Broadstone Guinea pigs visited Cam House School in Gloucestershire as part of an Animal Care course we were running there during the autumn term.
The course was mainly practical and included the following rudiments of guinea pig care:
In addition to the above, the students also
Jane recently took part in a new initiative with our local school to involve school children with local businesses. Have a look at this video to learn more. Jane is on towards the end along with a furry friend . . .
Ensure your animals all have water during the cold weather. Even though your pets should be protected by secondary housing (greenhouse/shed/poly tunnel) the cold will still freeze their water. Water bottles used by guinea pigs and other small animals get frozen quickly and are unlikely to defrost during the day. Have a spare bottle indoors and swap them over regularly. Bottle jackets, bubble wrap and other methods of trying to keep water fluid during the winter tend not to work! This is because the nozzle tends to freeze first and prevents the water from flowing freely.
Try giving your Cavies warm water, ours love it! Ensure it isn’t hot though. You don’t want to hurt or damage their mouths.
Polytunnel Cleaning
Today the poly tunnel was cleaned with hot water and tea-tree oil. We used a make-shift cleaning wand that was made up of a metre length of ply wood, sponge, tea-towel and baling twine…thank god for baling twine to clean it with. It’s now ready for the guinea pig sows to move in at the end of this month. the weather is getting a bit chilly but we are still having some nice warm clear days so we are holding off their move until it gets a bit colder….OH and the other reason is that we haven’t sorted out their winter huts and runs yet ! 
This year we are using a system similar to the accommodation we give the ‘mums-to-be’ in the ‘maternity unit’. This is basically a run with plenty of room to run about and a single wooden bed. We decided to use this system because there was no way we could get all the hutches and runs into the ploy-tunnel and green house this year, without it being a health and safety nightmare. We had to think about cleaning and general husbandry and we all felt that the ‘maternity unit’ system gave us and the pigs everything that was needed to get through the winter months.
October saw the launch of the small animal shop. Still in its infancy, the shop will stock everything for you and your guinea pig (and other small animals) to live a long and healthy life. Over the next few months we will be adding more exciting products.
We haven’t had any baby Cavies for a few months. This was a planned decision as I (Jane) had to undergo abdominal surgery and I didn’t want to leave any of the girls without a competent midwife. Now I am back in the ‘saddle’ we are waiting for Ebony to have her first litter of babies. It appears that we have all been waiting an age for these infants. I examined Ebony this morning and can feel a head firmly engaged ! So fingers crossed, they might be delivered any day now…..come on Ebony PUSH !
Right folks ….it is time to start thinking about winter accommodation for your guinea pigs.
So decide which is the best place for your pets and start the ground work. Clear the junk and make the space accessible.
Suitable winter places are:
When you are choosing the space, make sure it is big enough to put their hutch and run in.
Plus, there should be enough space for you to clean them out comfortably.
Don’t put your cavies inside yet.
Although we are having wet days and nights, there are still sunny warm days. Your guinea pigs will be inside until late march/ early April, so let them enjoy the outdoors for now.
Ensure the floor you are putting their hutch on is safe for their tiny legs and feet. If necessary buy a length of ply wood to stand the hutch on.
Sheds can be a bit dark, so if you are putting you r guinea pigs in a shed over winter, ensure that you leave the doors open on days when it isn’t too cold. Guinea pigs need natural light to produce vitamin D and therefore stay healthy. Potentially five months in a shed could render their vitamin D levels low and this can potentially cause problems. Simply open the door of the shed and allow light to flow to your piggies. Some guinea pig foods do contain vitamin D, but daylight is the natural choice! Get cleaning and preparing!
Poppy
For us at Broadstone, holistic care isn’t about putting your guinea pig in strange postures and calling it ‘piggy yoga’ or giving them a yurt to live in. Neither is it about spending loads of money on the latest pet fads that frankly a cavy wouldn’t give a pellet poop about!
Holistic care is about spending time, not playing but watching. I have to confess that I can spend at least 3 hours each day just watching, looking and listening. This gives me so much information about our guinea pigs. It is only through observation that I can accurately determine if each individual pig is well, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. As pet owners and human beings we have a responsibility to Guinea pigs and the rest of the animal kingdom to ensure that the damage we have done by extracting them out of their natural habitat and into our domestic lives is readdressed. This is not to say that animals shouldn’t be part of our family life, they should. Animals bring pleasure, happiness and healing. Many studies have proven this. But what are we giving back to them? Hopefully a home where they are cleaned regularly, given a suitable diet and lots of unconditional love. But what about going that extra mile for them? This is the philosophy we hold dearly at Broadstone to truly understand each animal as an individual. To understand on a very deep level what is going on for them and to allow them to teach us about their needs beyond the physical care we give them.
We are entering a time of great change on this planet and things will never be the same again. There is growth and enlightenment happening all over the place; one of those facets is the way we care for and treat our animals. I (Jane) am very fortunate as I have over 20 years experience in medicine and complementary/holistic medicine. This experience and my innate intuitive gifts is what formed the foundation for my work with guinea pigs and farm animals.
So, this morning poppy was my teacher. I walked through the ‘maternity unit’ this morning to go out and let the chickens out of their coop and noticed that Poppy was somewhat slimmer this morning to the sizeable waistline she had last night. Over night she gave birth to 3 lovely jet black infants. Usually, I would have gone back to bed but not this morning. Supporting a new mum is really important and I wanted to make sure that all was well. So cuppa in hand I sat, watched and listened. All babies seem content. Poppy was communicating with her new borns when she is with them and during the times she spends away whilst feeding etc. Intuitively however, I felt that something wasn’t quite right with Poppy. There was a level of anxiety with her that didn’t match the normal ‘new mum’ picture. So during the few hours spent with Poppy, giving her healing and ‘being’ with her two things came to light.
Firstly, her milk hadn’t quite got flowing yet. This is quite normal. To improve this she was given dandelion leaves and homeopathic lac humanum 12c. This will increase milk production.
Secondly, she was feeling very vulnerable and lacking confidence to do the job of nursing and raising her litter. Poppy is not a bad mother, quite the opposite. Instinctually, she is protecting them and feeding what milk she has; but I feel she needs help to adjust to her new role. To aid this she was given from the Bush Essences range Five Corners for self-confidence, Fringed Violet for vulnerability, Bauhinia to allow change and Bottlebrush for mother/child bond.
