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Post by renee on Oct 31, 2012 5:24:26 GMT
I just joined as I am doing research before I get my guinea pigs. I am hoping to get at least 3 maybe 4. I am looking for a nice cage for them. IT would have to have a cover as I have kitties. Suggestions will be Appreciated. I am actually looking at these so if anyone has one or knows anything about them I'd love to hear your opinions on them. bluestonecages.com/ebay-store-itemsI am also looking for breeders in my area or at least fairly close to me. I'm in the Panhandle of FL which is closer to parts of Al and GA than parts of Fl so IF anyone has any advice on where to find breeders in these areas I would Appreciate any help with that. Also south Tx Corpus Christi/Victoria area is a possiblity also as we go down that way once a year. Anyway I am looking forward to lurking around on here and learning all I can before I get my guys. See everyone around renee
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 1, 2012 14:31:24 GMT
Hello and welcome! Those are beautiful cages, but really overpriced. if you can buy coroplast and cut it yourself, one of those cages will take about a 4x8' sheet of coroplast, and two boxes of grids, so probably less than $100. Once you have the design you like, just count the number of grids you need, and that should tell you how many boxes of grids you need. Also, while those cages look fabulous, many are not at all easy to clean, nor is it easy to get piggies out from the back of a middle level that's at least 14" deep and only 14" high. You can use zip ties to hinge the front grids to make cleaning easier. and if you use fleece bedding pads, that also makes it easier to slide out the bedding, shake it off in the trash and replace it. 3-4 pigs is a good number, but it can be hard to pick the right grouping so they all get along. A neutered boar and two or three sows might be the easiest to bond. 3-4 boars is not a good idea unless you have an awful lost of space. Newpig is the most knowledgeable bonder of groups of boars. Find a good exotics vet, and when you get your pigs, have them checked by the vet to make sure they are healthy. Check out www.guinealynx.com for medical info, great veggie/fruit charts, etc. Most rescues take pretty good care of their pigs, but just changing homes can cause them enough stress to cause mites and some other problems. An office visit, quick check isn't usually very expensive, and is well worth it. You probably don't have to worry about the cats. My cat was afraid of the pigs. Some cats sit in the piggy cage trying to get attention, or just to have company. If you just ignore it, they often stop doing it for attention. They'll continue to do it for company, but won't hurt the pigs. Just keep a watchful eye on the situation until you know for sure how the cats and pigs are going to react. The pigs could be the aggressors.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 1, 2012 15:22:18 GMT
A warm welcome to our happy family love, we look forwrd to hearing more about you and your babies when you have them.
We have three cats sometimes four and we have no problems with them going for the piggies at all.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by weesilvie on Nov 10, 2012 14:43:21 GMT
Hi renee I too have pigs and a cat - I have made a cage like 3piggles describes, with grids and coroplast, with a lid. My cat wouldn't harm the pigs - they startle her! But it's best not to take chances. It very much depends on your cat(s). Happy to try and describe how I built my cage if you'd like - let me know
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Post by Jeannine on Nov 27, 2012 16:07:30 GMT
I have pigs, cats...dogs...rabbits... I had three old cats who couldn't care less about the GP's - lol My Kiva cat, after loosing her sister decided to cuddle with one of my GP's daily, it was cute. However once in a while Charles Ferdinand IV would get a cat slap on his head if Kiva was in a crabby mood.
I have since lost my two old lady cats, and adopted two more. I was a bit concerned for the pigs, of course, at first. Nadia was a year old, she is very shy and tiny - she came form a hoarder and had a rough life. She is only a few lbs larger than the GP's and warmed up to them right away. Ace is a kitten, and when he first met the GP's he hisses and ran away. Now he hangs out with them and sometimes sleeps in their cage.
I also have dogs, that love the GP's too. I could not keep the GP's crate on the floor because one dog would get in and eat all the pig food! My Lab Pit mix had a very special bond with my smallest GP's, Gigi (RIP); she was treated like her puppy.
it really depends on the dog/cat/pig personality. My pigs are not afraid of dogs or cats - which could be bad if an unfriendly dog or cat was around. Luckily my dogs/cats/GP's/rabbits/pigeons/doves think they are all the same.
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Post by Jeannine on Nov 27, 2012 16:11:50 GMT
Oh - me again I had three girls and it was a wonderful mix. there have been others who have tried three and it was not so good. I now have a boy and a girl who live apart (no babies) but their cages are next to each other so they can interact. I miss my mini-herd.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 27, 2012 21:07:49 GMT
Three or four pigs is great, but remember, by the time you get to 3-4 pigs, you need a pretty large cage, a minimum of 2'x 7'. That's a big cage, so make sure you have the space. I have 3 pigs right now, and have had 4 in the past. It worked well! Rather than looking for breeders, try www.petfinder.com. You choose the type of pet you want (small furry), enter your zip code and how big a radius you want to check (5,10,15 miles, etc.) and Petfinder lists all the pigs in all the shelters/rescues in that area. Pigs are listed by age and sex, and a picture is usually available.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 28, 2012 14:20:17 GMT
You are so right Weesilvie love, we wouldn;t leave the piggies and cats unattended even though they are fine together.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by fauxpaws on Dec 5, 2012 3:12:26 GMT
My cat loves to hang around the piggie pens and will even lay in the bathtub with them while im in there. I have never left them unattended but they are fine supervised. Right now I have one cage with 2 boys, one with 3 girls, and one female by herself. Sadly she isnt a fan of any of my current pigs so I am in search of a friend for her. lol she has very high standards.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 5, 2012 16:25:02 GMT
They seem so fascinated by each other and sometimes I think they want to play. Kitties however tend to be a little rough. Hugs
JO xx
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Post by yodelpig on Dec 6, 2012 15:05:35 GMT
Hi and welcome!
Good that you are doing your research first!
Trios are the combination that is most prone to outsider problems; you need exactly the right mix of characters.
Trios of baby boars very rarely make it through the hormonal months to adulthood without fall-outs; quartets of boars are even less stable. If you'd rather have boars (who are often more laid back and cuddly), I would opt for two pairs, which you can keep on top of each other if space is an issue.
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