Taking pictures

I guess all of you have tried to take pigtures of their piggies doing cute things... (Or am I the only crazy lady who does that?!?)
As most of you know Bérke is a new addition to our herd. He is about Roos her age and they seem to get along pretty well. They both love to do zoomies around the cage when new fresh hay is on the way. And Roos loves climbing on things, and I think she taught Bérke how to do this.

So there I was looking at the cage and I saw that Bérke was on the doll bed they have for the first time (to my knowledge). So obviously I wanted to take a pigture of him up there. This is what I got...

... an empty bed, Bérke had just jumped of the bed

It's too bad there is not a little leg still visible of him scurrying out of view. But later that evening, when it was getting darking, so unfortunately the quality is not that good, I found Bérke on the bed again...

 

ah, he likes to munch the hay up there

And I even got a pigture of him on the bed through the side, which is quite exceptional, as usually he runs away when I try to take pigtures of him. He can be scared quite easily and is also a master of making noise! At first we thought it was the girls showing their discomfort to Bérke chasing them all the time. But no, guess again, it is Bérke making all that noise.

 

Posing like a pro...

Do your pigs like to pose or do they run from the camera as well?

Mieke, slave the Guinygirlz and Bérke

Friday Video: the Boy Bits

After our informative series of video's about hair styling, we've selected a few video's about keeping your bottoms clean.

short video


Long video


We cannot get Swarfega in the Netherlands. There probably is something similar on the market, but for us the dishwashing soap works well enough. We also really like the idea of distracting us with veggies (short video). Other than that, our procedure is more similar to the long video. So there you have it ;-)

If you like the Gorgeous Guinea Products, you can visit their site here: www.gorgeousguineas.com

We also found a video on anal sack cleaning for boars

So there you have it.

Have a nice Wheekend!

*evil grin* Sorry, boys. We do apologize ;-)

Friday Video: Trimming Long Haired Guinea Pigs

There are several ways to cut a long haired guinea pigs' hair. So we've selected several video's that use different techniques.

Trimming with scissors


Trimming with scissors and a comb


Electric clippers


Trimming a guinea pig is not easy. As you can see, there are several ways to do it and we selected these video's because they all had parts that we liked. Even the squirmy pig in video 2, because that's what happens sometimes, especially with some pigs (we are not naming anyone, but you know who you are!)

Our hair stylist told us that she had to use different techniques for every pig that she styled. Jan the Boar really enjoyed his electric clippers. To him, it was just a slightly noisy massage. With Sjeuf, the stylist had to hold her fingers between his skin and the scissors (kinda like video 2, but without the comb) to fool him into being petted instead of getting a haircut (boy was he surprised). Coco is the favorite pig when it comes to hair styling; once she has a big pile of veggies, the hair stylist can do whatever she pleases, just as long as she ends up looking fashionable.

May Queen

The first Monday in May is a holiday in England and is called May Day.

 

Years ago, people would gather May blossoms and a May Queen would be chosen from each village. Children would dance around a Maypole - a tall pole festooned with ribbons. No doubt festivies ensued which would have included a lot of fun and drinking. Now it is just a day off work.

 

Our May Queen is Agent Firenze aka Florence.

 

She was chosen as she was guaranteed to sit still for a photo but Slave did not expect her to gorge herself on May leaves instead of facing the camera!  Don't worry readers, May is safe to eat. When Slave was a little girl, she and her friends used to eat May leaves and called it the bread and cheese tree. She tried some just now and thinks that tastes change with age as she could not pick out the flavour that she remembers from her youth.

 

May is also caled Hawthorn.

 

Happy May Day from the Piggyfriends.

Friday video: Shh, Bérke is sleeping

Our new boar Bérke will flap with both ears when sleeping...

We would love to see pigtures or videos of you(r piggies) sleeping, cause who can resist that utter relaxation and furry cuteness?