She will now be monitored twice daily to see how she changes. Her infants were also weighed this morning and all are good weights of 91g, 104g and 116g.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin arrived at Broadstone just over 1 week ago. He is a Golden Self Teddy with a great temperament. He is a fab addition to the Broadstone Boars and we all look forward to seeing his offspring. He won’t be snuggling up to any ladies for another 3 weeks as he is still in quarantine.
Ebony and Olive are now outside in their permanent hutch and enjoying grazing on the grass and the odd glimpses of sun ! Pumpkin will be joining them towards the end of June in their hutch.
Rosemary and Thyme are now expecting their second litter. They will give birth towards the middle of July.
Daisy’s babies are nearly two weeks old. All of her babies will be for sale. Their details will be on the website by the end of this week.
Daisy's Baby #1
Daisy's Baby #2
Daisy's Baby #3
These are the pictures of Daisy’s babies that were born yesterday. All Cavys were weighed again this morning and are doing well. These baby guinea pigs are for sale. More details will be posted on our website after the weekend when we can provide more information about them i.e. gender, although at least one of these mini-pigs is a boy.
Click on the images to view full size…
Mini Pig 1
Mini Pig 2
Mini Pig 3
Daisy
Daisy gave birth today. She had five babies but unfortunately two of them died at birth as Daisy was unable to rip the amniotic sac from their faces quick enough.
The other three infants are lovely. All good weights and feeding well. Like Maisy, Daisy is a good mum and her babies are content.
We will take photos of them tomorrow. In the meantime mum and babies are getting acquainted.
We have decided to keep this little lady at Broadstone as a breeding sow. She is called Nutmeg.
Nutmeg
Maisy gave birth to two healthy infants on Wednesday.
Mini Pig 1
Mini Pig 2
An Oil Burner
Essential oils are useful tools to have in the guinea pig maternity first aid box. However, they need to be used with care and appropriately.
In the later stages of pregnancy (last 5 days) guinea pigs will benefit from the aroma of Lavender and Jasmine wafting past their noses.
Lavender relieves muscular aches and pains, is a relaxant and reduces maternal anxiety.
Jasmine is a uterine tonic and has been found to be a slight analgesic.
Using these oils in an oil burner is the easiest way to administer to the pregnant sow.
Put 1 drop (NO MORE) of each oil in a burner containing 20mls water and allow this to evaporate into the atmosphere until all the fluid has gone.Repeat this daily until she gives birth.
I am sure I don’t need to tell you this but please do not put the oil burner any where near the hutch or where your guinea pigs can interfere with it. Our sows give birth indoors so we put our oil burner on a high surface away from their tiny paws and twitching noses.
A word of caution. Essential oils although natural, can be highly poisonous and toxic to some animals. Do not assume that all oils safe for humans are safe for all animals- THEY ARE NOT! Do not use essential oils on any animal unless you know for sure, it is safe.
We will be launching out new website in Friday 7th May. The first phase of the website will link you from the site to our blog, facebook and twitter. This phase will also inform you of the litters of guinea pigs we are expecting and the ones that are for sale.
The next phase of the development will contain a shop where we will be selling holistic products. This phase is planned for mid august 2010.
The cold winter now forgotten and most of our cavies are now enjoying their summer munching on grass and dandelions. The pregnant girls are still inside and will be until late May, and then they can go outside with their infants.
Over the weekend we gave all their hutches a thorough clean. Pat did some hutch repairs and started to build some more homes for some new arrivals.
Everyone had a health check and was weighed.
We have also started to make preparations for winter food. I know…..summer has only just started and I’m talking about the winter! Never have been a girl guide but I do believe in ‘being prepared’! This year we will be drying a variety of herbs. This is to add interest to the kibble we feed and to also give everyone extra nutrients over the colder months. Let’s hope the next winter won’t be as hard as last!
The dried herb mix will contain:
Chives
We may decide upon other herbs along the way but these will be the main ingredients. We are even considering drying small pieces of fruit. We would love to hear from anyone who feeds their cavies dried fruits, in particular what fruits do you feed them? I am considering strawberries and apples. Does your cavy eat dried vegetables too?
Daisy’s tummy is becoming enormous! We recon there are about 4 babes in there. Over the weekend some tiny paws were seen kicking! Maisy isn’t so big. She is filling out though and the way her fur is beginning to lie makes her look like a toupee on legs. Will try and get some pics of her from behind and you will see what I mean! Both girls have approximately 26 days (no I’m not counting, she says lying!) until they are due.
Daisy
Neem is a native Indian tree but can be found growing in other areas of the world. Neem has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat many ailments. This wondrous tree belongs to the Meliaceae family and has been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and insect repellent properties. It is therefore effective in skin conditions that fit into any of those categories.
At Broadstone we have used Neem on our Guinea pigs and other animals, both neat and in carrier oil. We have used Neem in its cold pressed form directly onto the skin when the condition is of ‘Unknown origin’ and also diluted in carrier oils when dealing with skin conditions such as ringworm, eczema etc.
If Neem is the correct treatment for a particular problem result will be seen within 4 days of starting treatment. To-date we have found no contraindications or reason for NOT using Neem if other treatments do not work or you want to treat your animals holistically.
One of the advantages of Neem is that it does not irritate or destroy mucosa of the mouth. Yes, we have tasted Neem to test this! So it doesn’t matter if your pet licks at the Neem and ingests it; it will do no harm to either his mouth or digestive system.
Brynney
We are also using Neem at Broadstone on our 14 year old collie/German Shepherd called Brynney. She has spindle cell carcinoma on one of her front legs. Now inoperable due to her age we are treating the carcinoma with Neem and have found it to have wonderful properties such as:
As a general rule this is how we use Neem
Neat on anything that is open, has signs of infection or is of unknown origin. Apply every other day.
A new born Lamb
Diluted with base oil (we use grape seed oil) add a pea size lump of Neem to every 5mls of base oil. Apply daily or every other day as required. Use this for skin conditions such as ringworm or eczema. You can also use Neem in this form as an insect repellent on any animal that is affected by insects during the summer months such as horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, cattle and poultry.
