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The Clucking Fens
& Willow Tree
Mini Lop Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Peafowl
10 Minutes from Kings lynn Norfolk UK
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How to care for Guinea Pigs
Please take a read through our Guinea Pig care guide.
Hutch Or Cage
If you plan to keep your Guinea pigs indoors then a cage is the better option, if you plan to keep your them outdoors then a large hutch and run would be more suitable.
Guinea Pigs that live indoors would need adequate space to run, play, toilet, sleep and eat. Ensuring your guinea pig has more than enough room is always better than them feeling cramped and un-happy in a small space.
Bedding
Indoor and outdoor Guinea pigs need suitable bedding, this can be sawdust for the base layer of their hutch, straw is a good option for bedding/sleeping area.
We currently use Bed-down Excel which is a horse bedding, made up of straw and sawdust mix.
In cages you can use blankets, but it would be ideal to litter train your Guinea pig first!
Hay and More Hay
Guinea Pigs are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They’re built for a diet consisting of mainly large amounts of grass and leaves, as well as some flowers vegetables and fruits. GRASS HAY is the most important part of a guinea pigs diet. Examples of grass hay include timothy hay, meadow, oat, rye, barley, Alfalfa, and Bermuda grasses. Guinea Pigs should have grass hay available to them at all times. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins and encourages healthy GI motility and the appropriate wearing down of teeth through chewing, and also decreases inappropriate chewing of other objects. Furthermore, grass hay helps create a full feeling in the guinea pigs stomach to prevent overeating and obesity. It’s proper for all ages. It’s suggested to feed a variety of two or more different types of grass hay.
Food and Water
Fresh water should be provided daily.
Feeding your Guinea Pig the correct diet is important, Guinea pigs need a diet of hay daily and the rest of their diet is made up of kibble food rich in vitamin C, safe vegetables and fruits.
We currently use Timothy Hay, Green Oat Hay, RediGrass, Dengie Meadow Grass & Herb Mix, Dengie Pure Grass, Dengie Grass pellets,
Dry crunchy Food, Plus a mix of vegetables and fruits from the safe list.
Guinea pigs need a daily supply of vitamin C to remain healthy. it is important to feed pellets infused with vitamin C suitable for Guinea Pigs and fresh supply of vegetables rich in vitamin C.
Although it depends very much on your guinea pig's personality, boars are usually more outgoing than sows, especially when you first get them. A female guinea pig will take a little longer to get to know you, whereas it's quite easy to establish a connection with a male..
Guinea pigs don't have to be sterilized unless there is a good reason to do so. Surgery of any kind can be dangerous for these creatures, as they do not respond well to anesthesia
Guinea Pig - safe herb and greens
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Basil
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Carrots Tops
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Cauliflower leaves and stalks
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Chicory
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Coriander
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Dandelion greens
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Dill
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Kale
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Parsley
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Romaine lettuce
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Rocket
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Spinach
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Turnip leaves
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Watercress
Guinea Pig - safe vegetables
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Asparagus
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Courgette (zucchini)
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Celery
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Cabbage
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Spring Greens
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Cauliflower
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Broccoli
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Cucumber
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Parsnip
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Radish
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Bell peppers (remove seeds)
Guinea Pig - Safe fresh herb plants
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Basil
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Coriander
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Dill
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Mint
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Parsley
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Oregano
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Rosemary
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Sage
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Thyme
Handling
The best way to handle a guinea pig is to use both hands. This will allow you to place one hand on the chest of the guinea pig, being careful not to squeeze its delicate rib cage, while the other hand supports its rear. You can bring them into your chest to make them feel more secure.
Wood & Chews
Guinea Pigs love to chew, it is important to offer them safe chew objects to help keep their teeth in trim and to help stop them getting bored.
1. Willow
Willow is a common material for Guinea Pig toys. You can get willow twig balls for Guinea pigs to chew on and play with, or you can get bundles of willow sticks for your Guinea Pig. You can also get wicker baskets and furniture that are made from willow. Just be sure that these are untreated if you want to give them to your Guinea pig to chew on, or willow twigs and branches are safe for them.
2. Apple and Pear
Apple and pear trees are safe for Guinea Pigs. They can have twigs, branches, or leaves fresh from a tree if you have one in your garden. Apple sticks can be commonly bought in bundles to give to Guinea pigs. They often have a distinct flavor, making them a favorite toy among many Guinea pigs.
