The "piggies" moved in today.

[dss62467]

I got my dd's baby guinea pigs today. I wasn't going to get them for another 3 weeks, but then I realized that I have my days off booked for the next 3 weeks and wouldn't be able to get out to get them if I didn't do it today. They're SO cute! They're girls and she has named them Linny and Squeaky. If you say it out loud, you'll hear a resemblance to a famous pair of goofs from TV. It's funny that she came up with the names because she has no knowledge of Lenny and Sguiggy and she thought up the names herself. Linny came from a segment they play on Nick Jr. about Linny the Guinea Pig, and Squeaky is obvious.

They're still pretty shy, but when they're more used to us...I'll get some pictures. I know you all are just DYING to see them. ha ha

 

[jdoll]

RE: The

Cute! Is she in the cage with them? where are you keeping them? that shaving stuff smells weird! Now i have "Doin it our way....." in my head!


jes:7

 

[dpiglet]

RE: The

Good luck with the piggies!! We are a single piggy household. A very cute guy we call Cinnamon...or simply the GP. We got him last Christmas from a friend of mine whose 2 pigs mysteriously multiplied overnight...even though they were both girls!! She thinks she bought them home from the pet store already pregnant! We all just think he is the greatest little(or not so little guy) ever. Make sure you handle your new girls a lot. Just go slow, talk to them a lot, the more you touch them I think the more friendly they become. Our GP is so much more friendly than my friends bunch...he loves being scratched behind the ears, while hers want no part of that stuff. She had the bunch(2 become 6 very quickly) and did not have the time to handle each one...they are still soooo skittish. Enjoy...love the names your daughter picked out!! Donna.

 

[dss62467]

RE: The

No, she's not in the cage anymore. But I did get them a little "playpen" that can be set up on the ground for them to get some extra exercise. There's no top on that, so when they aren't so shy, she'll probably climb in there. That will be a nice piece of equipment if we want to take them outside sometimes.

We're keeping them in her playroom, which is where she hangs out most of the time. I put the cage up on top of a couple wooden tv-tray stands until my father finishes building the cabinet they'll be on. Got to keep them off the ground because it supposedly stresses them being down there. Plus we don't want the feline killers being able to glare in at them. So far, though, the cats have shown no interest.

We don't use cedar shavings. I get recycled paper bedding, which is much better. The cedar is bad for them - it messes up their respiratory system. So if you ever happen to buy rodents, don't use cedar. Also, the paper stuff is a lot more absorbant and better at odor control.

Donna - thanks for the tips on taming them. We're going to start working on that tonight when we get home.

 

[midnight]

RE: The

We have dwarf hamsters. I'm not fond of them because they look like mice without tails. I tried to talk dd into a guinea pig because they're much cuter but she had her heart set on those hamsters!

--Lois


"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning" - Mahatma Ghandi

 

[dananmis22]

RE: The

That is so cool! Your daughter is going to love them! I have never had a pig before but they are really cute and soft!

Missy

 

[dss62467]

RE: The

We did the hamster thing last year. We took her preschool's hamster off their hands. He lasted a few months, then one of the cats got him. Guinea pigs are actually much better pets for small children. They rarely bite, they're easier to handle and they aren't nocturnal like hamsters. Hamsters will drive you nuts while you're trying to sleep!