There is no reason why essential oils can’t be added to the Neem mixture to provide further healing properties but remember that oils can be potentially harmful if your animal self grooms.
The information provided in this blog is given freely. It is generated through experience of working with alternative and complementary medicine for the past 11 years. However, this blog is not intended to replace good sound medical and veterinary advice. Please seek veterinary advice of you are concerned about your animals health.
Thyme and her babies
Breeding is a risky and serious business that can be both life threatening to female and infant regardless of species. When breeding Guinea pigs it is therefore important that both the sow and boar are at peak condition to take on the job of pro-creation.
Unless a species or breed is at risk from extinction there is NO reason why related males and females should mate. As far as we are aware, there is NO breed of cavy at risk from extinction so interbreeding should not be done. This will ensure there is vigour in the offspring and reduces the incidences of dead malformed babes.
It is our belief that there is a balance between nature and nurture when it comes to breeding. As responsible breeders we have to do everything we can to ensure that our animals are at the peak of their mental, emotional and physical condition to take on this mammoth task (nurture) and then it is up to nature to do her bit.
So even before you think of putting a boar to a sow what are the considerations?
As half of the boars genes will go to creating the mini-pigs he will need to be healthy. We choose to only breed from boars who have nice temperaments and who are not prone to aggression with other cavies and who have NO short or long term medical conditions.
The boar will need to be wormed and treated for external parasites at least 1 month before you put him to the sow. He will also need to have a general health check. This should include teeth, ears, scrotum and sheath.
Under NO circumstances should a boar be put to the sow if he has any sign of infection, external parasites or congenital abnormalities, such as misaligned teeth. All signs of parasites and illness should be cleared well before he comes into contact with the sow. He should NEVER be bred from if he has any congenital abnormalities.
Equally, the sow should also be checked for and treated for internal and external parasites. She should not be bred from if there are any congenital abnormalities.
At Broadstone we use the following preparations to treat internal and external parasites:
· Verm-X
· Green essence (Australian Bush Essences)
· Neem (can be used neat or diluted in carrier oil)
· Ivermectin
Diet should also be addressed when it comes to breeding. We flush the sow and boar for at least 1 month before mating. Flushing is used in farm animals before breeding and really is just a system by which you provide the animal with higher quality food and more of it ! This has several effects:
1. It increases ovary/testes activity
2. Ensures healthier ovum and sperm
3. Causes multiple ovulations
4. Ensures that the sow gains weight (she should not be obese though!) so that she has plenty of reserves
It is very important to provide both the sow and boar with extra seasonal fruit and veg to boost their vitamin and mineral status. We also give both the sow and boar a vitamin solution (Beaphar) pre-conceptually, as it has a broad spectrum of vitamins and calcium.
It is not unusual for sows to die during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. This is seen in many animals and is attributed to mineral deficiencies, in particular Calcium (Hypocalcaemia). Hypocalcaemia comes about due to an increased demand on the sows’ calcium levels and the slow response of calcium absorption within the body. However, it is important that the sow has a general increase of ALL minerals- magnesium, zinc, potassium as they are all responsible for the uptake and use of calcium within the body. So just giving the sow extra calcium will not be adequate as the balance is a fine one. Providing the sow with a high quality kibble and seasonal fresh fruit and veg should offer her all the nutrients she will need for her and the expectant litter. Why not grow her some dandelion leaves- she will love you for it.
Guinea pigs don’t ask for much ! When it comes to breeding ensure your sow feels safe and is comfortable in her surroundings. If you plan to make changes to your piggy’s surroundings do it BEFORE conception takes place.
You can try She Oak (Bush Flower essences) if you are aware that she suffers from PMT (piggy moan time). She Oak will help to balance her hormones and hopefully make miss-piggy happy!
Olive
Ebony
Some of Thymes and Rosemary‘s babies have now gone to new homes. However, the remaining mini-pigs have now been given a permanent home at Broadstone and of course they have also gained a name. So, we officially welcome Olive and Ebony to the family. Both girls are still with their mums. They will have their own new hutch in about 8 weeks time and hopefully will be able to enjoy their first taste of grass then.
Poppy
On 27th February, another little lady of approximately 4 months old came to live with us. Her name is Poppy and is the sweetest little creature we have ever seen. Poppy is going to be a companion to Maisy and Daisy as they are more her age than Olive and Ebony. Unfortunately, Poppy will be living in isolation for another week and then she will join her new friends.
At Broadstone, we always put new animals into isolation so they have no PHYSICAL contact with our other pigs. We always ensure that the new comer is able to see and hear other Cavies so that they are aware that they are not alone. During this period of isolation we introduce the new comer to the food they will be eating for the rest of their lives. This includes both fresh food and nuggets. We are also assessing behaviour, personality and health. We hope that during this time that any infections will be evident and be treated before they are introduced into the herd. This practice prevents the potential spread of disease throughout our Cavy family and is also used to ensure the correct placement of the newcomer into the most appropriate group.
Parsley now has a fully furred bottom and whatever the problem was, has now been cleared using Neem.
Daisy
Maisy
Barley
We began pre-conceptual care on Maisy, Daisy and Barley at the beginning of February (I will post more about this later on) and Barley was placed in with Maisy and Daisy on 1st March. After many nights of them furniture moving, Barley running after the girls like something from a ‘Benny Hill’ episode and general courtship, both girls are expecting their first infants in May. Barley defiantly does not hang around; although we have seen him be a perfect gentleman by taking ‘his’ girls their fruit and veg each morning. This is the most wonderful gesture I have seen Barley perform. He will take food out of our hands and carry it to where the girls are sitting. He will then come back for more. When they have their share of the fresh food he will take his own. So sweet! He makes his mum really proud!
Parsley looking cute
Parsley is now growing fur on his bald patch. Neem continues to be applied every 24 hours.
Today the boys were separated from their sisters and mothers.Rosemary had 3 girls and Thyme had 2 boys and one girl. Thymes daughter and one of Rosemary’s daughters will be staying with us at Broadstone. The other four babies have been sold.
To help the process of separation we put into their water the essences of:
The boys are now in an indoor hutch next to Maisy and Daisy to keep them company, until they go to their new home.
Parsley's bum !
