The Crazy Pet Channel: Guinea Pigs

Hi readers, When I first did a "How to pick up a guinea pig" post I had only just got my guinea pigs and I now have different ideas on how to pick them up so I though I would do a new one. How to pick up a guinea pig This is easiest way to pick up a scared, injured guinea pig, or a guinea pig who likes to nibble fingers(like my Bramble!). Get a nice big towel and place it over them and carefully pick them up and wrap them up as it will make them feel safe. The next way is a good way to hold your guinea pig for if you are standing up. Put one hand over their back or under their front legs and the other hand under their rear end and gently pick them up and put them to your chest or along your arm. How to hold a guinea pig Now you know how to pick up your guinea pig, its time to learn how to hold them for some cuddles and health checks. The best way to hold a guinea pig is in a cuddle cup as they feel safe and you are less likely to drop them. I would always recommend ...

Hi readers, How to bath a guinea pig is important if you have Boars(male guinea pigs) or long haired piggies. What do you need: A large bucket with high sides to stop the piggies jumping out(Though Bramble almost did anyway), A small pet shampoo, Towels(lots!), Hair dryer(optional), Grooming brushes, a Warm, Sunny day and most importantly a guinea pig! As a safety precaution put the bucket in a run or another safe enclosed space. Step 1 Get water in the bucket at the same temperature as a babies bath but make sure that its no deeper than 3cm. Step 2 Prepare the shampoo according to the bottle. Step 3 Put the guinea pig in and pour some of the water over them making sure not to get it down their ears, in their eyes, up their nose or over their head. Step 4 Gently rub in the shampoo to their hair(guinea pigs fur is called hair because its more like hair than fur) and rinse. Step 5 Make sure all of the shampoo is out and get them out and wrap them in a towel. S...

Hi readers, Here are some photos on how to relax:guinea pig style. Find a nice bed of wood shavings(or a  nice soft blanket)...... Stick your back leg out to the side....... And your front paw...... Look like a little rug...... And ignore everyone whilst you're chilling! That's how to relax:guinea pig style! Thanks Bramble and Patches for modelling for these photos! Book Worm:)

Hi readers, Find out what me and my lovely little piggies did for the first ever Guinea Pig Appreciation Day! I got a three pack of Rostak natures nibbles in carrot flavor for a pound in Tesco (perfect sized pack for my piggies!). I also let them chill out on a nice blanket for a while and got some cute photos. "MY seed stick" "Me got one too!!!!!" Maisie hasn't really had seed sticks before! "I'm sooooooooooo CUTE!!" "Leave me alone"(Any other caption ideas?) Book Worm:)

Hi readers, In the latest guinea pig magazine issue they announced the FIRST EVER guinea pig appreciation day!!!!! Who set up guinea pig appreciation day? Piggles Rescue in Toronto, Canada. What is the date? The date is 16th July (well tomorrow!!) as G is the 7th letter in the alphabet and P is the 16th. How can you celebrate? As the date coincides with school holidays around the world and it being summer(or not in the UK!!) it makes ideal timing for pignics. Go here to see the brilliant sign that piggles rescue deigned for this fantastic day! I hope you will celebrate this brilliant day!! Book Worm :)

Hi readers, I thought that this would be a good post with summer coming up. Remember that this is not a substitute for vetinary advice so always get your guinea pig to a vet if it has anything that I put as serious. Wounds This could happen when they're playing or if they get bitten. Always ask your vet for advice. Most minor injuries can be treated with a saline solution(salt and hot water, let the water cool down!). Serious injuries should be treated by a vet but try to keep the wound clean until you get there.  Sometimes serious. Parasites Common parasites are: Lice, Mites and Fungal infections. Fungal infections can occur if they are stressed or passed from other animals like dog and cats. Treatments can involve: Medicated shampoo, Mild insecticide powder or small animal spot on preparation. Don't use cat or dog treatments as they can be fatal for guinea pigs. Serious. Repository infections Guinea pigs are prone to chest infections and if left untreated ...