Love the Guinygirlz & Bérke

Friday Video: 8 things your new guinea pig is trying to tell you

What do you think about these tips? Do you have more and/or even better tips for new guinea pig owners? We like how this was filmed, the pigs are very cute, and even though we never wait 2 weeks until introducing us to each other. It can never hurt to err on the side of safety.


Have a nice Wheekend!

Tall, Dark and Handsome

Dear readers of the undercover guinea pigs blog,

My name is Ties (pronounced as Tees. But you can also call me Mister T) and I am the new boar of the Winky team! Allow me to introduce myself. The ladies love me, and I love them even more. I am very cool an nothing much bothers me. Scissors, nails clippers.. No worries. The length of my hair or nails is of no consequence to my attractiveness.

LAPS

My hobbies are eating, sleeping and wooing girls, and I have to admit, I have Coco, Bo and the waitress firmly wrapped around my cute paws. Mind you, my paws are rather big. The girls have informed me that I qualify as a LAPS pig. I currently weigh 1380 grams, and I fully intend to get larger.

Scissors don't bother me

I checked out this blog, and saw that there is already another very handsome boar who contributes to this blog. But I am sure that Agent Zeppelin (aka Jimmy) and me can peacefully coexist. Maybe we should go out for carrot beers and join forces (ladies beware.. WOL).

Yours truly,
Ties

Agent Zeppelin Strikes Again

Agent Zeppelin strikes a pose! Which way is he facing?

Get guessing..

Calendar piggies of April: Amaris & Addison

The piggies of this month are Amaris and Addison Misfit. On our calendar they have a nice Easter pigture!

The misfits would like to share some pigtures of what the girls like to do.

 

They love to sit on Andy (their daddy) when he comes home from work.
All the misfits get turns. They love the extra cuddles.

Their misfit best-est friends are Riley, who lives  in the cage on the right.

And Charles in the cage on the left side.

  Amaris I think is in love with Riley and Addison is in love with Charles. They love to have long  brrrr brrrrr conversations about hay, fresh water, and carrots!
These two girls are such sweet little ladies. They both came to live with the misfits on Sept 1, 2012. When  the girls first came here to live, they would trim each others hair all the time. Now they are letting their hair grow out a bit. Its very pretty and so so soft.

Happy Easter to everyone from all the misfits.

Happy Easter Everyone from the Piggyfriends

We have been given our very first mission as Undercover Agents! We have the honour of wishing everyone a very Happy Easter. It is not very covert but we are new Agents and we have to start somewhere.

 

As you can see in our pigture, we got to meet the famous Algernon Rat, who called in to wish us a Happy Easter but it seems to us that he was more interested in Slave's chocolate Easter Eggs. Slave says that we sat very still for our photoshoot and she only put the kale in front of us to prevent us from eating the flowers, which would have been dangerous. We both love kale.

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter and if you do not celebrate this festival, you can at least enjoy a yummy egg.

 

All the best from Agents 88 - part of the Piggyfriends clan.

 

 

 

 

Friday Video: It's Smarter to Travel in Groups

We hope this makes you smile. For those of you who celebrate, Happy Easter!



Have a nice Wheekend!

Woopy: I turned 6 today!

Today was my 6th birthday, a milestone for me but also for my slaves, as I am now officially the oldest guinea pig they have ever owned!
Veggies and carrot beer all around...

Slave holding me as a 4 day old piggie

lil'woop - house - Dunya

With my old herd members Guiny and Dunya

This is how to use a house, right?

Me at one year old

Love, Woopy

PiggieDating: Our visit to t Kuufke

When we arrived we were put in this big cage and
a black, brown and white boar came in...

The first attempt at matching us was succesful: So this is our new friend Bérke,
which means 'little bear' in southern dutch dialect

Alright mom, stop taking pigtures... (Of course she took loads more)

One of the volunteers at t Kuufke had a soft spot for rexes and US teddies, so she also took pigtures of our girls with Bérke... They are now on t Kuufke's facebookpage! The text above the photo says 2 boars were rehomed (our Bérke and a new friend for our cousins Bo and Coco ;), a bit about what was done that day in the shelter and about the calender and thanking everyone who voted for them and the people who made the calendar possible.

