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Post by yourztruly on Jul 2, 2004 21:42:56 GMT -4
Anyone here keep their piggie outdoors during the summer? I just built Scrabbles a nice outdoor run/hutch so he can enjoy the weather... during the winter he'll move back into his old cage and either our new shed or the garage!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 2, 2004 22:03:38 GMT -4
"Enjoy the weather"? Well, when the weather is good. But, what about when it is hot and humid? What about the bugs, or predators who can scare him?
Incidentally, what are your thoughts on the "GP's with bunnies" debate? For or against?
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Post by mishimouse on Jul 6, 2004 7:18:08 GMT -4
I don't keep my guinea pigs outside during the summer but they do get to go out sometimes. I think it's great that you're allowing him to stay outside during the warm months.  DF, I know you didn't ask me, but keeping guinea pigs with rabbits is just wrong and I know that possibly you and other people will disagree with me. Rabbits carry a disease called bordetella, which is fatal to guinea pigs and is easily transferred. Do you know how powerful the back legs of a rabbit are and how delicate the bones of a guinea pig are? How would you like to have your body shattered thanks to an animal that shouldn't even be living with you? Rabbits live with rabbits, guinea pigs live with guinea pigs - don't mix the two. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 7, 2004 0:24:04 GMT -4
DF, I know you didn't ask me, but keeping guinea pigs with rabbits is just wrong and I know that possibly you and other people will disagree with me. Rabbits carry a disease called bordetella, which is fatal to guinea pigs and is easily transferred. Do you know how powerful the back legs of a rabbit are and how delicate the bones of a guinea pig are? How would you like to have your body shattered thanks to an animal that shouldn't even be living with you? Rabbits live with rabbits, guinea pigs live with guinea pigs - don't mix the two. There was some debate a few months ago around here and elsewhere about that issue. A lot of people said yes; many said no. Not being an expert in either animal, I would not consider it. I will eventually get some GPs, someday. We also concluded that GPs are no less illness prone that other rodents (true?), and that if their cage and habitat is kept clean they will not get fungal infections in the nails (true?). But they should live in pairs? Any advice is welcome on this issue. |
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Post by hammyrat on Oct 6, 2004 10:54:47 GMT -4
I take it you are in the USA??
My rabbit and guinea pig live outdoors 24/7 all year!
They have a big mesh run with a small hutch it it to hide in from and when it is cold or wet we have a waterproof sheet to cover the run.
At night they are put into their big hutch (also outside but more sheltered) and we cover that as well because we have nosey and hungry foxes about.
And yes..the guinea pig and the rabbit live together! if we tried to house the g-pig with another he would kill them..i would know! and he pines really bad!
And i would also like to add that neither animals have ever had any problems in the three years!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 6, 2004 21:31:23 GMT -4
Where do you live? I mean, what kind fo weather do you have?
Here in NYC it can get below freezing for extended periods, and quite frigid at times.
The GP/rabbit together issue has been discussed many times. It works for many; for many they think it dangerous for the GP as an accidental kick could be trouble for the GP. I also believe their diets would be different. How do you address these concerns?