Hi readers, This post is all about normal guinea pig behaviour and what it means. Rumble Strutting This is when guinea pigs are cross or annoyed. They sway their hips and make a low rumbling sound a bit like a motorbike. Normally boars but sows will do it as well. Don't be surprised if you hear it during introductions. Teeth chattering As it says in the title this is when they chatter their teeth. This normally when they're really cross or angry. Patches does this a lot but if I pick her up she stops which is weird! This is pretty normal when introducing new guinea pigs as it is also part of dominance. High pitched wheeking A scared sound that is really high pitched and annoying if you happen to be trying to pick them up. Bramble does this a lot but it can also mean they're in pain so check for bites just in case another guinea pig bit them. Chutt/Putt A short sound they use when exploring something new. Cooing A bit like a dove. Mother guinea pigs coo to the...

Hi readers, here are some good guinea pig care books and websites(well other than mine!!) BOOKS Good pet guide: The Guinea pig RSPCA Pet guide: Care for your guinea pigs Pet Friendly: Guinea pigs understanding and caring for your pet by Dr Anne McBride WEBSITES Happy cavy Cali Cavy Collective Crafts Cavies and Cooking Guinea pig cages Pets palace TV pet care guide  and Erin's channel  Pets palace TV I hope you will view these blogs and find these books as I really recommend them if you are thinking  about getting guinea pigs or already have guinea pigs, Book Worm :)

Hi readers, I know that a lot of people get guinea pigs for young children (3-6years) so I decided to think of some ideas for them to do with their Parent/Carer. Idea number 1: Create a checklist. Go here  for printables. Especially good for older children. Idea number 2: Find pictures of items and accessories and print off to go with a checklist like above for 3-4 year olds. They will learn the names of the objects. Good for children who cant read. Idea number 3: Find some cute guinea pig colouring pages. Find some great ideas here . Great for all ages (even over 6's and adults). I hope you find this helpful, Book Worm :)

Hi readers, I decided it was about time I did Maisie's profile! And new profiles are needed for Bramble and Patches. Name: Miss Maisie-Nutmeg Nutmegton. Age: 6 and a bit months. Breed: Dutch. Colour: Golden agouti, white and orange. Birthday: 8th January. Nicknames: Moo Moo, Maisie moo, Miss Nutmegton, Missy Maisie, Baby pig. Neighbors: Miss Bramble Brownie and Miss Patches Poofy. Personality: Silly, cheeky and cute. Born in: 2016 Favorite toy: Its between a toy sheep and a little seagrass ball. Name: Miss Patches Poofy. Age: 1 and a bit years. Breed: Possibly a Sheba Mini Yak but most likely a Abyssinian cross breed. Colour: Tortoiseshell. Birthday: 20th February. Nicknames: Patchy Bear, Baby pig. Neighbors:Miss Maisie-Nutmeg Nutmegton. Friends; Miss Bramble Brownie. Personality: Silly, affectionate and crazy. Born in:2015 Name: Miss Bramble Brownie. Age: 1 and a bit years. Breed: American/British. Colour: Golden agouti. Birthday: 27t...

Hi readers, here's a pigture update. Some of the photos where taken in May but I didn't have time to do a post.  Nom, Nom , NOM! I drew Maisie and it turned out really good so I took a photo for you to see. Bramble had her first bath! Hark snoo Patches also had her first bath! She actually enjoyed it! I will be doing a "How to bath your guinea pig post" soon. "Aren't I cute?" All of the piggies had playtime together when I fully emptied the shed a few weeks ago. They got on fine but weren't really interested in each other as you can see. "Big. Red. Thing. Looking. At. ME!Go Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" "How do I get in here then?Nibble, nibble, nibble" Maisie if you hadn't noticed the door is shut and the latches are across. I hope you like these pigtures, Book Worm :)

Hi readers, these are all my guinea pig related blogs (well apart from this one!) Guinea pig product reviews Guinea pigs r cute stories Crafts for guinea pigs and their hoomans Please view this blogs and try some products and crafts, Book Worm :)

