Bubba was already grown so we never really knew how old he was when we got him. We lost him after having him for four years so my guess is that he was between 5 and 6 years old which is around the life expectancy for a guinea pig.
We think his type was an Abyssinian (Aby, or Abby), which is one of the oldest breeds of guinea pigs. It is recognized by the symmetrical rosette (hair radiating symmetrically from a center) and erect ridge patterns on its body and head. The fur is coarse and is found in a multiple of colors and color combinations. Our little guy was mostly white.
First thing we did was get him out of the ridiculously small cage he was in. I really hope that isn't what he was kept in all the time in his previous home. We found the perfect pen at a flea market just for rabbits or guinea pigs. It was four feet long and two feet high with plenty of space for him to run around. It had two big doors in the front and a larger door on the top, perfect for the frequent necessary cleanings. Guinea pigs love to stay cool and Bubba would make his water bottle drip so the bedding underneath would be wet and refreshing to his hot little belly during the summer. Nice for him but as we know wet bedding quickly turns in my mind to manure.
When the kids were small we had our share of hamsters, rats (my sister went to Vet Tech school and adopted two of the lab rats from the program), guinea pigs, mice (for my husband's Florida King snake) and chinchillas. So we learned, sometimes the hard way, how to care for these animals.
Though widely sold for odor control, cedar bedding is not the best choice for rodents who are low to the ground and have their noses right in the bedding. Use plain pine or aspen shavings for your bedding. Cedar on a continuous basis can become toxic to the liver over time. Being low to the ground and in a typical cage setting, guinea pigs can't do much to get away from their own droppings. It is very important to clean out their bedding at least once a week. If this job is neglected you will soon notice a visibly unkept looking little friend having no choice but to lay in its own waste. In addition, little manure balls may collect on the tender pads of your guinea's feet. They get hard and make walking painful. Should this happen, soak its feet in warm water before attempting to pull off the packed balls.
Another important thing we learned was that guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas cannot share the same food. Even though the pellets look the same, nutritionally they are different. Guinea pigs cannot process their own vitamin C so it is imperative to supplement this vitamin. You can buy vitamin C drops to add to the water bottle and guinea pig food does have extra vitamin C added to it but since we can never be sure how old is the food or supplement when we buy it, it is best to supply fresh greens.
Bubba absolutely loved greens so it was easy to supply the necessary 10 mg vit. C needed daily.
Whereas our chinchilla loves seeds and dried fruit, Bubba did enjoy an apple slice but adored his greens. From spring through frost he looked so forward to his treats from our outside weeds. Just be sure there are no herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers used on any of these pickings. From our garden he loved kale and calendula and from our foraging he loved chickweed, plantain, timothy grass,clovers, purslane, wild strawberry, chicory and of course dandelion. Below is a full list of safe wild plants. Our fridge supplied carrots, spinach and celery. Don't use iceberg lettuce. It has little nutritional value and can cause diarrhea.
A very important part of the guinea pig diet is a good quality grass hay which should be available at all times. Buy timothy hay or orchard grass rather than alfalfa. Alfalfa is too high in calories and can cause unwanted weight gain. Being the teeth of guinea pigs never stop growing it is very important to provide a continuous supply of hay. Chew blocks don't do a very good job in keeping their teeth trim. Whereas hay keeps both front and back trim, chew blocks only help with the front teeth.
Guinea pigs are herd animals and are happiest when not alone. If raised together it is possible to house two of the same gender in the same cage but watch for fighting as they mature. It depends on their personalities and size of the cage. We have the chinchilla pen right next to him and there is always a cat or two sitting there so I hope he wasn't lonely.
Bubba loved attention but didn't like being held. Trimming his nails always resulted in nervous shedding of hair all over the place and a lot of squealing. I miss the sound of his squealing to let me know it is morning and he wants his daily weeds.
Adopting this little guy wasn't just another pet to take care of. Each little soul gives back plenty to us if we just take the time to pay attention.
- Grass (common grasses are edible, avoid ornamental grasses), cat grass/wheat grass is also popular and can be grown in pots or containers.
- Clover (Trifollium repens or Trifolium pratense)
- Dandelion (Teraxacum officinale) - pick leaves, stems, flowers (even root OK)
- Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
- Blackberry leaves (Rubus plicatus) - pick young & tender leaves and shoots
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - leaves and flowers
- Caraway (Carum carvi)
- Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
- Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- Cleavers / Stickyweed / Goosegrass / Bedstraw (Galium aparine)
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
- Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaeae) - berries, leaves in moderation
- Cow Parsley (Anthiscus sylvestris)
- Dog Rose (Rosa canina) - ripe fruits
- Duckweed (Lemna minor) - aquatic
- Fennel (Foeniculum capillaceum)
- Field Violet / Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor)
- Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris)
- Lemon Mint / Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
- Linden / Lime Tree (Tilia cordata or Tilia platyphyllos) - flowers with
pale yellow leaflets - Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Plantain (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata)
- Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) - pick young & tender leaves and shoots
- Spearmint (mintha spicata)
- Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
- Silverweed (Potentilla anserina)
- Vetch (Vicia x)
- Yarrow (Achllea millefolium)
- Whortleberry / Heidelberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) - berries, leaves in
moderation - Wild Chamomile (Matricaria chammomilla)
- Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) - berries and leaves
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