So as you probably remember t Kuufke was the shelter who won our donation for this years' Undercover guinea pigs Calendar proceeds. We donated a total of 150 euros to them, they were really happy with it, and let us know that 6 boars can be neutered with our donation (Sorry guys!). This will help those guys find a new home with one or more nice sows.
Thanks everyone for making the calendar possible again by sending in lovely pigture, and buying the calendar. I want to send a special thank you to the people who donated extra, you know who you are ;) Of course we couldn't not show you a bit of the shelter, so here is a short impression

Some of the cages at t Kuufke....

The big pen with elderly piggies and other piggies that will not be rehomed

Spencer, he reminded us very much of our late Chico

Farouk, Piaras in the back

One of the piggies in the elderly group

The shelter also takes care of gerbils, hamsters, mice, rabbits...
And these two Chinchilla's...

and Degus, this is the ladies group: a big pile of degus...

Friday Video: the Cutest Animals

Even though we disagree with the title (guinea pigs are the cutest!). We must admit, they are pretty cute


Have a cute Wheekend!

RIP Sjeuf

We get writer's block when one of our herd goes to the rainbow bridge. We absolutely hate it when it happens and prefer to sulk quietly in a corner and blink away a few tears. Then we move on, every now and then enjoying the memories we have. We are not good at writing long memorials, even though every pig who lived with us fully deserves one.

This is why we are so late in telling you guys that our Sjeuf passed away on Christmas morning. J found him face down in the cage. We are still not sure what happened.

Sjeuf, we love you and miss you. Happy popcorning at the bridge and say hi to our friends from us.

Shy boy

Rest in peace, sweetie

Coco, Bo and Janneke

Piggie Dating: The time is almost here... (updated again!)

So upcoming saturday we will travel to t Kuufke to find us a new friend! Our Auntie J's girls Coco and Bo will also come along to find a new friend for themselves.

This means the piggies that are now in the shelter are actually likely candidates to come home with us!
The Boars
Currently there are 11 boars that are not reserved already, and who have been helped so they can join us without adding more piggies to our herd...

Mom still really likes Farouk, he was born in November 2013.

Farouk has been reserved for a new home...

Dad likes Rob, he's from February 2013

And then there is Berke, he's from Oktober 2011, so he is one month older then our Roos

A big favorite of both our slaves is Spencer, but he has not been neutered....

If you want to see all neutered boars, have a look here, the ones with text below it in red are already reserved (like Connal).

The Sows

There are 4 sows at the moment that are not reserved already. We have no real preference for them and will see how they are in real life this saturday...

Gaella has been rehomed last wednesday!

This last lady Tilde is already reserved, and still pregnant at the moment, but Mom loves her looks...

Tilde gave birth to 4 piglets thurday night, 3 boars, 1 sow

You can see her kids on Kuufke's facebook page:
See their Pigtures
Wish us good luck this Saturday, we will report once we have news...

Wheekz,
the Guinygirlz

Friday Video: Amazing Rat Tricks

Amazing rat tricks, need we say more?



Have a nice Wheekend!

Piggies of the month March

Rocky and Barney are my two mischievous 3lb.+ boars, and they are quite a handful, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Rocky is the black and white Peruvian, and I adopted him when he was almost 1 year old about 8 months ago. I have no idea how old Barney is, but if I had to guess I'd say he's at least 3, maybe 4; I've had him for about 2 years.
Rocky and Barney are special because they are the first two pigs I have rescued. Rocky came from a home where little kids were tired of him (I am his third home); at his first home he was separated from the other boar he lived with (Ugh). Barney came free from a horrible petstore employee whom he was living with (Barney had been brought back because he got 'too big').