Hi readers, I thought a good post for those of you who are thinking about getting guinea pigs would be the pros and cons of having them. 10 Pros of having guinea pigs 1. They're fun! 2. Not as expensive as larger pets such as rabbits and dogs. 3. They can live indoors or outdoors. 4. They can live alone(not recommended. But sometimes is necessary) or in pairs or groups. 5. Once you have all the equipment they don't cost too much. 6. They're cute. 7. They don't smell like other small rodents(hamsters, mice, rats etc.). 8. They don't bite unless really scared, angry or annoyed. 9. They can be litter trained for easy cleaning out. 10. Children and adults all enjoy taking care of them.   10 Cons of having guinea pigs 1. The initial cost is very expensive. 2. Depending where you live hay and pellets can be expensive unless you buy in bulk which then has the issue of storage. 3. Long haired guinea pigs will need regular grooming and trimming to keep t...

Hi readers, todays post is an update on Bramble, Patches and Maisie's bedding. Bramble and Patches Base: Newspaper or Puppy Pads. Middle layer: Wood shavings if news paper. If puppy pads normally nothing. Top layer: Hay, Straw or Shredded paper. Maisie Base: Puppy Pads. Middle layer: Towels and pretty coloured dusters(odd, I know but her claws don't catch on them). Top layer: Fleece(Normally paw print). Litter trays Base: Plastic litter tray Middle layer: Newspaper/Kitchen roll with wood shavings and wooden cat litter sandwiched between. Top layer: Hay and/or shredded paper. Why do I use fleece for Maisie? I use fleece for Maisie because she is still a baby and it is less likely to cause a Fungal infection. Where do I get the supplies? Puppy pads, wooden cat litter, hay and wood shavings: Home bargains. Straw: Local pet shop. Shredded paper: I make it. Fleece and towels: Buy in second hand shops and fabric shops or find it around the house. Litter...

Hi readers, as I have got another guinea pig I thought a new post on housing and storage was needed. Housing Many people, including me, keep their guinea pigs outdoors in hutches or indoors in small cages, however this is not enough but can be good in the warmer months (rare in the UK) but there are many more ways to house guinea pigs like C and C cages as well as many other types. The hutch facts H utches are normally small with no room for guinea pigs to run around once they've got a food dish and few toys. Some hutches are large and spacious and have a run attached(like mine). You can build hutches and this is a good option as it can be cheaper but can be a lot of hard work. C and C cage facts C & C cages are brilliant indoor options and can be suited to the space in the home or outbuilding. C&C stands for cube grids and coraplast. Cube grids can be expensive but don't really need replacing after you've got them. Coraplast or Correx is corrugated plastic ...

 Hi readers! I haven't posted for ages so I thought I would do a picture update for a change. The top photo is Maisie. She is getting very big and likes having playtime with Bramble. Bramble was sat on top of the piggies kitchen roll in the shed looking out of the window. Patches was posing in a photo shoot before Maisie arrived I hope you like these photos, Book Worm :)

Hi readers, I have some sad and some happy news to tell you. The sad news is that Teddy (the guinea pig I was going to home) had to be put to sleep last Sunday due to poor health. I only found this out yesterday, but the person at the rescue didn't have any more neutered males. The good news is, that I found a new female piggie at my local pet shop where I got Bramble and knew she was for me. She was on her own in a cage but happy. She is living in the hutch I was going to join with the old one for the time being. She's a mixture of bramble and patches' colourings but looks a bit like a Dutch rabbit or Guinea pig.  A downside to having the two hutches next to each other is that they can smell each other and Bramble keeps bar and wood biting. My new guinea pig's name is Masie-Nutmeg. Look how cute she is!!!! Who are you? This cuddle cup is sooooo comfy!! Let me in Hmpf Comfy shoes She is going to be a lone piggie as she is almost a year yo...

