AJuff Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I'm afraid the hens have come out on top of the children's interest/entertainment stakes. We have had two guinea pigs for 18 months now and the hens for six months. Slowly the guinea pigs have fallen out of favour as they are timid and run away when the children approach. The same can not be said of the hens, they come rushing up to them and the children find this very entertaining plus they lay eggs for them to bake with. It has reached the point where I have to ask the children to stroke and pet them. Finally my eldest daughter 10 admitted she'd rather have them adopted and convert the guinelu to another hen house! I am really shocked and surprised too as they had always wanted guinea pigs and it took me two years to agree. I feel they should show more respect for their pets, what if they go off the hens in another few months? I'm not too sure what to do now if anything? Any advice out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Personally i would rehome the g.pigs but i wouldn't get more chickens(runs and hides lol) as thats like a reward for not looking after their pets they nagged for. Surely its teaching them its ok to discard something they dont want anymore to get something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 The piggies are timid and run away because they have not been handled enough. Our 2 live in an indoor cage in our lounge and we have them out daily, cuddling and holding them they love it so much they purr!! One of them has a mouth like a fish wife and when she hears the fridge door open she thinks she's getting food and shouts her head off. They are let out daily as well we also get their run out in the lounge (in the winter, in the summer they have a run on the grass), my husband despaired at first but now he's OK with it and I would rather have happy animals than be obsessed with a clean and tidy house. The odd bit of hay on the floor doesn't worry me I just get the vacuum out! Encourage your kids to get them out more they are very rewarding pets and they love a cuddle (and dare I say it - a kiss!) - when they are used to it. If that doesn't work I would get them re-homed. Sorry if that sounds harsh (and for the lecture!) but someone would have them and give them a good home that's willing to offer them some time and love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 One of them has a mouth like a fish wife and when she hears the fridge door open she thinks she's getting food and shouts her head off. When we had guinea pigs they lived indoors and always thought the fridge door opening meant they were about to get some carrots They lived to be 5 years old and I have to say I do miss them. AJuff - if your children don't want them anymore it may be best to find them a new home but in my opinion I wouldn't get more chooks instead. As BarbaraJ says - you would be rewarding them with new pets in exchange for abandoning those that they already have. Children need to learn the responsibilty that animal care involves and that animals are a life long commitment not a passing want, to get rid of when they are bored. I don't mean to sound preachy - I've been there myself with my own children over the years - and as you yourself say, you feel your children should show more respect for their pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Sorry your kids have ding'd the G-Pigs - Not sure what to suggest, they prob are boring next to hens that come when called and eat out ur hand - Maybe it would be right to re-home them - but agree with previous post there shouldn't be a reward. We too have G-Pigs, which we adopted from another home when they got a dog - and they live in the living room and also outside when it's not blowing a gale too wet ot too cold (so not very often) We have just put our purple cube together and put the pigs in the run today - which they so loved, my can they sprint! But this is my question at last - In the pet zoo near us they keep G-Pigs and hens in the same area - Has any one put their pigs in the run with their chooks? Our chooks aren't being rescued till the 28th and as they could be bald and new, I wasn't planning on trying till I thought time was right and got some advice - I've read about chooks eating G.Pig poo as it is only half digested and still holds nutrients. Any thoughts appreciated Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 I only agreed to guinea pigs as they could live outside in a posh eglu. I don't do animals inside the house! Living outside certainly reduces the amount of handling time they have. When the weathers pants they just throw in the carrot and scurry back to the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 As an owner of 2 g-pigs and 2 chickens, I would think that tame g-pigs should be a more rewarding pet for kids. When I go in the back garden I am greeted by VERY loud excited g-pig squeaks and lots of excited chucking from the hens - However, once I have fed the chickens, they are happy – whereas my guinea pigs also want to be picked up, sit on my knee, stroked and stroked and stroked...... The critical difference is that my g-pigs have only got to be this tame and affectionate because they live inside in the evening and are handled every day. If I hadn’t done this, they would be as nervous and skittish as the day I got them and (from a child’s perspective) boring pets. My chickens needed much less effort to get ‘tame’ - they just learnt I brought them food! Part of me would think that you should make your kids commit to the animals they have agreed to look after – but that’s not really fair on the g-pigs if they won’t! When I was a kid I had a hamster I didn’t look after – I had one warning and it was given to someone else......and