Parsley has developed a bald patch on his rump. It is about one and half inches in diameter. At first I thought it was barbering but he is completely bald. His skin is intact and he doesn’t appear to be concerned about his bum being furless. As we do not know what it is; his bum was washed in warm water and tea-tree and then Neem was applied.
All Mini-pigs are doing well. We did have to hand feed Thymes triples for one feed only as we think she was short of milk at that time and they were all very hungry. However, after a healing session and a dose of Chamamila she started to feed and has been seen feeding her own and Rosemary’s babes since.
Mini pig in the food bowl
One of Thymes babes lost quite a bit of weight in the first 2 days of life. This was life threatening weight loss but after the hand feeding and some encouragement for mum to feed ‘him’ he has gained weight. This tiny pig started to eat solid food at 2 days old. We have seen him tucking into kibble, cabbage and carrots and is now going from strength to strength. This one is a fighter and wants to survive.
All the mini pigs are now 5 days old and are running around the run and playing with each other. This is such a joyous sight and hours of time is wasted watching these wonderful little creatures.
Rosemary and Thyme are each receiving healing on a daily basis and Olive to boost their energies.
Thyme was also given Poppy and nasturtium for some grief detected a few days ago. I can only conclude that this is for the loss of the one that was found dead on the day the pigs were born.
Both mums are doing superbly well. Rosemary is much more present with her youngsters. Thymes babies are more independent and willing to explore the hutch, run and food offered to them. What is nice to see is that they will both care for and nurse each others infants.
Mini pig
Mini pig
Mini pig
Mini pig
Mini pig
Mini pig
One of Thymes babes lost quite a bit of weight in the first 2 days of life. This was life threatening weight loss but after the hand feeding and some encouragement for mum to feed ‘him’ he has gained weight. This tiny pig started to eat solid food
at 2 days old. We have seen him tucking into kibble, cabbage and carrots and is now going from strength to strength. This one is a fighter and wants to survive.All the mini pigs are now 5 days old and are running around the run and playing with each other. This is such a joyous sight and hours of time is wasted watching these wonderful little creatures.
Rosemary and Thyme are each receiving healing on a daily basis and Olive to boost their energies.
Thyme was also given Poppy and nasturtium for some grief detected a few days ago. I can only conclude that this is for the loss of the one that was found dead on the day the pigs were born.
Both mums are doing superbly well. Rosemary is much more present with her youngsters. Thymes babies are more independent and willing to explore the hutch, run and food offered to them. What is nice to see is that they will both care for and nurse each others infants.
One of Rosemary Pig's Babies
One of Rosemary Pig's Babies
Thyme and Rosemary gave birth during the night. Thyme had four babes but unfortunately one died. Thymes other babes are looking fine and all brindle in colour. Rosemary also had three babes and are mixed colours.
The pigs pictured are Rosemary’s.
Neither girls have taken much water since yesterday. They are both eating well though
Rosemary and Thyme have still not had their young. It is day 66 since first Barley serviced them and so we wait. Both girls enjoyed the sun today and were seen sunbathing.
I removed their Raspberry leaf water and replaced with tap water as neither are drinking anything. This was lest they didn’t like the taste of the raspberry leaf. I am not too concerned as they are both are having plenty of fresh food and will absorb the water from these foods.
Rosemary showing a little 'bulge'
I have gone from a state of being excited to one of anxiety at the immanent birth of Rosemary’s and Thymes babies. Both sows are doing very well but getting bigger and bigger by the day. Rosemary is having a bit of trouble getting up the shallow ramp to the hutch so I have made a few cardboard ‘nests’ on the ground for her. Both girls are liking this arrangement and exploring the new sleeping places.
Thyme should be ready soon
We had to ensure that the girls kept warm in the freezing weather we have experienced within the last 2 weeks as this could potentially be harmful to them and their pregnancy. Although they are in a greenhouse and generally a degree or two warmer than outside, we were concerned about the temperature for the new babies. So we lined the walls of the hutch with cardboard and a box of straw was placed underneath the sleeping area to further insulate. With the addition of old coats, rugs and duvet to the top of the hutch this is keeping the expectant mums warm but with plenty of fresh air circulating around them.
Our car has been frozen to the ground since 2nd January 10 and so supplies have been gradually running out so thanks to Gilly, a friend of ours, we have managed to get supplies for the Cavies. In particular fresh fruit and vegetables. The vegetables I planted for everyone last year are under a foot of snow and so no hope of retrieving those at the moment.
Our usual glass water bottles have broken one by one in this cold weather and much to my displeasure, plastic ones have had to be used. My concern with plastic is the potential leak of carcinogens from the bottle into the water under freezing and hot conditions. This is something that would not occur in glass. But our glass ones have broken and it is difficult to replace them all when they are breaking so readily. So we may have to resort to plastic bottles during times when the temperatures are reaching freezing or below. At other times the glass ones will be used.
Today, I heard the most heart warming sound, that of a cavy singing. It was Thyme, one of our pregnant sows whose melodious tune made me stand and listen to her as she sung her song to herself or to her young; who knows but it was such a beautiful experience.
I had heard this singing before. It was a few days ago. As I stood outside the green house I could hear a chirping song, I wasn’t sure at the time if it was her and really I thought it was a bird! Today, there was no mistake, she was singing.
Guinea pig health plans now written and actioned. YEAH! It has only taken me 7 months to do it.
Barley was taken away from Rosemary and Thyme. I think he has done ‘the business’ now. I have examined both girls and think I can feel 2 foetuses in Rosemary but I am not sure about Thyme. I don’t want to be prodding them any further, so I think we will just wait and see.
It is also snowing and the ground is getting quite slippery. The issue of water bottles freezing is upon us. Currently, we have 4 bottles in use and 3 in the kitchen defrosting. Daisy and Maisy remain indoors. Their cage is getting too small for them but they are dry and warm. They won’t be going outside until March.
Rosemary and Thyme are drinking a lot of water and need to have as much as they need. This means that we are going out every 3-4 hours during the day to check bottles and replace them if needed. They seem to freeze more overnight though. The morning’s priority is to ensure that they have water that is fluid!
Maisy and daisy are becoming great friends and like to play games with each other. Maisy also likes daisy’s carrot pulling game.