3. Rose bushes
Twigs, branches, and leaves from rose bushes are completely safe for Guinea Pigs to chew on. Many Guinea Pigs will enjoy eating rose flowers too. You can give them rose petals as a yummy snack.
Guinea Pigs - Keep them in pairs or herds:
You should always keep guinea pigs in pairs or small groups of their own kind. When kept alone, guinea pigs often become stressed, depressed and bored.
Lifespan of a Guinea Pig:
Typically guinea pigs live for 5-6 years, but some may live longer. Guinea pigs are active up to 20 hours per day, and only sleep for short periods. Guinea pigs are highly social - in the wild they live in close family groups of 5-10 guinea pigs, though several groups may live in close proximity to form a colony
Common Guinea Pig Health Conditions:
Guinea pigs can get different health problems, just like people and other pets. If you see any symptoms of illness or you’re worried about one of your guinea pigs, it’s important to contact your vet for advice.
Skin problems
Skin problems can be caused by a number of different things, for example mites, infections, ringworm, stress or over-grooming (when they or one of their companions groom too much and pull out the fur).
Common signs of skin problems include:
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Hair loss or bald patches
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Red skin
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Rashes
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Scaly/ flaky skin
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Ulcers, wounds or scabs
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Itching
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to contact your vet. Skin problems in guinea pigs can be very uncomfortable or painful and tend to get worse over time, so it’s a good idea to get help for them even if their signs only seem mild at first.
Breathing or lung problems
Most commonly, breathing problems in one of your guinea pigs will be caused by pneumonia or infections- but they can also be caused other issues such as heart problems and stress. Guinea pigs can also suffer from heat stroke if they get too hot which can lead to severe breathing problems and sadly can be fatal, so it’s important to take steps to keep your guinea pigs safe in hot weather.
Symptoms of breathing problems include:
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Breathing quicker than normal
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Wheezing
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Sneezing
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Discharge from the nose
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Heavy breathing
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Struggling to breathe
If one of your guinea pigs is having difficulty breathing, this is an emergency and you’ll need to contact your vet straight away while giving them first aid.
Lumps or swellings
If you find a lump on one of your guinea pigs it can be really worrying. It’s important to remember that not all lumps you find will be a tumor or lead to lots of problems. Abscesses, warts, and infected or impacted scent glands can all lead to skin lumps and many of these conditions can be treated or cured by your vet. It’s important to check your guinea pigs for lumps regularly- for some guinea pigs you may need to feel for the lumps, especially if they have long fur which can hide small swellings or bumps, so stroking your guinea pig is an important part of their daily health check. If you find a new lump on one of your guinea pigs it’s a good idea to take a photo of it, make a note of where it is and see if you can compare its size to a common household object, such as a 5p or 10p coin. It’s important to get any new or changing lumps checked by your vet, especially if they are red, bleeding, painful, look infected or seem to be causing problems.
Dental problems
Dental problems are common in guinea pigs and it’s really important to take steps to look after their teeth to try to prevent them. Guinea pigs’ teeth keep growing throughout their lives, so if they don’t wear them down they can grow too long, cutting your guinea pigs’ gums, cheek and tongue as well as leading to abscesses. Common symptoms of dental problems include drooling, not eating or eating less, teeth that look too long or out of place (especially the front teeth/ incisors) and swellings on the jaw or face. Dental disease can lead to serious problems if not treated, so it’s really important to get your guinea pig checked by your vet if you’re concerned.
Stomach problems
The most common causes of stomach upsets in guinea pigs include sudden changes in diet, infections and parasites. The main symptoms to watch for include diarrhea or loose droppings, not eating or eating less and weight loss. Stomach upsets in guinea pigs can quickly become very serious, especially if they lose lots of fluid or stop eating and drinking, as they can become very dehydrated and lethargic (having low energy). It’s also important to check for signs of ‘faecal impaction’, where poo gets stuck inside the rectum and around the bottom. This can be very uncomfortable for your guinea pig, so it’s important to check their back end every day. If you see any signs of stomach problems, it’s best to call your vet for help. This is especially important if your guinea pig has stopped eating or has severe diarrhea.