I wasn’t allowed another pet for about 5 years!!! (the lesson was leant though!). What about no chicken time until they have spent time with the g-pigs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Living outside certainly reduces the amount of handling time they have. When the weathers pants they just throw in the carrot and scurry back to the house. I must admit cudding a G/Pig in the warm whilst watching Eastenders is much preferable to sitting on a bench in the garden in the freezing cold!! I know having animals in the house is not for everyone, but in a way it's just like having Hamsters or Gerbils (only bigger!) and loads of people have those! If you clean them out regularly they don't smell, and they are so rewarding - real little characters, more entertaining than rabbits in my opinion. (I would adopt yours AJuff but my husband draws the line at 2 - we had 5 once - in 2 cages!!). I must sort my Avatar out I seem to have lost it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Our rabbit and guinea pigs used to live outside, until I realised that we hardly saw them/handled them/paid them attention anymore except for basic care, so to DH's initial panic I bought big indoor cages and moved them in... it made a huge difference, they were constantly sniffing up and squeaking when we were walking by or sitting not too far, and even though we didn't handle them that much more, we were often talking to them and they just lived right in the middle of the action... it was lovely... This being said, not everyone likes having them inside, and their accomodation is not usually very small, so space can be a problem too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 I'd have a job convincing the other half that I needed to bring the purple eglu inside the house!!!! And I'm sure he wouldn't even consider buying an indoor cage for them, not after the hundreds of pounds we spent on a bl**dy plastic house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 How about in a garage or shed. Mine g.pigs used to go indoors in the winter but not in the house in the shed, means its easier to take care of them too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 or...if the cost of a new cage is a problem......make one! When my g-pigs are inside they live in a cage I made. A shallow ikea underbed plastic storage box tray (its about 20 cm deep) with home made wooden frame with chicken wire to sit in it. It cost very little, gave them more room than a pet shop cage and its easy to clean out. They would still use the eglu in the day for exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Now the weather's getting brighter, how about involving them in making an obstacle course for the guinea pigs? You could even let them bang together a few bits of wood to make bridges or dens. Start collecting all the tubes you can find and maybe let them choose a new toy for them from a pet store. The obstacle course can be improved on as they come up with ideas, and as the guinea pigs eat their way through it! They could even set up a two-lane obstacle course and have races. I really think re-homing should be the absolute last option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 Still considering all things. Children cleaned them out last week, I thought involving them in their care more might help. i don't want to rehome them, they are so cute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 I've just been down into the garden to close up the hens and piggies for the night only to find my son had forgotten to open the guinea pigs up this morning even though he has been in and out of the garden all afternoon! I was so cross and upset for the little piggies. After a long chat to the children we have decided to rehome them. I rang my friend who has looked after them during the holidays a number of times and she has offered them a permanent new home. They will stay in their purple eglu with her and be pampered as they have been in the past. Her daughter is my daughter's best friend so they will still be able to see them regularly. They know that looking after animals is a full time commitment and they know there will be no replacements for them. They admitted that the arrival of the hens has been a distraction for them and the piggies being outside and down a flight of steps into the garden has contributed to them loosing interest. Despite all this my son is a bit upset about rehoming them but considering he can't remember when he held Rolo last I think he'll get over it and a valuable lesson learnt. I'll take them over tomorrow after church, as my friend put it; a special Easter present for the children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 AJuff I'm so sorry to hear that but I'm sure you have made the right decision, at least they will be near so that you & the children can all see them and have regular updates as to how they are getting on. Hope they will be very happy in their new home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 (edited) I think you have made a difficult but ultimately right decision - the most important thing is the piggies are given the life they deserve. I hope they are happy and squeaky in their new home and spoilt rotten for years to come. Edited March 23, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 We took the piggies over to their new home today and they look settled already in their new home. Whatsmore their children were over the moon to have them and have been so excited all day. I had coffee with my friend and all is well. We'll still be able to see them but i know they'll get lots of TLC that they deserve. i think the experience has been a lesson to my children that they won't forget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