Maisy and Daisy were introduced in neutral territory and stayed there for about 3 hours. Neither seemed to be bothered by the other and they did have some chasing games without aggression or fighting. So they both went into one in door cage together.
Today I Introduced Barley to the Rosemary and Thyme. Introductions were done behind a wire barrier to see what would happen- they loved him! So Barley moved in with the girls for a few months. All his birthdays come at once !
Everyone went into their respective winter shelters today. The boys went into their new poly-tunnel. Although they are not impressed because there is no grass and their runs were shortened, they are dry and sheltered from the winter weather. Rosemary and Thyme went into the greenhouse.
I was at some point going to write a blog about the fact that Guinea pigs don’t play with toys. They do play in other ways such a running, leaping and popping. However, Daisy has squashed my ‘cavies don’t play with toys’ belief, because she does! I have spent many a long hour watching guinea pig behaviour and had come to the conclusion that they don’t play with toys. I thought that guinea pig toys were a marketing ploy to get us ‘soft’ pet owners to part with our cash as non of our other pigs had ever used toys in their games before. When Bella died, I went out and bought Daisy a few new toys to keep her occupied. She loved them. Her favourite was a straw carrot that was hung from the top of her cage. Her favourite game was to pull the string so that the carrot would travel to the top of the cage, she would then let it go and see it fall again.
Maisy
The Passing of Bella created an issue and that was Daisy was without a companion.
So into our lives came Maisy a quiet longhaired pig whose sweet nature is bringing warmth into our lives again.
Unfortunately, Maisy is in quarantine for the next 3 weeks so Daisy won’t have her friend just yet.
Daisy is growing nicely and enjoying good health.
Things have been somewhat hectic and difficult with our Cavies since our last post.
We started to handle the news ones (Daisy and Bella) earlier than we would normally do because they were both really quiet and lethargic. However, over the next few days they picked up and ate and drank normally, but were still very quiet in their behaviour and I put this down to personality. But, it became apparent after about 6 days of them being with us that they weren’t well. One night Bella started to have breathing difficulties. Her respirations could be heard from another room. Preceding this, neither Bella or Daisy had any obvious symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infection. They both ate and drank well and were putting on weight, although it wasn’t massive weight gain and their noses were clean. Sneezing was heard from both of them occasionally but that was put down to a new environment etc.
That night I sat up with Bella giving her Aromatherapy, healing and ensuring she was hydrated and eating. She loved green leaves and that night she ate hungrily until each last bit was devoured. Even though she was eating and drinking normally, my intuition kept telling me that something was wrong! So after a night of careful monitoring and postural drainage she and Daisy went to the vet.
They were both prescribed Baytril 0.25ml, Daily for a chest infection. Both little pigs started to feel better after about 4 days of this antibiotic. Their weight increased and eating and drinking went on as normal.
Unfortunately, after 9 days of being on the anti-biotic, Bella lost 20g in a 24 hour period. It was decided that we would spend more time with Bella giving her favourite foods and sitting with her while she ate; just to monitor her more closely. She loved all foods given to her and put the weight back on within 2 days.
Daisy was doing well and putting on weight daily. She had no sign of illness and was happy. She was also seen to corn pop on occasions too.
Bella
Every day, we got each of the gorgeous babies out of their hutch for cuddles, play and weighing. Both girls were very quiet still but ate their food on our laps and made piggy noises in response to being petted. Each time I dealt with Bella, someone was clairaudiently telling me, that our little pig had something wrong with her and she would die, regardless of what was done for her. Each time I dismissed this message and the feelings I was also having about her.
On 4th November, I was guided to take Bella out of her hutch in the morning. She was cold, appeared to be dehydrated and she had no strength in her. This was critical time!
She was given Rescue remedy dermally and I set about rehydrating her 0.1 ml every 3 minutes. She was wrapped up in a towel with a warm ‘hot water’ bottle beneath her. After about 30 minutes of doing this she suddenly came back into consciousness and moved by herself. One hour later our beautiful Bella had a fit in my arms and died within a few seconds.
Devastated……………
But, in all apparently negative things that occur in life, there has to be positives too!
So what did we learn from this experience?
All animals come into our lives to teach us something regardless of whether the time they spend with us is a long or short one. It was an honour to have been there when she took her last breaths and left this world. It was also sadness we felt that this lovely little pig was gone and wouldn’t grow into the great being she could have been. She filled our lives with light and joy for the few weeks she spent with us and that is a great blessing.
God Bless little one and Thank You for being you……………..
We took the unprecedented decision yesterday to start handling the new girls. This was mainly because we hadn’t seen (or heard) either of them eat or drink since arriving here at 10:30am on Saturday morning. My main concern was that they were both really sleepy. I was concerned that this was a sign of dehydration and hunger rather than just being tired or stressed. With experience, hunger in guinea pigs normally takes over any fear or stress, and they are usually eating within a few hour of arriving. But, these two little ladies just sat in their bed and slept !
So out they came one at a time for a general assessment and of course cuddles.
Bella was the first one out. She is a very calm pig. She wanted to explore my lap but wasn’t frightened. There was no scurrying around trying to escape either. For me this was a very different experience from the one I normally have with Rosemary and Thyme.
I let Bella explore my lap. She didn’t want or need the usual towel technique so it just covered my lap with it. What was very surprising is that she crawled up to my heart chakra and then lay there, in that energy. She was contented then and allowed me to stroke her. She even ate some greens too ! The whole experience felt like she needed someone to feel safe with. My impression of her is that she needs more mothering/ nurturing energy. Although she was the right age to be taken from her mother, I may have left her there for another week or two if I had bred her! Good animal husbandry is about giving each creature what they need, not what is just ‘standard’ practice. Being psychic and able to tune into animals has given me the understanding that they do have individual needs beyond those of food, water and shelter.
Bella is going to be very human orientated and incredibly easy to handle.
As soon as I put Bella back to her crate she had some food and water. In fact she didn’t stop all night!
Daisy having a sleep
Daisy is chattier! She also crawled up to my heart chakra and lay there. Daisy is a little more independent than Bella and will probably be top pig in their hutch.
Daisy is also calm and will like being handled. Most pigs do like human contact but some just tolerate it. Pepper is the only Guinea pig that we have ever had who really did not want to be touched when we got him. He now accepts contact, if only occasionally and for a short time.