Hi readers, I have done how to bring your guinea pig home and what you can feed it but I haven't done how to bond with them and making friends so I thought I would for a change from photos, reviews and updates. I have added some photos of my guinea pigs being friendly for pigtures. Making friends and bonding. Step one: Let your guinea pig get used to its new home unless you've had it for a while already. Step two: You should hand feed veggies and treats to let them get used to you. Step three: Gently start stroking them if they don't like it you should stop. Step four: Pick them up and sit down for a cuddle or put them out in a run. Step five: You did it!!! You are friends with your guinea pig(s). Bonding tips. Spend lots of time with them. Hand feed smallish pieces of veg. Give lots of cuddles. Don't shout at them as guinea pigs have sensitive hearing. Get them a friend or two as they will feel more confident around other guinea pigs....

Hi readers, I recently got a guinea pig shed for all my guinea pig supplies and to house them in in the winter and on rainy days. I got my shed 8ft by 4ft (length by width) with a good sized window, at The Range for around £159 full price. The area wasn't big enough for anything bigger but everything fits in the shed. I'm also going to join two hutches for when we have Teddy as the current hutch isn't big enough.  The front view.  I got this sign as a present and I've been waiting to put it up on the door.  Harness and lead storage on door. Hooks from The Range 50p per hook set. Just waiting to put up Teddy Bears harness. The inside. As you can see the piggies have a lot of supplies. The window is probably my favourite part! Patches was exploring! Back view.  These are the two hutches I'm hopefully going to join together. The brown one is from amazon and the Green/Grey one is second hand but you can buy it on amazon as wel...

Hi readers, todays post is on treats I feed Bramble and Patches. 1. Seed blocks. Guinea pigs would find seeds in the wild so seed blocks mean they can forage in their food dish if you break it up. Seed blocks are normally made with Wheat seeds and some type of dried fruit. The best brands to get is Pets at home, Wilko, Woodlands, Burgess and Rosewood. 2. Muesli food. This is not recommended as a main diet but as treats its fine. This is actually a really good treat as it is also providing vitamins and minerals as well. This mix normally contains : Pea flakes, Locust beans, Pellets and Treats. I actually separate the different parts sometimes  so I can hand feed them. My favourite brands are Supreme and Wilko. 3. Dry treats. These are normally quite bright in colour and flavoured with a type of fruit. My piggies love these and I would defiantly recommend them. You can get these in many places and come in lots of flavours but make sure they aren't high in suga...

Hi readers, I know it is hard deciding where to get your guinea pigs from so this post is hopefully going to help you. Pet shops Pet shops are not always the best place to get your new pet from as many are not clean. We have found Pets at home is good, they take good care of the pets well and many now have a vets practice  as well as a grooming parlour for dogs and cats. They try to handle and groom the pets as much as they can so that the pets are more confident when they go to new homes. Patches is a Pets at home guinea pig and she was happy and healthy when I got her. Sometimes they get the sex wrong but this happens rarely now as the have different pens for males and females. Bramble came from a small local pet shop as well. Rescues This is the best place to get a guinea pig from as they need new homes. Rescues of any size normally have a few of these cute little creatures. Some rescues even specialise in guinea pigs and/or rabbits! Small rescues are prett...

Hi readers, as the title tells you todays post is "what do I need when getting Guinea Pigs?" I last did a post on this when I first started and I now have new ideas if what Guinea pigs need. 1. A large hutch or indoor cage depending on how many Guinea pigs you're getting. This will cost around £80- £100 depending on what size you get. Remember the larger the better for hutches and runs! 2. A large run also depending on how many Guinea Pigs you are getting. This will cost £20- £90. 3. A few food dishes. If you have a herd of Guinea Pigs they should have a food bowl each. This will cost around £2- £3 each. 4. Water bowl or bottle depending on what they're used to. This will cost £1- £3 each. Make sure you have one water bowl or bottle per 2 Guinea Pigs. 5. Toys! You can buy or make toys. If you buy toys they can be quite expensive around £1-£20. If you make toys you can use cardboard boxes and tubes. 6.  Treats! Like the toys, you can make or buy these. If ...

