[Gpdd] Behaviour - eating hair

[nicola atton]

My name is Nicola and I am fairly new to the digest, I like reading them 
because a lot of questions asked I have usually seen in my guinea pigs too 
so I always look out for the answers. I have four guinea pigs, Lily, Pepsi, 
Ruby and Pansy. I did have nine at one point but I have lost several of them 
over the past couple of years. It was quite unusual, as it was mostly the 
younger, healthier ones that died and in most cases quite suddenly and 
inexplicably. I still have my very first guinea pig, Pepsi. He is now seven 
years old and still going strong bless him. I think he was a runt, as he has 
always been very small and thin but he has the glossiest coat I have ever 
seen! Even though he is not a silky. He is the only male I have now but he 
lives with one of the females. And has lived with several other females 
before her, including a rabbit until she matured and started mounting the 
poor little thing that is. I think he has always been infertile, as he has 
never gotten anyone pregnant or been terrotorial in any way shape or form. 
He has quite happily lived with other males beforre as well. He is a very 
handy guinea pig to have, as I can put him in a cage with anyone and they 
are sure to get along.
I noticed what Diane said about one of her guinea pigs eating the others 
hair. well Lily is slightly long haired and her old companion (and possibly 
sister) Daisy went through a phase of eating her hair. I was quite worried, 
as I thought she would get a big hairball in her stomach. She was also 
taking hair from around the back/bum area. She would not do it all the time, 
only ever when they were in their hutch. Im guessing she may have been bored 
in her hutch. I know that birds will peck out their own or each others 
feathers when they are bored, maybe its the same with guinea pigs. Or 
perhaps you could try putting a strong smelling substance like vix on the 
area, this should deter him from from chewing the hair. i didnt do this with 
my guinea pig, as ive only just thought of it so I cant tell you if it will 
work or not but its worth a go. A word of caution though make sure that 
whatever you put on him is not toxic, in case it doesnt deter him from 
eating the hair and he ingests it.

I am also thinking of breeding guinea pigs. Not the ones I have now, as they 
are too old but if I got some new ones. However I don't know when to start, 
as I am currently at University and I don't know if it will be too much to 
cope with, but I dont finish uni until about 2 years time so im going to 
have to wait quite a while if I dont do it whilst at uni. Perhaps if anyone 
who knows how much work it is can help me with this. I would really 
appreciate it. As from September I can take take my pigs to uni with me, as 
I am renting a house and they allow pets.

Thanks for any help you can give me,
Nicola.

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