Daisy also started to tuck into the food when she was put back into the crate.
Overnight they have both been very active and enjoying their food.
New girls on the Blog………
Daisy
Two new little ladies joined the Broadstone Guinea pig family today.
Let me introduce you to Daisy and Bella who are about 7 weeks old.
These two are much quieter pigs than the other girls and they certainly can’t run as fast (maybe famous last words !)
Their first day here will be spent undisturbed as possible. The weather is so hot here today that we thought they should see the sun before it disappears behind the dark clouds of winter, so we have placed them outside for a few hours.They have food, water and shelter and so now they just need time to settle into their surroundings.
Bella
They are of course in quarantine from the other guinea pigs to prevent any possible incoming infection from affecting the whole herd. As the weather is starting to get cold at night, these two will be spending the next two- three weeks indoors and living in a plastic indoor crate. They will then be transferred into a winter hutch in the poly tunnel along with the boys to keep them company once their quarantine is over.
Rosemary and Thyme will be spending the winter in the green house together.
Rosemary and Thyme enjoying lettuce
So now at Broadstone, all the hutches have had their last deep clean before Winter and the smell of lavender and eucalyptus radiating from them is great.
Everyone is enjoying the last apples and they are having a rare treat of fresh lettuce out of the green house.
Poly Tunnel
The Poly tunnel is now in place and is almost ready for its’ Winter guests. We have decided not to lay the hutches directly into the grass as it will be both sodden and eaten to an inch of it’s life by the spring. So each hutch will be laid on top of pallets and hardboard. We did this last year and was very successfully. This will make cleaning easier and of course it will be more hygienic than keeping them on the same muddy ground for the next 5-6 months.
The guinea pigs winter food of cabbage, carrots, beans, broccoli and cauliflower are growing well. The recent warm weather has made such a difference to their growth rate. We expect to be harvesting some of these by December through to April; by which time everyone will be back outside again and happily grazing on grass.
And fingers crossed there might be babies too…
Tasty Apples
The guinea pigs are now enjoying the produce grown for them this year. The boys particularly like the red apples that are grown here and the girls favourite are runner beans. Generally, our guinea pigs are not fussy eaters but all have their particular favourite food.
cauliflowers
carrots
Today we planted cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. These will be used for winter and early spring feeding for the guinea pigs.
As they will have no grass to graze on during the winter it is important for them to have fresh fruit and veg.
In order to reduce costs and provide our Guinea pigs with quality organic vegetables we always grow our own.
Barley at the hay rack
During the winter our guinea pigs are fed extra fruit vegetables as they are not grazing on grass. Kibble and hay is freely available at all times. I like to give them a variety of fresh food each day.
Pepper eating a hanging carrot
I also like to provide enrichment activities for our guinea pigs. This can be as simple as hanging food from the roof of the run by a strong cord. All of our guinea pigs like to have their carrots hung up so that they have to stretch and reach to get a small bite. By the end of the day they would have completely devoured their carrots but this would have taken hours to do so!
These activities help them to exercise and stretch their bodies and minds as they would have to in the wild. I have found that carrots, parsnips, apples and cauliflowers are great to hang up and give the pigs hours of fun.
Feeding Frenzy
As the damp wet weather continues, our thoughts are being guided to sorting out the smaller animals for the winter.
Pig in a Greenhouse
Last winter we put all 4 boars in the green house from September until April (yes, it was a bit damp and cold last year). This was great, and the guinea pigs kept warm despite what Mother Nature threw at us. It is essential that guinea pigs are protected from the cold and damp during the winter. Therefore adequate housing is needed that is warm, dry and protected from the elements. Depending on your location, a hutch in the garden is not always going to protect your pet from the UK’s damp conditions. We found that the green house was an excellent way to keep them warm and give them plenty of light too.
To prepare the green house we had to make it safe for their little feet; so we opted to lay a foundation of chip board. The hutch was placed directly onto this so they could go up into their hutch and have a space to run about beneath.
The chip board was covered in wood shavings for hygiene.
I guess the only problem we had (apart from the knee high snow) was that their water kept freezing. We made thick bubble wrap jackets for the water bottles but to be honest, this really didn’t make a great deal of difference. We also tried pipe lagging and this didn’t work either. So if anyone out there has any bright ideas about keeping water fluid in the winter, don’t hesitate to give us your tips! We will try anything as our pigs drink loads of water and really don’t like it solid!
This year we have been considering alternative winter housing because we can’t fit 3 hutches into a small greenhouse. So we are looking into using poly tunnels. During our many outings to agricultural shows this year we have inspected many of these structures and they seem like a great alternative. We are at the enquiry stage at the moment; however, this will need to be turned around into action within the next 6 weeks.
So, watch this space dear reader.
Sage in the Greenhouse
Thyme is now completely clear of ringworm. Rosemary still has one patch on her shoulder.
They are still living in doors in a plastic indoor cage and I plan to put them both back outside permanently at the end of this week (weather permitting).
Rosemary taking Her medicine
Thyme has finished her course of Itrafungal, which is a vet prescribed medicine. Rosemary will have 2 more days of this medicine. They both continue to have graphites 30c, which is a homoeopathic remedy for skin problems and green essence which is for internal parasites and fungal infections.
Rosemary is also still having my neem, grapeseed oil and tea tree oil mix applied directly onto her skin.
I found that Thymes’ skin responded more quickly to the oil but Rosemarys’ skin is slower to react. I can only conclude that this is because Rosemary was very scabby and her skin looked thickened when she was first infested. So it is taking longer for the oil to penetrate the skin. Whereas, Thyme just had fur loss and small ‘puncture-like’ marks on her skin. These went within 24 hours of application.
Bio-security is still in place and I (Jane) am the only one who is handling the girls. Gloves are used once only, then disposed of. Thorough hand and arm washing is constantly done after ANY exposure to the girls (even just feeding or water changing). Clothing has to be also changed when they have been handled. This has meant that I have had to really think about my daily animal routines so there is not a constant clothes changing mania going on.
So far this has been successful and no one else has developed ringworm.
Pat and I have been taking Graphites 30c daily as a preventative measure.
