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Post by raquellian on Apr 11, 2007 14:15:07 GMT
Hi there
I am a first time very excited piggie owner, hubby and I decided to add to our animal family and having done some research on care and customs of piggies we decided to purchase 2 young boars (8wks old) from a pet store at the weekend. We have named them Eric and Ernie. Eric is the bigger of the 2 and a tortie, while Ernie is black and white. I know, I know having read a lot of the sites out there buying from a pet shop is frowned upon but you live and learn.
Since then I have lost count of the hours I have spent trolling various piggie sights for hints and tips and have already picked up some basics which I didn't know about.
We bought a Nero 2 cage (just short of 4ft square internally) on the advice of the pet shop assistant which given what I have read over the past 2 days is far too small. I am going to go get them the biggest house I can find asap and try to get some of that cubing stuff to make then a huge indoor run until the summer comes in.
Is it too soon to allow them some free range time? I'd like to do this asap. Last night I made a point of handling them and gently stroking them and once the initial wriggling settled down I gently put them down. Only held them for a few seconds each because I don't want to overface them.
I've made them some toilet tube hay holders and bought tons of veg for them on the way home last night. They are also getting fed GP nuggets and I've put a wee bit of wood in their house for chewing on. I have been spot cleaning them every day but am going to completely clean the cage out tonight and reline it with newspaper, shavings and TONS of hay as per the description on this website. I also own a horse so no problems with getting hay and shavings supplies as I've got to buy them anyway.
We do have 3 cats, only one of which seems interested in Eric and Ernie (the others have lived with small furries before). But we are taking no chances, when out at work the lads are safely locked in the spare bedroom away from prying paws.
However we bring them into the living room when we are home and last night there was tons of activity and noises which was lovely.
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Post by sollyrules on Apr 11, 2007 15:40:56 GMT
Wow! Welcome to Wheekers raquellian! Hope to see you around, I too own horses so we have something in common, I have cats aswell and know how annoying it is to be so wary about were the cats are! You defineltly learn LOTS about guinea pigs here like I have!! Could we have some pigtures of Eric and Ernie?They sound very cute and your doing very well with first time handling, like not over facing them! By the way my names Georgina and I live in england  |
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Post by beckee on Apr 11, 2007 16:03:43 GMT
Hi there raquellian... Welcome to wheekers and congrats on Eric and Ernie! They sound lovely and I think so far you are doing everything right!! It is very true that we live and learn..Petshops give out some info and unless you go looking for it, this is what you take as gospel! at least now you have spotted your weak points and are working on them!
Its good that you are doing some gentle handling...keep it up! As for free time, i think after a week or so you should be ok to let them have a run around.... Are you planning on giving them a fenced off area or letting them have the freedom of a room? I would imagine the hardest part will be catching them again as once they have room to skidaddle, they'll be quick as lightening and chasing them about wont help matters! Maybe have a box or carry cage that you can herd them into when free time is up so you can corner them without too much fuss to pop them back into the cage?
You will probably find with your cats that they will sette down after a while. i also have three and at first they all had a good stare but we have never had any serious problems...the worst that happens now is that occasionally a cat will lie on top of the cage and dangle a paw in. They cannot reach the pigs and sometimes one will stand up and sniff the offending paw..I'm sure if t bothered the pigs, a swift nip would sort things but they carry on as normal and dont seem stressed!
Keep us posted on how your newbies are getting on and dont forget the pics!!