Barney lived a peaceful and happy existence staring longingly at the sows until the arrival of Rocky. I had hoped to bond them considering Rocky had a friend before, but they hate each other with a passion. That is how Rocky got his name, because he 'rocked' Barney's world. Side by side in pictures is as close as they should get  :) Although the boars can't get along with one another, individually they are big lovers. Rocky loves to snuggle and he is so pretty, he could have been a show pig.

Barney is Mr. Personality, he is the most intelligent pig I have ever had, and he likes just hanging out with me. He is also fearless for a rodent, I always say he should have been a dog. Sometimes I put Rocky and Barney together during floor time with plenty of space and watch them like a hawk. One time I ran at Barney to stop him from going after Rocky and he didn't even scatter or flinch, he just looked at me like "mom, I was just protecting you from that horrible boar". He does the same thing when the actual dog rushes him in the outside cage (it's dog proof). I was also told by the cable guy last week that Barney "barked at him." I love both my boars, and those of you that have boars know how fun they can be!

Anneli with pigs Rocky, Barney, Nutmeg, and Clover.

We would like to enrol as Agents

Hello everyone. We are Lotte and Lola Piggyfriend and we were left at our new Slave's local animal shelter.

 

As you can see, we look exactly alike and some of the Piggyfriend Agents suggested that we might be able to join the illustrious ranks of Undercover Piggies as our powers of deception might come in handy. Which one of us is which? We don't know and Slave certainly doesn't either so she calls us by the collective name of Lottelola or else the Lima Ladies as we look just like Lima Piggyfriend from long ago.

 

We currently live together but when we have finished our quarantine ( not long to go now ) we will both move in with one of the piggy groups in the next room. We eat everything that Slave has offered but she is surprised that we do not immediately rush for the cucumber slices as, apparently, the other residents snap those up first.

 

Susie and Sally have already taken the joint name of Agents Gemini, which would have suited us well so Slave suggested we call ourselves collectively Agents 88. She says that that number is called "Two fat ladies" in a human game called Bingo and we think that is a perfect decription of our piggy shapes. Slave says that most of the Piggyfriends arrive here in need of a good meal or six but we must have been well fed in our previous home.

 

So, if we might be permitted to join, we will promise to use our sneakiness at pretending to be only one piggy whilst the other is off Agenting.

Friday Video: Why Guinea Pigs Need Hay

A good video on hay. Not to mention cute pigs. We ourselves get big bales of hay from a farmer as we don't have all the brands that skinnypigs mentions in the Netherlands. The bales of hay are actually meant for horses and since our intestinal tracts are very similar it works for us too (not to mention that it smells really good. Not an uncessary luxury when you live in a tiny appartment)

Have a nice Wheekend!

Pre-dating: More boars to choose from...

The Human was doing a little Whoop last weekend, as she read on the Kuufke website that more boars are planned to be neutered on 26th of March. so that is today the poor guys... This means that when we visit t Kuufke in a little over 3 weeks, we have more choice... But really was a Whoop necessary? The poor boars...
Daddy slave was not so excited as mommy, he feels their pain probably.

Boars
You can see on their website who will be helped today, intact boars now have a red text with 26-3-2014 behind their names (intact boars), or once all is done and the website is updated they will just have today's date (neutered boars) behind their names. Willem is now on the list, but as we said before he has already been reserved :( though this is of course very good news for him!

The boys who will visit the vet today are Coyle, Cullen, Cassidy, Connolly, Connal, Callaghan, Berke, Valentijn and Ferdinard. We think all the C boys have the Irish names Penny mentioned before! Turns out Coyle was not neutered today but Farouk was, he seems extremely handsome..

Mom likes Connal, he seems quite young in the picture but was already born in September last year. He came from a shelter in Belgium and is staying at t Kuufke since 21 December 2013.

Do you see any boars you like? 

Mom also likes Mika, he is still under the intact boars so he won't be coming home with us...

Sows
Gemma, Gaia's little girl, is still at 't Kuufke shelter, so she is still an option. But the shelter posted a really cute pigture of her on their facebook page, showing us her curious nature.