Barley came indoors last night for cuddles and to watch a DVD with us. He had such a lovely time and thanked us for the carrots, tickles and loves by peeing down Pats leg. That’s my boy !
Barley Guinea Pig
Rosemary and Thyme had a bath to remove the oil I had been applying over the last few days.
Bathing wasn’t their favourite activity of the day but they did look cute being dried in their towel.
Thymes’ skin is much better and her fur is starting to grow back.
Rosemary has just one patch on her skin which doesn’t look as sore as it did a few days ago.
Thyme in the bath
Thyme drying off
Rosemary in the bath
Rosemary drying off
Poor rosemary now has ringworm.
Ringworm on Guinea Pig
This was inevitable as both she and Thyme had been together since 4th July. She has developed it on her shoulder. The rest of her body is clear. She is now having allopathic medication as well as complementary medication.
Pat started the annual maintenance on the Guinea pig hutches today.
On another note, Worming the chickens isn’t going so good. They won’t eat it !
Thymes skin is SO much better. The scabs have disappeared and there is new fur growing.
Ringworm after 24 hours
There is no sign of ringworm on Rosemary.
Both girls are eating and drinking really well. Apart from looking really greasy, they are fine. I have been looking for a suitable chemical free shampoo for them as at some point all this oil will need to come off.
Little Thyme was diagnosed with ringworm today. Rosemary is clear at the moment.
Ringworm on Guinea Pig
The vet had prescribed Thyme itrafungal.
We decided not to separate the girls as Rosemary had been in contact with Thyme for the last 4 weeks so would develop it anyway if she was going to.
So Rosemary is now being treated prophylactically with an oil mix containing:
• 20ml Grapeseed oil
• Half teaspoon neem oil
• 1 drop tea tree oil
This is being rubbed into her skin once daily. It is hoped that during grooming that she will ingest some of the neem oil which will rid her of any internal parasites etc. Only 1 drop of tea tree is put into this mix as tea tree in larger concentrations may damage oral mucosa of such a small pig.
Applying Oil to Thyme
Thyme is also being treated with the neem oils mix. This is also being rubbed into her body daily.
Both girls were transferred into an indoor plastic hutch so they can stay warm and dry. Plus a plastic hutch is much easier to deep clean when there is such an infectious illness.
Their wooded outside hutch was deep cleaned with jays Fluid, hot water and then undiluted tea tree oils. The hutch was scrubbed inside and out. The girls will not be allowed back into their hutch for at least 7 days.
Because ring worm is highly infections, Pat and I have in place strict bio-security procedures to prevent any further spread of this infectious skin condition.
This means that only I handle the girls. Any contact with the girls means that I have to wear gloves and change clothing immediately afterwards. Everything has to be sterilised or thrown away.
Pat will handle the other pigs and of course, Brynney and the cat.
I have put us all on a course of Graphites 30c homeopathy. This includes Thyme and Rosemary too.
Oily Thyme
Thyme enjoying the grass
The girls are loving the time on the grass now. We haven’t managed to renovate their hutch yet so we leave the door open and they hop in and out as they want. We are just shutting them up for the night.
And then they felt grass under their feet…
Thyme Enjoying The Grass
Yes you may have guessed. The girls came out of their hutch and into their run for the first time today. As usual Thyme was the first to explore. They ran around, leaped into the air, ‘corn-popped’ ( a movement where they turn 180 degrees in mid air). It was a joy to see.
After about 2 hours running around they were tired so they were lifted back into their hutch for a nap.
The Girls came out of their hutch for cuddles today.
When first handling Guinea pigs and getting them used to petting and being held, it is best to do this indoors. If your boisterous pig does decide to leap from your arms then at least he is contained in the house. We have never had a guinea pig escape from our arms- but there is always a first time. I wouldn’t want to be searching the undergrowth of the garden looking for my well loved pets!
So this is how we handle our Cavies for the first time and for the next 2 months.
Leave them in their hutch without handling them for about 7 days.
The only time they should be ‘disturbed’ is to feed, water and clean the hutch out during this time. We do this so that they settle down and get used to the noises and activities that happen in their environment. Guinea pigs will run away and hide at the slightest noise to begin with, but they eventually get used to sudden sounds and even the dog barking; so this flight response becomes negligible.
So for handling…
I am assuming that you have two Cavies!
Prepare the room you are going to be handling your guinea pigs in. By this I mean, shut the dog and cat out and any other pet that might become a danger to your guinea pig. Have an old towel to hand and a piece of fresh vegetable. We use carrot for this exercise.
Go and fetch your Guinea pig. This is sometimes easier said than done. They can run very fast.
If there are two people, then handle a pig each; if not please handle them one at a time. Guinea pigs may struggle when you first start to handle them. It is calmness, patience and kindness that will ‘win the day’.
Hold your guinea pigs firmly at your chest. Sit down and place the towel on your lap. Hold your guinea pig and place, very gently the towel over your guinea pig. You do not have to totally cover your guinea pig with the towel. Make a judgement. It is nice if they can see you but you want them to feel safe and secure during this time. Keep stroking and talking to him. Offer the piece of fresh vegetable you prepared earlier. Do not be surprised if he doesn’t eat it on this occasion. He will eventually.
The other reason for using a towel is that your guinea pig will undoubtedly wee or poo on you at some point during these handling sessions. The towel will protect your clothing.
After about 15 minutes, put your pet back into his hutch.
Repeat this procedure everyday (if you can) for the next month or so. By this time they will be used to being handled and the towel will not be necessary.
Remember that young guinea pigs go through a great learning curve. You want this to be a positive one so that you can enjoy your pet for many years to come.
During this time I would recommend the following remedies for your new pet:
When Rosemary and Thyme first came to us, I put grey Spider Flower and Dog Rose of Wild forces into their water bottles. This was mainly for Rosemary. I have never seen such a scared Guinea pig. She was frozen to the spot and wouldn’t move. After about 30 minutes we had to lift her and put her into a hut for shelter. She calmed down and recovered after a further 30 minutes. It took a further 2 hours for her to come out and explore.
Since that first dose, I have never felt the need to give either of these girls Grey Spider flower or Dog Rose of Wild forces.
Wormed the boys with:
This is the first time we have wormed the guineas but thought it should be done with more animals coming into contact with each other.
