Top 100 Cavy Breeders

GiggleWigs

Hello Everyone

I'm brand new on this website and my first question to ask is what is the best bedding for guinea pigs? I have two female pet guinea pigs, I have owned guinea pigs in the past, and have always bedded my guinea pigs on newspaper, with wood shavings on top, and used straw in their bed compartments. I have heard and read of alot of controversy about using wood shavings (and straw) and really wanted to know how everyone else beds their guinea pigs, and how much it costs them and where they buy it from!

Also Im really interested in starting to show and breed my guinea pigs, they are beautiful girlies with great personalities! I'd like to know how you go about starting to show your guinea pigs and how you go about breeding them? Do people 'rent' their boars, like stallions are put to stud and you pay a stud fee? Or should I buy a boar? I think I need to buy a book on breeding thats for sure!

Thank you

GiggleWigs

P.s I live in South East London, nr Croydon Smile

Eggstar Cavies · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: Bedding used

Hi

First of all welcome to the Top 100 Cavy forum Very Happy

hope you enjoy posting on here.

Regarding bedding most of min eare on Newspaper, shavings and plenty of Hay (I dont like straw) but that my opinion. Some of my piggies are also on Shereded paper and they love hiding in that.

Re breeding, your sows have to have had a litter by the time they are a year so you need to find out how old they are etc.

Some people do loan out their boars, I dont as had a bad experience once weith lending one out he came back in a bad condition - if you have the room I would suggest that you buy your own boar, that way you choose what you want and his yours Very Happy

Good luck anyway

Sally
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I love hearing my piggies wheek at food time!

Wheekster · Second in Comand Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 545

Hi and welcome to the Top 100 Very Happy

For bedding I use Dengi Medibed which is chopped straw. Some people don't like using shavings as guineas can be allergic and some say is can cause kidney problems in later life. My piggies love the chopped straw, which is just as absorbant as shavings too Very Happy

As for boars, I love boars Very Happy

and think that every shed should have their own, LOL! Sally made a good point though about using stud boars, if something went wrong it could be awful Sad

Its not so bad if you know the person who owns the boar really well, but otherwise I don't personally think its a good idea.
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