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Post by hammyrat on Oct 8, 2004 13:22:02 GMT -4
ooops, sorry its taken me ages to reply, just started to use this pet forum! ;D Well, i live in the UK and recently it has been VERY wet! and cold! for a lot of the year but not in the extremes! I mean, one year it went as low as -5 Celsius but that was at night and only one night so... The animals are ok in the summer house and if they are lucky they have a heater. But well..ours never come inside because it just isnt fair on them to keep adjusting to different temperatures. If we do bring them in they over heat very quickly! As for the rabbit/piggy thing... its a personal decision. In my case it wasnt. Its my brothers rabbit (in my care) and my mum fell in love with the guinea pig (also in my care) so after being intoduced... well, this is our third rabbit and our first guinea pig. First rabbit had a huge reoccuring abccess under his chin and had to be put down and the second died of an internal infection after thirteen days. Both times we tried getting another piggy but it just didnt work. Pigapig is set against other pigs but pines slowly away on his own so... Personally..we wont be doing it again because im not a huge rabbit fan, especially not mean over protective ones like mine. I agree, it could be dangerous. but if you work carefully and get a big piggy and smallish rabbit.. We have a pretty big Lop X bunny and a errrr Heinz Piggy (mix up) who is HUGE! well, long anyways! at normal sitting position (not hunched up though) he is over 30cm long! no kidding! As for the food..well, i only came across the issue a little while ago about the food. The vet was horrified when we told him they lived together but when he saw the animals he said as long as they carry on living as they are they are more than fine! He said he has never seen such a healthy piggy! As well as having a continuous supply of hay (whatever the horses have) and grass during the day. The have a bowl of rabbit excel (burgess) and occasionally some of the dyed rubbish to encourage them to eat it. Plus at night when they are put to bed they have their vegetables. The guinea pig eats about twice as much as the rabbit so the rabbit eats his during the day and gets a carrot at night (he has some lettuce during the day..hand fed so pig doesnt get it) and the guinea pig will eat anything! (literally) carrots, green beans, cabbage, sprouts, basil, parsley, cauliflower, cucumber ... anything! Whatever the vet says..i reckon the guinea pig is fat!! not over weight maybe! but definately fat! I will try get some pictures of the rabbit and guinea pig together, got loads of them grooming each other. also, of the hutch and run too. This is Pigapig ;D i cant resist showing him off!  Piggy lips!  Shaking in his bath!  Finishing drying himself!  Couldnt resist drying his hair the wrong way  ooo look what i found!  Awww! Also like to add that both the bunny and the piggy share their hutch and run with a Hermanns Tortoise during the months that he isnt hibernating. Only a recent thing but the all get along and i did have a picture of all three of them sitting in a huddle but i think it got lost when i got my new computer  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 8, 2004 20:44:24 GMT -4
Oh yea, I thought about a dwarf rabbit and a guinea pig, although I heard the dwarf bunny is a little hyper, or just needs more exercise. My bunny is sweet and gentle as could be, and attaches herself to my feet whenever I walk around. she flops under my chair when I sit down. So, there is no problem with diets conflicting with each other? I know the GP needs extra Vitamin C or something. (?). Yes, they do look almost the same size! Big piggie; smaller bunny. Glad they get along. My rabbit is not small, and I would be concerned for a piggie with her. I also have no idea if she would get protective or whatever if another animal appeared on the scene. But I have always wanted a pair of GP's. No special health issues with them I presume? As hardy as any other small critter? Thanks for the photos! I enjoyed them. |
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Post by hammyrat on Oct 9, 2004 5:01:46 GMT -4
well, either mine is odd and refusing to get ill or guinea pigs are not as hard to care for as people make out! We have one small proplem with the gp at the moment and *i* think its a fungal infection or whatever you call it. In the corner of his mouth, it hasnt effected him in anyway. But we found out that he has been eating the rabbits lettuce and apple. My advice is dont let gp's eat either. My rabbit is huge now! that was a while ago i took the picture and he has grown since. The rabbit gets over protective of the guinea pig! We had to have the rabbit neutered so now the gp is the problem but i cant afford to have him done and he isnt so bad now the rabbit is bigger! Well im sure you have read all the information you can and i think its a case of checking teeth regularly (like anyone but gps teeth can grow all the way up into their skull and kill them apparently! and their claws grow faster than you can cut them! But to see a gp 'pop corn' about is worth it all! pop corn= jumping high in the air squeaking and chirping when they are really happy! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 9, 2004 16:51:39 GMT -4
>> But to see a gp 'pop corn' about is worth it all! <<
Whay do you mean??
Yes, I had heard of fungal infections with GP's, but around the feet and claws.
Someone told me to separate their food so that the bunny does not get the piggies' food, and vice versa (?).
Is tooth trimming and nail clipping tricky to do on a piggie? I suppose my bunny will have to have her nails clipped, but I will have to find someone to help me hold her - it is either get help or grow a third arm!
