Summer and Zavier Welcome Two New Babies

Pets really are full of surprises. If I had to guess what these babies were going to look like before they arrived, I would have not guessed anything like what I actually got! 

Caring for Cavies in Extreme Cold

If cavies lived in an ideal world, the temperature would never drop below 18'C or above 22'C, with a relative humidity of 45-70% and a 12-16h light/day cycle. In the real world, clearly they can survive conditions that differ from the ideal.  However temperatures over 30'C are not well tolerated, particularly by long haired breeds, older cavies and pregnant sows. Likewise all cavies are more vulnerable particularly older ones and newborns at temperatures below 17'C.

Pedigree Update

YoYoMar "Night Star"

Months of patience have seen me finally blessed with another sheltie sow. This lovely lass has been nicknamed Star. She has a beautiful personality and has settled in really well. This makes her Enchanted Kingdom Cavy Stud's third pedigree sheltie. 

Pet Updates - Chilli, Cayenne and Cocoa.

 The Triplets Cocoa, Chilli and Cayenne - One Day Old

Pet Updates - Hasana and Marduk

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly cavy pups grow. The twins are now six weeks old. Here's some photos of Hasana.

Being a Newcomer to the Cavy Fancy

The cavy fancy really can be a puzzling phenomenon. The goal of the group as a whole, as it seems to me, is to share our enjoyment of and love for cavies. To improve each breed individually and the overall quality of the species. If no-one was fanatical and no-one cared enough to own pedigrees and breed purebred lines imagine what a miss-matched, muddle guinea pigs would be! The same could be said for any species really, dogs, budgerigars, horses. If everyone just cross-bred and pet owned we would undoubtedly of lost the purity of many great lines. So there really is something to be said for the animal elitists.

And Then There Was Biffo!

Summer

It was time for Summer to move into a maternity room in the shed. I had been thinking for some time about how I would rearrange and what would work best. In the end I decided to wire up my recently acquired cage to snake proof it and move Abby and Hasana in. I thought that Wobby and her three triplets might make nice roommates. Abby and Wobby have been together since they were four weeks old right up until they were separated to have their pups. 'Good plan', thought I. How cute it will be to see the mummas and their bubbas all play together. 

Hutches and Bedding

The set up in a caviary is often very different from the arrangements used for one or two pets. When you have lots more of anything, the management system needs to be different. This also applies to animals.

Diet

Just like people, the dietary needs of cavies vary depending on their stage of life. There are many theories and philosophies on what is best. Add this to the selection of pre-mix guinea pig feed varieties available at shops, markets and produce sheds and the decision can soon become confusing and overwhelming. 

Recent Happenings In My Cavy Kingdom

This month brought some more babies. This time a darling set of triplets born to Miss 2's beloved pet Wobby. They are tri-colours and with a merino father (Zavier) and long coat genetic's carrying mother, it will be a waiting game to see whether they get long coats or not.