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Post by amber89 on Jul 23, 2019 11:29:34 GMT
Then maybe those 6 weeks of treatment were not so bad for him. Haha!!
My mom got here yesterday evening and got to know the 3 fluffy ones. She even managed today to hand-feed a bit Pufu and Cupcake.
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 23, 2019 19:58:40 GMT
Ooh, the piggies like her That's always good Makes it a lot easier for you to go on vacation without worrying about them. The pigs should be able to speak Romanian, by the time you get home
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Post by Bean on Jul 24, 2019 6:45:57 GMT
Aww that's nice that you've been able to spend some time with your mum and the pigs. Plenty of time to remember to tell her all those things you might have forgotten if it was more of a rush, and to be reassured that she knows what you need her to do. I hope the trip over was okay for her, and that you're enjoying catching up.
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Post by amber89 on Jul 25, 2019 19:41:20 GMT
It was really nice to have some days together, even with all the packing stress. The flight was ok for her, but the new heat wave is taking its toll on her.
Oh yes, the piggies will be fluent by the time í am back.
We leave tomorrow, first for a wedding in Romania and afterwards for another wedding in Turkey.
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 25, 2019 20:32:15 GMT
I read about the heatwave over there I hope it's not too horribly hot! Enjoy the weddings
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Post by Bean on Jul 26, 2019 4:55:22 GMT
Wow, wedding central! Hope you enjoy your break and have a great time at the weddings. I hope the heat breaks soon for your mum too, so she can enjoy her break too.
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Post by amber89 on Aug 28, 2019 7:40:47 GMT
The piggies really liked Mom, I think she spoiled them rotten! When we came back they didn't even bother to squeek for treats! Usually they come to great us, but this time they were very Meh!. I suppose they got enough treats from Mom.
I wanted to try and add some new veggies/herbs to their diet, but I am having a hard time with them even wanting to try it. I wanted to give them Rucola and Basil, but they just smell it and run away from it. They don't even want to try it.
I am having quite some headaches with their diet. There are only few veggies, herbs and fruits that all 3 eat, and not all of them are available the whole year round. Most of the veggies are eaten by only 2 out of 3 and I am running out of ideas what to give them, especially in autumn and winter when fresh veggies are scarce.
How did you make piggies eat new food? Any tips?
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Post by Bean on Aug 28, 2019 16:41:49 GMT
I'm not attentive enough to see who eats what, but have previously found that just keeping offering a small amount of things can work, especially if there's competition - sometimes pigs will sniff at something before looking revolted and walking away, but on seeing another guinea pig chomp it down, will suddenly want that piece of veg more than anything!
Ours mainly get a bit of whatever veg we're eating that day - a small amount of a few different things. I occasionally buy something especially for them, but only things I know they like. If they have a good quality pellet and lots of fresh hay, as I'm sure your pigs do, then a few nibbles is all they need really, to get a few extra vitamins and minerals. I wouldn't worry about them eating or not eating certain foods, although maybe if you set a good example and try eating it in front of them, that might encourage them to try different things?! (I'm teasing, I know you don't like many veg!).
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Post by amber89 on Aug 30, 2019 7:35:59 GMT
I have tried that trick and it did miracles on Marshmallow. When we got her she was eating only lettuce, carrots and bell pepper. Now she has expanded her diet a bit. But I have now reached the max capabilities of this trick. Now matter how much Pufu sees the girls eating tomatoes, he is simply not touching it. The same with Marsh and beet root, broccoli and cauliflower. Maybe I should really put a bowl of Rucola in front of them and start eating from it...or the pot with the Basil. )) Now I understand the nightmare that my mom had with feeding me and my brother...what I liked, my brother hated and the few dishes that were in common were disliked by Dad. ))
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Post by amber89 on Aug 30, 2019 7:36:10 GMT
I have tried that trick and it did miracles on Marshmallow. When we got her she was eating only lettuce, carrots and bell pepper. Now she has expanded her diet a bit. But I have now reached the max capabilities of this trick. Now matter how much Pufu sees the girls eating tomatoes, he is simply not touching it. The same with Marsh and beet root, broccoli and cauliflower. Maybe I should really put a bowl of Rucola in front of them and start eating from it...or the pot with the Basil. )) Now I understand the nightmare that my mom had with feeding me and my brother...what I liked, my brother hated and the few dishes that were in common were disliked by Dad. ))
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Post by Bean on Aug 30, 2019 8:31:27 GMT
Haha! As the main cook of the family, getting round different dislikes can be a challenge, but I usually work it so I'm just adapting the same dish slightly if needed, not making different meals. My husband and I save the moussaka for when the kids are both out as I can't convince either of them that aubergines are edible! Maybe tomatoes are Pufu's aubergine?!
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 2, 2019 0:23:20 GMT
Mine don't eat tomatoes, period. I haven't tried eggplant or zucchini, as I don't have them. I just give them some of whatever we're eating, and they do fine.
When my daughter was young and picky, I still made what we all were eating. She didn't have to eat it. She could pick out what she didn't like. I didn't put bread on the table to fill up on, so meat, vegs, salad, rice/farro/ whatever, but not enough to make a meal of it. Don't eat dinner, no dessert.