That's sweet, the bunny getting protective of the GP. How does she do that? (BTW, are they both males?). But you also said she was "mean". How so?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is interesting, and I need to know all I can of someday I ever consider getting a GP.
Wonder how my bunny would react to a piggie in the house?
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Post by hammyrat on Oct 10, 2004 18:35:00 GMT -4
For claw clipping it is usually pretty easy. If the claws are black (dark or patchy piggy/bunny) because with light coloured claws you can tell where the blood vessels are in the claws and so avoid them. To start with, getting someone to hold the animal will help and if you still dont think you can do it, then vets will. Also teeth generally dont need clipping. They need checking regularly and if they do need sorting then its a vet job. Well, if you can train the two animals to eat from different bowl i'll be impressed! i couldnt! they refused and would eat each others food! i cant see one bit of differnce between the food and as both animals are healthy.. When i said my rabbit was mean..its a case of out of sight out of mind! my brother never cuddled him and still doesnt and the rabbit hates me, he is the first animal i havent clicked with. but he growls and lashes out at me but once held he is ok. he is over protective of his hutch and the guinea pig. For example if i just want to stroke the guinea pig he will let me but not if it is near him! hope you get a piggy!  they are great! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 10, 2004 19:30:02 GMT -4
Ohhh. Re: "popcorn". Funny word for it. I have heard GPs in pet stores make weird whistling sounds that I found hard to believe came from them! I will have to find someone I trust to help me trim my bunny's nails. Easier said than done (finding a willing helpful person). OK, the piggie's diet is the same as the bun's. I thought there might be a significant difference owing to varous factors. Protective bunny. I have heard ofthem being territorial sometimes; i.e, do not reach into their cage or hutch, but et them come out. I have seen this with mice and dwarfs, too. if I reach in the nip at me, bit are cool once picked up. My bunny is always cool, but I am polite enough not to reach into her place with her in it. Thanks for all the info. I suppose getting a PAIR of piggies is best. One of these days, such as when a few turn up in a shelter and need rescuing. |
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Post by hammyrat on Oct 11, 2004 14:37:35 GMT -4
Lol, i love the name 'popcorning' because they do look like popcorn in a pan. they will just run round in circles and all of a sudden just pop right up in the air as if they had been stung. Its amusing because on another forum people post because they think something is worng!
Guinea Pigs have the most incredible range of sounds! to the grinding of teeth in an angry way or in a soft purr sort of way. their loud 'yay food food food' shrieks. their 'mam mam mam' squeaks for attention. their happy chirping in time with theeir steps as they run about! loads! and i love it although my piggy is almost a mute.
The main difference in food is that gunea pigs need a seriously huge about of Vitamin C (all the fruit) and i dont think the high amount of Vit C is so good for the bunny. (your Poppy is beautiful btw) So if you have lap time with your guinea pig then you can feed it then!
Also, as a house pet..i have to tell you, they are way worse than bunnies for pooping all over! but they can be trained. it just wasnt worth it for an outdoor piggy.
A pair of piggies sound good! lol! what cage do you have for poppy? have you got/heard of Cubes & Chloroplast cages (C&C) they are great and easy to put a sepearator in and good for introductions.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 11, 2004 20:56:34 GMT -4
That would be so interesting all that popcorning and various sounds! That whistle I thought so odd when I first heard it! I am too crowded with too many expenses to buy some, but if a few need a rescue in the future I would consider it. Better here than less pleasant options for them. Unless Poppy has found a secret place to poop, which one day I will to my shock find  , she only poops in her cage litter pan. There is always the same amount in there, day after day. So I suppose that is all there is. She is a well-behaved bunny. But my problems with trying to get her nails trimmed will soon occur - there is no way I could restrain her with one arm. For those who missed the photos, here is Poppy:  |
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they are great!
, she only poops in her cage litter pan. There is always the same amount in there, day after day. So I suppose that is all there is. She is a well-behaved bunny. But my problems with trying to get her nails trimmed will soon occur - there is no way I could restrain her with one arm.