[Jennicat]

Male Guinea Pigs Will Fight


Truth: Male guinea pigs are more likely to fight in small spaces than females, but most males are completely fine if given enough space. However, pet store cages do NOT provide enough space for male or female guinea pigs. So build your own!

Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home

My herd has two trios, one with three males, and one with two spayed females, and a neutered male. The boys get along great!

 

[Jennicat]

Guinea Pigs Need Vitamin Drops

Truth: Guinea pigs do need vitamin C in their diets, as they cannot produce their own, but the vitamin drops are useless. Vitamin C breaks down in light and heat, so by the time your pig drinks their water, it's just funny tasting water with no vitamin C in it! The best way for them to get their Vitamin C is through fresh vegetables! They need 1 cup a day of veggies, primarily leafy greens like romaine lettuce and cilantro.

 

[CaliforniaGirl]

I've had two male guinea pigs in pet store cage for at least 6 months and they have never fought, but every animal is differnt. I guess I'm just lucky.

 

[Ambieruns10]

Guinea pigs only need a handful of hay daily or no hay

FALSE
Guinea pigs need high quality, good smelling, grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass. Hay is essential for wearing down their molars and aiding in digestion. Alfalfa hay can be used for pigs under 6 months of age, pregnant sows or malnourished adults. Alfalfa should not be given to adults as part of their regular diet.

www.oxbow.com or Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home Wonderful resources to get your hay from. My pigs get KMs hay and they absolutely love it.

 

[Jennicat]

Exercise wheels and balls are great for guinea pigs

FALSE

Guinea pig's spines are not as flexible as other rodents. Wheels and balls provide a serious danger to their spinal columns, and should not be used because of the unnatural angle it bends the spine at. Harnesses also cause these problems.

 

[Ambieruns10]

Guinea pigs need salt licks or mineral wheels

FALSE

Guinea pigs get enough salt through their pellets and do not require additional salt. They also get enough minerals through the pellets and their vegetables. They can also contribute to bladder stones.

 

[Jennicat]

Also salt licks and mineral wheels contribute to bladder stones!

 

[Ambieruns10]

Guinea Pigs don't need vegetables

FALSE

Guinea pigs should have at least one cup of fresh vegetables each day each. Good veggies to offer daily include:

Lettuces - Good lettuces are Romaine, Green/Red leaf, butterhead/boston, curly or belgian endive, raddichio and others. Do not feed Iceburg.
Cilantro (coriander)
Peppers - all colours, no seeds
Baby carrots - one small/medium per pig or same equivalent of regular carrot.
Chard, Red or Swiss is most commonly preferred
Zucchini (Courgette)
Corn husks and silks
Cherry/grape tomatoes (no more than 1-2 per pig)

Good every other day foods:

Parsley
Celery - chopped up small plus leaves
Cucumber
Broccoli leaves
Dandelion greens
Green beans
Summer and Winter squash (all varieties)
Chicory Greens

Some fresh foods should be limited to twice per week:

Fruits - apple, plum, apricot, melon, cucumber, peach, grapes and a few others.
Cabbage
Broccoli
Herbs such as Dill, Chives, Basil, Mint, Thyme
Collard Greens/Turnip Greens/Mustard Greens
Kale
Spinach (in small amounts)
Asparagus
Beets
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Sweetcorn on the cob
Pumpkin
Turnips

Other foods, such as radishes, banana, sweet potato and beet greens should only be given as occasional treats, say once or twice a month.

Vegetables are important to provide essential vitamins, and if provided with a good variety of fresh foods daily, there is rarely a reason for supplements of any kind to be given.

 

[luvnature]

1000+ thumbsup!:thumbsup: on this informative thread!!

 

[luvnature]

Pigges dont need to see a vet

FALSE

Vet check ups are a must for a healthy, happy piggies.
A vet may be able to find things that we might miss.

 

[Ambieruns10]

Guinea pigs can use Exercise Wheels or Balls

FALSE

A Guinea pig could easily break their back in a wheel or ball. Their spines are not designed to bend that way. The best way you can provide exercise for your pigs is to make them playgrounds consisting of tunnels, boxes or build a loft on your C&C or C&C alternative cage. Also by giving the plenty of floor time daily.


Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home

 

[Skratikans]

Question..on the things that they could eat in moderation "Some fresh foods should be limited to twice per week:

Fruits - apple, plum, apricot, melon, cucumber, peach, grapes and a few others.
Cabbage
Broccoli
Herbs such as Dill, Chives, Basil, Mint, Thyme
Collard Greens/Turnip Greens/Mustard Greens
Kale
Spinach (in small amounts)
Asparagus
Beets
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Sweetcorn on the cob
Pumpkin
Turnips"

is it better to cook them a little or will it not upset their stomaches if it is given raw?

 

[Jennicat]

Don't cook any of their vegetables, it reduces the nutrients!

 

[Purple Monkey]

My three male guinea pigs live happily together without fighting. They have a nice long triangle run as a home. The main reason that males fight is if they can smell females, thats why my males are outside and my females are inside.

 

[Jennicat]

Female smell depends on the males in question. We house all of our males and females in the same room at rescue and dont' have problems. (Although in different cages, obviously) We'd rather not stick any pigs outside, so we just give them more room.