase him or climb on him while he sleeps).

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.