Me? Curious? What makes you think that?

Only two and a half weeks until we get to visit the shelter and hopefully find a new friend...


Wheeks, The Guinygirlz: Woopy, Daisy and Roos

Friday Video: Guinea Pigs Popcorning

The sun is shining here in the Netherlands, so let the popcorning commence!



Have a Sunny Wheekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Agent Yougie and Apollo! Edgeworth is feeling a wee bit under the weather, so he abstained from this photo shoot but he got into the green spirit!

Top of the Morning everyone!

On behalf of the Piggyfriends, Agent Minty ( aka Polo ) would like to wish everyone a very happy St. Patrick's Day.

 

Carrot wine all round. Slainte! ( Cheers! ).

Friday Video: James Bond Squirrel

Has anyone recruited this little guy yet?



Have an Adventurous Wheekend!

Piggie dating: Did we start too early?

Hi all,

We have another update about our potential new cage mate.
Maybe we started this 'looking-at-possible-candidates' a bit too early...

The Boars
Arjen, the cute boar, is gone, so that is good news for him as he has found a new forever home.
Willem, the CH(swiss) Teddy, has been reserved so he will leave soon to his new forever home.
Chip, the nice silver one, has also gone to his new forever home!
So that were our male candidates... they all found a new home, so they will not be coming home with us...

Our female slave really has a weak spot for Piaras, but he is still intact so chances of him coming home with us are quite small...
Piaras, born 11 February at the shelter

Mom loves his little face... unfortunately (for us) he is still intact

The Sows
As said Gaia has been reserved to go to her new home as soon as her babies are ready for her to leave. Her little daughter Gemma is still at the shelter, so she is still an option.

Mom and dad however were ooh-ing and aah-ing over this little girl named Chloe
Chloë, born 18 February at the new home of her mom Cathleen (Cathleen was rehomed without knowing she was pregnant)

our slaves: AAAAaaaaaawww, what a cutie! *melt*

There are more little ones who look cute, and we heard from our good friends the GekkeFlappies (Agent zeppelin and Pepper) that some new piggies arrived from Brussels, 2 of them are sows...

To be continued...
the Guinygirlz: Woopy, Daisy & Roos

Friday Video: Peter Gurney

Light a candle this wheekend..

Peter Gurney Memorial: this Sunday 9 March

From the GPDD:

"Everyone is invited to participate in our Annual Candle-Lighting Memorial, on March 9th, at 8:00 pm, in your particular time zone.  This is our annual candle-light memorial to officially remember Peter Gurney and all of our dear friends, both 2 and 4 legged, who are no longer with us, but are together at the Rainbow Bridge.  This has been our annual tradition for the past 8 years, and all you have to do is light a candle on March 9th, at around 8:00 pm, in memory of the piggies, and others that we want to remember.

For those who want to read more about this wonderful tradition of the GPDD, see the GPDD homepage, (www.gpdd.org), and the wonderful map and list of all the places where candles were lit last year.

Please mark your calendars for March 9th, 8:00 pm, and be a part of this wonderful memorial.  After March 9th, I'll ask you to post on the GPDD and let me know where you lit your candle - city, state, and country.

As candles are lit in each time zone, the light will move around the world, and all those at the Rainbow Bridge will see our lights, and know that we are thinking of them.

Audrey
(Remembering Gordon and Reese, at the Rainbow Bridge)"

Piggie dating: Guinygirlz update

So here is a small update, as could partly be read in the comments of our previous post.

We are pretty sure that the people that came to see Chip liked him, as he is no longer on the kuufke website. We are glad he found a new home but a bit sad we did not get to date this pretty silver boy.  Our mom's colleague already named him shadow.

There is now a picture of Gaia's daughter Gemma and her 2 sons on the website. See the boys Gijs and Goofy here

Isn't she the cutest?

In other good news (for us) Arjen and Willem are still there, though unfortunately (for us again) Willem is still intact so he cannot join us...