BooBoo Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Hello - I'm new to this forum. I have two guinea pigs and yesterday I ordered my first eglu and chickens! They are due at the beginning of April!!! I was just wondering whether guinea pigs and chickens get on and whether there is any chance of cross infection between them? (i.e mites etc). I know a lot about g-pigs......but not that much about chickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Welcome to the forum! I just had to reply when I saw your username; our last guinea pig was called Boo Boo. We kept guineas for about 17 yrs and had 7 (4 homebirths) at one stage. When our Boo Boo was the last one left (she, and the others all had long, happy lives) I decided that really my guinea keeping days would be over when she went, rather than start again. However, whenever I see them, I'm so tempted, they are lovely animals. So, guineas & chickens. My 2 favourite pets! I had them at the same time and don't see a problem, except that the hens could try & peck eyes, because they're shiny. So, mine were always separated by the run. But, they all seemed happy with the close, but not touching, company. Sensible precautions need to be taken with both creatures to avoid parasites. I don't think having either one will have an adverse effect on the other. How exciting! You'll love having chickens & guinea pigs, they're just as easy in my opinion. (I've never had any other pets except fish.) Hope you enjoy the forum too, welcome aboard. PS....I might have to go & look at the guineas at the local garden centre next week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_M_Thomas Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I've just joined this forum to ask basically the same question! We received our Eglu and chickens this morning and when I saw the size of the run I wondered if our 2 Guinea Pigs could share this space during the day (to save having 2 separate runs on the lawn). Let me know if you get an answer and I'll post back here if I find anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Personally, I'd not put them in together; hens are very inquisitive and will peck at anything to see what it's made of. If they draw blood... well it isn't pretty, they won't stop then. I'd advise to keep them seperate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I would agree with claret. My guineas go in there own run on the grass. The girls free range around them and take no notice of them but I dont think putting them together in an enclosed space would be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_M_Thomas Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Thanks for the advice, we'll keep the Guinea Pigs in a separate run from the chickens. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 I posted the original question. I have had chickens and gpigs for a few weeks now and I keep them far apart! The chickens are just too 'pecky' and big to be near g-pigs. The first time they free ranged on the grass they were far too interested in the g-pigs and kept pecking at their run scaring them! .But to be fair to the chickens, random things such as the wind blowing a leaf can scare my gpigs, they are not brave creatures Now the hens free range at the top of the garden and can't even go on the lawn near the g-pigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happybunny Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hi, I have two guinea-pigs and four bantams and they seem to get on pretty well, but having said that they are all free-range during the day so the guinea pigs can run off if things get violent! The main issues seem to be that the chickens want to lay in the guinea pig hutch and eat their food! It's quite funny watching the guinea-pigs try and steal carrots back from the chickens and run off! What surprises me is that the guinea-pigs are not frightened of the chickens but my cats are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...