Sam and Dean

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Fri Jun 14, 2019 4:40 pm


Sammy wheeks at everything. It starts as soon as I walk into the room. It starts a chain reaction of various guinea pig actions. Dean prances around squeaking, Scruffy goes to chewing on his cage wires and Mr Bubbles has this quiet little squeak he does while climbing on his cage. It's so cute! It's like a system to let me know if everyone is ok.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Fri Jun 14, 2019 11:10 pm


Ah, yes, those guinea pigs are certainly among the "food aware" species :-)

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sat Jun 15, 2019 4:55 pm


Even when they have food, they squeak for more. They know when it's time to go outside for fresh grass too. They remind me if I forget. 😋

Bookfan
For the Love of Pigs

Post   » Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:10 am


They can be so wily. Sounds like Sammy = smart + greedy. :P

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:48 am


Oh he is. All of my boys are. I moved Sammy and Dean's cage to the bottom level of the stand I built to make room for the 3 huge cages and put Mr Bubbles on the dresser. He was starting to hide more than he ever did and stopped coming out to greet me. It's a little darker under there. Sammy and Dean like it. Anyway, the doors flip up to open and when I get into that cage, I hook them to the front of Scruffy's cage so they don't fall while I'm getting in there. Scruffy, being the attention hog he is unhooks it to make it fall so I have to pay attention to him. I laugh so hard and it's so cute that I just can't get mad at it. A handful of grass from outside keeps him busy so I can do what I need to do with Sammy and Dean.

It's his way of getting extra grass and attention. Smart little guy!

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Wed Jun 26, 2019 4:29 am


I had all four of the boys outside to graze today. Although Sammy and Dean are paired, they squabble when they go outside, so I separate them. That makes 3 separate enclosures because Mr Bubbles doesn't need to be in a 4 sided one. I usually set them up so that he has barriers on 3 sides and me sitting in front of the opening. He doesn't get scared and bolt. If something startles him he runs to me.

When they are outside in that set up, they graze pretty peaceful. They barely notice each other and eat their fill. Anyway, there we all were enjoying the last bit of daylight and some quality grazing time when for some reason, Dean decided that he wanted to get at Mr Bubbles. He started pulling on the cage right at one of the joints with his mouth and almost got it apart. I had to hold it down until he gave up. Once he figured out that he wasn't getting out, he went back to grazing and didn't try it again. When it was time to go inside, I found out why. Apparently, Mr Bubbles peed right on the edge of his area where Dean was eating grass. I could tell because it was on the grass. I always wondered if urine was a trigger between unpaired males and it seems to be the case.

If Dean had gotten in with Mr Bubbles, it could have been disastrous. Mr Bubbles is bigger and stronger than Dean and he doesn't like other piggies in with him. I probably would have a vet bill. So now I have to either come up with another idea or go back to having them out there in sets of two. I have lots of materials and ways to keep em seperated.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:15 am


More secure closures? Metal clips of some sort? Carabiners? Maybe with stakes for the walls so they can't be lifted out? I sometimes use giant binder clips, which are very strong.

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:28 pm


Would zip ties work to keep the joints together?

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:36 pm


They are kept together with zip ties, but they are getting old and brittle. I think I should replace them, but I also need a barrier between Dean and Mr Bubbles that they can't see each other through when they go outside. Or I can just rearrange them so they aren't next to each other. There's plenty of options.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:44 pm


I've been a little under the weather for the last week, so I haven't been able to do much above the norm, but I'm starting to feel better. I was digging through my building materials to get an idea of what I have on hand for a guinea pig playground I've been planning and I came across a log slice from a Birch tree one of my neighbors had removed a few years ago. It's about 10 inches in diameter and about 3 inches thick. Would it be safe to put in with the piggies to climb on and chew? I don't see why not, but I thought I would get some opinions from you guys.

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:44 am


I don't know. I'm always worried about sap being potentially dangerous. I'd *think* it would be safer if it were dried first, but maybe others can offer opinions.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:46 pm


I know it's better to dry the sap out of it. It was cut down 3 years ago and it was a much longer log when I got it. I cut slices off of it to use as the table center pieces for my granddaughter's wedding about a year after it was cut down. This thick slice is all that's left of it.

I think it should be dried out by now. I'm not sure though. The other thing I don't know is if birch wood is safe for guinea pigs to knaw on.

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