A new member of the herd
You may have noticed in my first post that there was only one Guinea pig listed in the herd.
And, that's not good!
Guinea pigs are very social animals, and they need the company of other Guinea pigs to be happy. Similar to chinchillas who usually are found in bonded pairs, Guinea pigs need social interaction from other piggies. So, even though Butter Stick lives in a bedroom with two chinchillas and a rabbit (and visiting cats), she needs her own kind to snuggle and talk to.
Butter Stick is a "re-homed" baby. One of my co-workers texted me saying his friend wanted to get rid of her Guinea pig and did I want it. I had the space and the financial means, so I said yes and immediately started doing research. All of my research pointed me to having more than one Guinea pig.
When Butter Stick arrived, I noticed she was extremely quiet for a Guinea pig. Piggies usually wheek, chatter, squeal, and "talk" essentially. Butter Stick was silent. I've had a Guinea pig before and have been around a few, so this was very odd to me. And, almost immediately, I made the decision to get Butter Stick a friend.
Meet Apple Butter.
Apple Butter is a young Guinea pig, who could honestly pass as Butter Stick's daughter! And from the get-go, they've gotten along! Apple Butter, in particular, follows Butter Stick around everywhere. She is super talkative and has actually gotten Butter Stick to talk back finally. Apple B also gets Butter Stick off her bum and moving around. When Butter Stick was introduced to Apple Butter in floor time, Butter Stick popcorned (an adorable jumping movement by a Guinea pig) for the first time. I made the right decision.
For the first few days, they were in separate cages. The cage I had in storage, though, was too small for Apple Butter (even though she's a third of the size of chunky Butter Stick). Guinea pigs, and all pocket pets, need space. Even though they can fit in your pocket, small mammals love to run. In the wild, their territories can be enormous, and the cages the pet supply industry creates do NOT fit the health requirements for most pets. I like my cages I currently have for mine, but honestly, I could do so much better for them, which is why they all get separate, daily floor time.
Thankfully for Apple Butter, I was able to provide both her and Butter Stick with a bigger enclosure. More on that soon!!
And, that's not good!
Guinea pigs are very social animals, and they need the company of other Guinea pigs to be happy. Similar to chinchillas who usually are found in bonded pairs, Guinea pigs need social interaction from other piggies. So, even though Butter Stick lives in a bedroom with two chinchillas and a rabbit (and visiting cats), she needs her own kind to snuggle and talk to.
Butter Stick is a "re-homed" baby. One of my co-workers texted me saying his friend wanted to get rid of her Guinea pig and did I want it. I had the space and the financial means, so I said yes and immediately started doing research. All of my research pointed me to having more than one Guinea pig.
When Butter Stick arrived, I noticed she was extremely quiet for a Guinea pig. Piggies usually wheek, chatter, squeal, and "talk" essentially. Butter Stick was silent. I've had a Guinea pig before and have been around a few, so this was very odd to me. And, almost immediately, I made the decision to get Butter Stick a friend.
Meet Apple Butter.
 |
| Apple Butter, left |
Apple Butter is a young Guinea pig, who could honestly pass as Butter Stick's daughter! And from the get-go, they've gotten along! Apple Butter, in particular, follows Butter Stick around everywhere. She is super talkative and has actually gotten Butter Stick to talk back finally. Apple B also gets Butter Stick off her bum and moving around. When Butter Stick was introduced to Apple Butter in floor time, Butter Stick popcorned (an adorable jumping movement by a Guinea pig) for the first time. I made the right decision.
For the first few days, they were in separate cages. The cage I had in storage, though, was too small for Apple Butter (even though she's a third of the size of chunky Butter Stick). Guinea pigs, and all pocket pets, need space. Even though they can fit in your pocket, small mammals love to run. In the wild, their territories can be enormous, and the cages the pet supply industry creates do NOT fit the health requirements for most pets. I like my cages I currently have for mine, but honestly, I could do so much better for them, which is why they all get separate, daily floor time.
Thankfully for Apple Butter, I was able to provide both her and Butter Stick with a bigger enclosure. More on that soon!!
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