Hi readers, I'm sure you will have read in my recent post that I'm getting another guinea pig, so I thought I should probably tell you why! When I first got a guinea pig (Patches), she was all on her own so I decided to get another one (Bramble) a few days later. This didn't go too well but they did eventually get along, but they still squabble. Now I saw a neutered male teddy guinea pig at a local country park's Easter farm and I fell in love with him, as he was easy to pick up and was very calm when I held him. I emailed the person who runs the rescue to see if I he was up for adoption and they replied YES, so I will pick him up on the 14th April after he is finished at the farm. The reason I'm getting a castrated male is to help Bramble and Patches get along better. To house them, I am joining two hutches together as the current one isn't big enough for three. They are hopefully going to be joined by a hard plastic tunnel that can be taken out to move the h...

Hi Readers, Very, very, very exciting news due to the fact I'm getting another guinea pig from a local rescue. I saw him at a local country park at an Easter farm and I knew he was for me! Here are some facts about my new little(ish) piggie: He's a teddy so I'm calling him Teddy bear. Teddy bear is apparently easy to pick up and loves cuddles so I'm going to cuddle him a lot!! He's regularly been held by children. He's a golden agouti like Bramble so Patches will be the odd one out. It's a castrated male so he can live with Bramble and Patches. He's around 3 years old. Some facts about Teddy guinea pigs: They don't need grooming too much. The have coarse coat that makes them feel springy. They are very cute!! Their fur doesn't set of allergies as much. This is a guinea pig that looks like Teddy Bear that I found online. I'll post some pictures of him when he arrives next week on Thursday 14th April 2016. I hope you are looking...

Hi readers, as on my guinea pig care sheet I did nothing about companionship. This is my care sheet for companionship. Why do guinea pigs need company? In the wild guinea pigs live in herds led by one male with several females and their offspring. Would you like it if you were on your own with no one to talk to? This is what guinea pigs feel like on their own. The ideal grouping for guinea pigs is one neutered male and one or more females like they would be in the wild. It is not recommended for several males to live together as they will fight. If you do have several males it is best to have a split C and C cage as they can interact through the bars. A group of females will also quite happily get along. When I got Patches she was on her own but I decided to get her a friend on to keep her company, this little guinea pig was Bramble! To start with they didn't get on at all so I had them inside for a few days. They still don't always get along so no...

Hi readers, this is my guinea pig care sheet. Guinea Pig Care Sheet An Introduction to Guinea Pigs Scientific Name: Cavia Aperea f. Porcellus.           Group Order: Rodentia. Adult Weight: 500-900g (1-2lbs).     Adult Length: 8-11inches (20-28cm). Life Span: 3-8years.      Guinea pigs are loving, cute and cuddly Rodents from South America who will provide fun and entertainment for the whole family. What do you need? 1. A large hutch or cage. This will cost about £80-£150 depending on how many guinea pigs it is going to house. 2. A large indoor or outdoor run. This will cost £50-£100 new but you can find ones second hand for around £10-£30 if you’re lucky! 3. Good quality pellets. The best pellets are Burgess or Supreme science selective.    4. Hay £1-£22.     5. Straw or Shredded paper (Optional).Straw will cost £1-£10 and shredded paper is free ...

Hi readers, I recently made a new cuddle cup for the piggies because they nibbled the old ones until they had holes in and I had to throw them away. I found this DIY on Crafts, Cavies and Cooking You can visit it here . Instructions:  I started with the following pieces, each cut from batting, fleece and cotton material: 11inches square for base pieces and 44inches long for strips round the outside. I treated the layer of cotton and batting as a single piece of fabric, stitching all of the seams through both layers.  The batting should go on the wrong side of the cotton material.  Then, right sides together, stitch the short ends of the strips together with 1/4" seam to make a loop. Stitching the sides to the bottom is like stitching a binding to the edge of a quilt.  I find sewing straight edges easier than curved edges, but there are corners to deal with. Next step:  stitch the cotton/batting bottom to the sides.  Mark the center of the ...