Guinea pigs??

[Scotslassie1976]

We are thinking of getting one, well 2 actually, as i read they are better with a playmate??
anyone got them?
tell me everything i need to know please!! :)

[Womble]

I'm no help sorry!

Where's Kermit??!!! She'll have the answers :)

[kermit]

hmmmmm
well, their better than rabbits in as far as they are not vicious and cant jump, which is handy.
But they poop alot.
they require cleaning almost every day. if you have them outside in a cage, they will poop in their sleeping quarters and not on the grass.
so they are probably a good option, their cheap, and freindly and quite likeable little characters, and dont breed like rabbits, their gestation is twice as long, and they only have a couple of babies, who are amazing as they are born fully furred , walking, eating and are just like mini adults.
Living in the sometimes frigid scotland, I would recommend an indoor cage, with the option of an outdoor pen for daytimes? they love to graze on grass and get some exercise. it is simple to just whack up a g.pig pen for outdoors, you just need a square of wood about a foot high (they cant jump) with no bottom so they can eat the grass (they dont really dig either)
you would have to watch out for cats though... it might need a lid, our cats have killed a few of our g'pigs. it was greusome.
they are cheap to feed, eat mainly pallets and fruit like apples and carrots and green leafy stuff. and grass. they like to sleep in hay on a newspaper base. they would be happy alone, but a mate would be fun. they live about 2-4 years.I think that is all you really need to know. Your kids are definatly old enough to look after g'pigs, lucy has had sparky since she was about9? and does fine.

[Jacana]

They are quite sweet but honestly I have NEVER seen an animal that Poops so much OMG - unbelievable

[kermit]

shes not kidding about the poop.

[Scotslassie1976]

Thanks :)
we'd keep them indoors, and i wouldn't leave them out alone anyway on the grass. (not that we're bothered by cats anyway)