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Post by Bean on May 26, 2016 8:04:37 GMT
If he can easily manage to get the pellets, I'd not worry about replacing the special custom-made bowl he perches on so elegantly!
When I'm using washable bedding and it's been swept relatively recently, I sprinkle the pellets around the cage. I only give an amount I know they'll eat within 10-15 minutes (I'm stingy with pellets!) and they really enjoy foraging around for them and their veg. Provided it's dry, I always scatter feed with the buns too, sprinkling their pellets and chopped veg around the run (they never toilet outdoors) - it adds a bit of interest to the feeding process and if you have animals who squabble over food, it can really reduce any conflict as they often head off in different directions.
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Post by 3piggles on May 26, 2016 13:44:41 GMT
I might try that when I go back to fleece. In the past, none of the pigs would eat any pellets off the fleece. The girls might be different.
They do like having treats scattered about, so they can find them at different times. I'm not sure what Pigloo City will look like at the new house, but I'm hoping to have some options they will really enjoy.
I agree with not changing the bowl if he really likes it, and if he doesn't spill it all that often. If he trashed the pellets every time you gave him a new batch, and kept wasting all the pellets, then I would change it.
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lyndsey
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Post by lyndsey on May 27, 2016 14:29:01 GMT
Thanks all I'm not keeping the male babies I have a home ready for them so they would only be with dad a couple weeks till they were old enough to sell. I've had to intervene slightly and am feeding the runt twice a day as the rest are gaining weight nicely but she isn't so just giving her an extra hand there doing great now.
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Post by jolovespiggies on May 27, 2016 19:47:09 GMT
That is wonderful how you are helping her love, many people wouldn't bother. Please keep up up to date as to how she is doing.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on May 30, 2016 15:02:59 GMT
It sounds as if you are doing a great job with the runt girl. So glad she has you to help her along.
When selling the boys, please vet the buyers really carefully. Too many buy young guinea pigs as snake food, putting the poor things in the snake tank to be terrorized until they're killed. If anything, take them to a reputable rescue, if you can't keep them. Rescues know the questions to ask to find out what someone really plans to do with the pigs.
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lyndsey
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need advice please
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Post by lyndsey on Jun 7, 2016 21:23:10 GMT
Hi all 3 babis are doing great now and I know the buyer there one of my close friends so I can visit whenever I want they've already baught the 2 males a 3 tear hutch so I know there going to be spoilt lol thank you everyone for your help and advice. X
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 8, 2016 15:52:53 GMT
I hope the babies have a great life
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 8, 2016 19:45:42 GMT
Me too.
Hugs Jo xx
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lyndsey
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Post by lyndsey on Jun 10, 2016 13:40:19 GMT
Hi the baboes will be 3 weeks tomorrow. But I tried introducing the boys to there father today so I can separate them but he is to rough with them and is biting and attacking them. Do you think all the pigs will be ok together or the babies left with there mother for another 4 weeks?
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 10, 2016 16:41:46 GMT
Can't say this strongly enough-absolutely not. All males must be removed from their mother and sisters by 4 weeks old, so if the babies are all 3 weeks old, do it now. The boys have each other, so if they go in a cage together, and should be okay for a few weeks. Once the boys start puberty at about 2 months old, they will most likely fight with each other too much to stay in the same cage.
Meanwhile, you have some options. Try each boy with dad, and see if he will accept one of them. If he does, you only have one more boy to deal with. Get him neutered, and put him back in with his mom and sister. That should work fine.
How did you introduce the boys to dad? Did you just put the boys in dads cage, or did you use the regular intro route of putting all three in a neutral area with nothing but a pile of hay? If you didn't use the regular route, try it. Since the boys and dad have met, and it didn't go well, I advise spraying them all with a mix of vinegar and water, adding just enough vinegar to the water that you can faintly smell it, but not so it's a strong scent. This will help mask their natural scents, which they may remember from their last encounter.
Give it time. If they are going to get along, they will explore, eat the hay, mount each other, chase each other and even do some minor nipping. Nothing should draw blood. There will probably be a lot of squealing. That's the babies way of telling dad they give in. Monitor it closely. Have a towel ready to toss over dad, if they start fighting and draw blood. Do Not put your hand between then. It may take a few hours, but if the intros work, they should gradually spend more time exploring, eating and possibly lounging, than they spend mounting, chasing, etc.
If the intro works, before putting them all into dads cage, the cage and everything in it has to be cleaned to remove all of dads scent. If you have a shower you can use, it's a great way to spray the cage with a gentle cleaner, and rinse it very thoroughly. Once everything is washed and dry, add fresh bedding, water, food and hay, and put the babies in the cage. Put dad in the cage last, so he doesn't have time to establish the cage as his territory. There will be more mounting, chasing, nipping and squealing, as that happens whenever they change environments, but it should die down fairly quickly, maybe a few hours.
By two months old, the babies may start to fight. If dad can't control them, you will have to remove one boy, so watch to see which boy dad seems to get along with better. Have the other boy neutered, and put him in with his mom and sisters. Do the intros again, if you put a boy in with him mom and sisters. Wait at least a full month after the neutering before putting him together with the females, as he needs to clean out his system. Some people advise waiting up to 8 weeks, but most vets recommend 4 weeks.
I hope this helps. Don't give up.
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lyndsey
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Post by lyndsey on Jun 10, 2016 17:50:12 GMT
Thanks it's just till the begging of next week when the new owner comes to collect the 2 baby boys I tried putting him in the play area that I made for them with hay toys and food but he was fine for a little while the babies were following him they were sniffing at each other but then after 5 mins he started biting them and headbutting them. So I tried taking one boy out so it wasn't to overwelming for him but still no luck. I will keep trying thanks x
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 10, 2016 19:32:21 GMT
If the boys are already 3 weeks, just don't let them get to 4 weeks, or you could have more babies. Mom has already had a litter and deserves not to be pregnant again. Sisters really do not need to be pregnant at 3-4 weeks. It's better, after 3 weeks, to keep the boys separate from the girls, so if you can put them in a different cage or play pen, I'd advise that, even for a few days.
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Post by Bean on Jun 11, 2016 7:17:16 GMT
I agree, I'd keep the boys together, but separate from mum and sisters (who they could soon impregnate) or dad (who might hurt them going on how the first intro went). There's no point risking pregnancy or causing stress from introductions for just a few days.
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lyndsey
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Post by lyndsey on Jun 11, 2016 10:00:00 GMT
Man that was ment to say begging of next month lol. Il try to get a spare cage for them till then thank you all just thought I'd check as I know the 2 parents were fine till they were 3 month and showed no sighns of mating as I thought the were same sex. Thank you all.
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 12, 2016 13:03:28 GMT
At least one pig always has to be neutered, if you don't want to have babies. They can mate in what seems like an instant to us, and we don't even necessarily see it happen. Unless you know for sure that one is neutered (yes, I know spayed is the female term), keep them separate. You'll avoid unwanted pregnancies, and the sows will thank you for it
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lyndsey
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need advice please
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Post by lyndsey on Jun 12, 2016 23:44:07 GMT
K thank you
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