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Post by bazookagoof on Sept 2, 2019 23:32:06 GMT
Murphy usually eats everything, but today my wife tried to give him a piece of cabbage and he took a small nibble and pretty much went, "Meh." Stilgar showed not the slightest interest in his own piece. Truth be told, it didn't look that appetizing to me, either.
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Post by amber89 on Sept 3, 2019 12:38:09 GMT
i have managed to get Pufu and Cupcake eat some basil, but Marshmallow does not want to touch it. On the other hand, they refuse to eat grapes, even though 2 month ago they were eating some. It feels like one step forward, one step back. Since yesterday my mother-in-law, my young sister-in-law and their dog are here...for a whole week. The piggies had to be moved into our room, a room which they seem to really hate. They have a bit less space to run around, only 3 sq meters.
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Post by bazookagoof on Sept 3, 2019 20:25:38 GMT
They have a bit less space to run around, only 3 sq meters. I'm amused at this, especially since all the cavies I've ever owned weren't too big on frolicking and running around. When I would put them outside in a huge area to play in, all of them sat right down and grazed. My first pig Oscar did zoomies when he was young, and my current pig Stilgar will roam occasionally during cage cleaning time, but otherwise all my guys are content to have a small space.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 3, 2019 23:13:57 GMT
Amber, think of the piggies as children. They are, basically. They like one thing, then they don't, then they do. Just keep giving them different foods. Don't worry about what they seem to like or not, as long as they don't turn up their noses completely. I used to give mine a variety, and everyone could take what they liked. There was never anything left Love the cage set up, so if the piggies don't, they are really spoiled If anything, they probably don't like not being able to see what's happening, and when treats are likely to be coming their way
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Post by Bean on Sept 4, 2019 8:55:34 GMT
Aww your pigs still have a great home, Amber, even if it's smaller than usual. I know having the dog around worries you, so I hope that all goes smoothly and you can enjoy your visitors. I also hope the pigs don't keep you awake all night! all the cavies I've ever owned weren't too big on frolicking and running around. When I would put them outside in a huge area to play in, all of them sat right down and grazed. I don't think that's a fair test - I'd move around a lot less if there were strawberries and chocolate all over the floor!
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 4, 2019 16:43:11 GMT
Bean has a point, lol When I put my pigs out to graze, they all stayed in one area, and grazed. Sometimes they would lie down and rest, but mostly they were too busy eating the great grass.
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Post by amber89 on Sept 4, 2019 17:37:50 GMT
Why i think that they don't like our sleeping room is because of its size. The bedroom is much smaller and crowded compared to the living room (where they usually stay) and the bed and the desk are very close to their enclosure. This means that they get scared at every move that we make and they have to stay alert most of the time. I have noticed that after 3 days in our room they start to be able to relax sometimes. Mine are actually quite active. Yesterday and today Pufu was doing some zoomies in the enclosure. And all 3 of them are at least twice a week really running and using the whole length of the enclosure (3.5m). All shelters and rescues in AT and DE require at lest 1 square meter per pig as space, otherwise they won't give them. When we got our first pair (Pufu and Muffin), the carers there recommended us to even expand their enclosure (we had only the minimum required), so that they really have space to run. We initially told them of our idea of floor time, to which they answered that it is good, but even better it would be if the area is there all the time, so that they can run whenever they feel the need. Not only when the humans plan it. Yes, i think of them as children...very fussy children. I was just hoping to give them some variety and stimulate their taste buds a bit. Today all three of them were fighting for a big leaf of basil. So, i've got that going for me.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 5, 2019 19:38:04 GMT
When I first started with guinea pigs, I read all the books, and joined a couple of forums, and everything said to give them floor time. I let the pigs out to run around the living room every evening, but soon realized that was giving them exercise at my convenience, not when they might want it. I only had a small, store bought cage, but I added tubes for them to run through. I think a picture of the cage is in our Wheekerpedia section on housing. The tubes added 8 feet of running space, and it seemed as if every time I checked on them, they were running zoomies through the tubes. That's when I started planning for a much bigger cage. After many iterations of cages, all good in their own way, but taking up a lot of space, I had one that was 10 feet long, and 2 feet wide, with lofts at both ends. That gave them ample running space, and they did run! It was in a double closet at the end of a bedroom I was using as an office, and it was great. I have a similar cage, now, but only about 8 feet long and 15 inches wide. It does a great job for them. They can do zoomies if they want, though neither girl does anymore. I would like to get a real cage built, but have to save up the money. I want to put it in the front hallway, and have it be part of a bookcase that will fill the wall. I know I won't have pigs forever, as I'm getting older, so I'd like to be able to make that part of the bookcase back into a bookcase, when and if that happens. Cage planning is one of my favorite activities, even if I only build about 1% of all the layouts I imagine building Because pigs are at the bottom of the food chain, they are constantly vigilant against predators, anyway. When their cage is moved into another room, it's a whole new environment for them, and they have to get used to it all over again. In the living room, they were also part of everything that was happening. Now they can't see what's happening. I think, once they move back to the living room, they won't take as long to relax again
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