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Post by DawnLoretta on Apr 11, 2007 16:18:13 GMT
Hi, I'm Dawn, I'm pretty new here too, everyone here has been really nice and a ton of help I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! |
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Post by raquellian on Apr 11, 2007 16:31:24 GMT
Hi Guys Thanks for the swift welcomes, much appreciated. Beckee I think initially I will give them a fenced off area in one of the rooms, away from the cats obviously and once they have got to know us better I will expand it. The cats have all been warned that they are family and not food. I was scavenging round the stables last night and have managed to "collect" an old paving slab and a couple bits of big, wide drainpipe. Let's just call it recycling for piggies  These will all go into their play area. In the summer I'd like to give them some time outdoors to play although only in dry and warm weather. They will be permanent indoor residents. Eric is the bolder of the 2 and has already come and sniffed at a couple of treats I have offered him. I'm looking forward to getting to know all their wee noises and seeing some popcorning. Will try and get some pics at the weekend and post 'em. Last night they got baby sweetcorn, carrot and cucumber in their veggie bowl. Tonight, let's see what's on the menu........hmmm.....I think we'll try serving some brocolli, a bit of pepper and a bit of tomato. Tell you what, they're going to make me eat a lot healthier with all the veggies I'll be buying! |
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Post by Pigjes on Apr 11, 2007 16:31:43 GMT
Welcome! Free ranging is a good idea if the piggie knows you a few weeks longer (you don't want to run after them and scare them to death) and when the house is safe (no wires to chew, no pits to fall in, no items to get stuck under or behind) Petstore treats are best avoided. Once or wtice a week a fruit slice is a great treat, or veggies. I also use one veggie only at lap time, so it has become their special treat. Well done!! You are doing well with the pigs!!!  |
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Post by beckee on Apr 11, 2007 18:01:02 GMT
Piggy recycling!  I like the sound of that! All for a good cause after all!! Time and patience are the key to making best friends with your piggies so keep at it! Good idea about having a special 'lap veg!' I usually use cucumber for mine as they all love it but I dont keep it exclusivly for then..Good idea pigjes! Nothing like a food bribe for making piggy friends! Wait til you find out their fave and save it for hands on time! |
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Post by pigturepurrfect on Apr 11, 2007 20:54:57 GMT
Welcome to Wheekers, raquellian!! wow you've done a really good job with your piggies!! congratulations!! hey do you have a ny pigtures? here at wheekers we're pigture crazy lol!! |
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lia
Bronze Member
Pucca & Garu just love to popcorn!
Posts: 296
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Post by lia on Apr 11, 2007 21:13:41 GMT
Wow - RAQUELLAN your message could have been typed by me as our story is very similar! We bought our two boars - Pucca & Garu - from a petshop when they were around 8wks old & have had them for just over 2 months now. We too bought a cage - the Nero 3 I think - I have since discovered like you that this is really to small to house two piggies especially boars comfortably! So ours us it a night & while I am at work but spend a good part of each day running around in my children's old travel cot or a fenced of section of our hallway! Good luck with your 2 new additions, am sure you have fallen in love already as have we! Lia  |
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Post by piparmaru on Apr 12, 2007 2:17:36 GMT
Welcome to the forum!!! Can't wait to hear more about the boys and see some piccies really soon hehe I've got 2 cats, that look and get excited but never do anything lol they learn lol slowly ... basically anything that you feed the horses you can almost feed the piggies .. I use a horse mix to feed my piggies, they love it I use Barastoc Workhorse Mix |
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Post by raquellian on Apr 12, 2007 8:30:21 GMT
Well it looks like I'm already sussing out what they like and don't like veg wise. Ernie LOVES carrots, he kept nipping out and stealing all of the carrots out of the veg bowl last night. They both like baby sweetcorn and cucumber too. Last night I tried them on parsley, green pepper and tomato. Not keen I'm afraid. I did however pick them some grass out of my garden which has all disappeared. Has anyone tried brussel sprouts, not sure if these are ok to feed.
I made them a temporary run out of a huge cardboard box (about 5ft long), lined it with paper, shavings on top and then hay. I put them in it last night while I cleaned out the cage, which has also been newly lined with paper, shavings and then covered from end to end in a layer of hay.
I took a couple of pics on my phone last night while they were being cleaned out but am not sure how to upload them to the site for you all to see.
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Post by sollyrules on Apr 12, 2007 9:04:02 GMT
Im not sure if you can put pics from your phone on the computer.....
Anyways, you sound like you still doing fab with your knew piggys! Lia, your story is VERY similar indeed!!
xxx good luck with eric and ernie
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Post by piparmaru on Apr 13, 2007 14:24:21 GMT
I've tried mine on brussel sprouts before, weren't too keen, sort of gave me a dirty look like I was crazy and they wanted to know what "it" it was lol
you can put your pics from your camera to your computer, you need to have the download programs and cables ... and I think it depends on your phone too ... what sort of phone do you have??
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These will all go into their play area. 
I like the sound of that! All for a good cause after all!!