Glass Water Bottle
When we first got Guinea pigs we bought a selection of plastic and glass water bottles so each hutch had two bottles of water, one in the hutch and the other in the run.
Plastic Water Bottle
Within a short time we realised that most of the Guinea pigs preferred drinking from the glass bottles, regardless of where it was positioned. I can only conclude that this preference may be a matter of taste as the design of the bottles is very similar.
It could be that some of the chemicals leach into the water from the plastic bottles, especially during sunlight. For me, I prefer to add Essences and other vibrational medicines into the glass water bottles so now at Broadstone we give all our guinea pigs glass water bottles.
At Broadstone we leave the guinea pigs to settle in for about 7 days. This means that we don’t handle them at all during this time. We keep to a routine of giving them vegetables in the morning and topping up hay and re-new water daily. In the evening we feed them kibble and again top up hay and water as required. Apart from feeding and cleaning they are left to settle in.
Sage says 'hello' to Brynney
I believe that this set routine gives the guinea pigs security and confidence.
I always hand feed the boys their vegetables each morning. It’s lovely to hear them squeak as they run to me for their favourite foods. Each pig will take a slice of veg from me and run to a hut or another part of their run to eat it. They are also pleased to see their night time kibble being emptied into their bowls. This is my aim for the girls but this will be done slowly. The first lesson for them it to be handled.
Today, I put into their water bottle the following essences:
I selected these essences based on the girls’ energy fields. As a psychic I am able to tune into their energies and determine which essence is required.
Like all essences, if I chose the wrong one, it will do no harm and change nothing.
Girls’ hutch taken outside again today. Weather much brighter.
They are both getting more used to the noises of the house hold but still scarper when they see anyone approaching them.
It is raining loads today. Girls’ hutch was bought in doors for the day and night. I am a bit concerned that they may get chilled as I think they have been in doors since they were born. And after all they are babies !
Both girls did well last night and were well fed and watered.
Into their garden hutch today. They both hid for a short while in a wooden hut pat had made for the boys when we first got them. Hunger and thirst always gets the better of Thyme and in a few minutes of being in the new cage she was out and in the food bowl. It took Rosemary two more hours before she came out.
Two new pigs.
Thyme Guinea Pig
Rosemary Guinea Pig
Cute little ladies. Thyme who is beige coloured and Rosemary who is grey and white.
The girls were kept in an indoor cage over night so that we could ensure that they were well and behaved themselves.
Thyme was the one to come out of their bed first. She is the most curious of the pig we have to date. She fed well and drank water that contained the essence mix.
We always give our new guinea pigs Rescue Remedy when we first bring them home. This is to calm and reassure them in their new environment. It must be a very strange thing for them at first. To be taken from an environment where they are with many other guinea pigs to find themselves being taken from the group, put in a box, having to endure a car journey and to be put into an unfamiliar cage within an environment they have never seen and new noises they have never heard.
During the first night we try put them in an environment were they can hear things around them but is devoid of sudden load noises. We want them to hear our voices and get used to our sounds.
Anyway, Thyme did really well and I was very impressed by her behaviour. On the other hand, Rosemary stood in trance for a few minutes in the corner of the cage. Pat then lifted her up and put her in the bed were Thyme was. She would have felt safer and secure here. Rosemary only came out and fed when no-one was looking (at least that’s what she thought). This is in fact normal behaviour for the first few days of a guinea pig being in a new home.
When we first got our boys we didn’t see them for the first two weeks. Any sound and they would run. So the girls were a striking improvement.
Pepper On Patrol
In my wisdom (or maybe not), I decided to place both hutches together so that Barley and Sage could see the other two. Within 2 hours we had to part the cages so that they couldn’t see each other. We saw Sage on sentry duty along the boundary were we had placed the other run containing Parsley and Pepper. Parsley was just looking at him and I bet aiming for some form of confrontation. Sage was also starting to get aggressive to Barley.
So the boys have parted company forever.
I placed some essences into the water bottle of Sage and Barley. I chose:
They both drank the water enthusiastically and settled into their calm life together like nothing had happened.
In May 2008 Pat and I bought our first Guinea Pigs. They were both boars and we named them Sage and Parsley. Brynney (the dog) loved them so much (and so did we): that in June 2008 two more boars were purchased. We called them Barley and Pepper. And so we started to grow our very own herb collection. They all lived happily in the same hutch from the moment we bought them home.
All our guinea pigs have very different in their personalities.
Sage Guinea Pig
Sage is a tricolour pig and is very dominant. You can regularly see him posturing and shaking his bum at the other pigs. This and his clicking noises is his way of ensuring that is dominance is not challenged.
Parsley Guinea Pig
Parsley is beautiful red colour. He wanted to be dominant but Sage is too much of a contender for top pig position.
Pepper Guinea Pig
Pepper is a shy pig with a single rosette on his head. He doesn’t like anything new and lacks confidence. He has really lovely eyes. Pepper is a pig with attitude, you can tell what he’s thinking by the look on his face !
Barley Guinea Pig
Barley is a very confident pig. He is the first to try anything new and loves new things to do. I think he is the most intelligent pig of the bunch. Barley has short course fur which is typical of the rex breed. He is jet black.
Sage and Barley are the most verbal of all our boar pigs.
In September 08 Sage and Pepper were castrated. This was mainly because they were both in competition with each other for ‘Top Pig’ position. Plus they had got to an age where they were trying to mount everything and everyone in the hutch. To keep peace and harmony in the pig house ‘spherical things’ had to go !
Unfortunately for Sage these weren’t the only spherical objects that were removed.
On 28th May 09, I came home from a course and found that a fight had taken place in the pig house. Sage had received a laceration to his left eye. Immediately attending the vet we were told that it had to be removed. The next day Sage went back to the vet and had his eye removed. He made an excellent recovery but we took the decision at this point to split the guys up.
Building a Guinea Pig Run
So a plea on freecycle got us a new hutch for Pepper and Parsley. Pat made them a run so that they could have access to garden. The other two pigs stayed in the larger hutch.
Sage has had no problems since his eye was removed. He still loves to run around with his hutch mate Barley and is able to climb their ramp to the hutch upstairs.
Peace is very much present in the hutches and each pig seems to be more settled and attached to their hutch mate.
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