Northern Rivers

Cavy Society

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Our Aims are:-

• To promote and encourage the breeding and improvement of cavies.
• To assist in the promotion of cavies in general and to render assistance to any club or person.
• To provide an avenue for the exchange of knowledge and information between other cavy organisations and people.
• To hold regular shows or displays to promote the nature and care of the cavy.

SHOWS... Are held regularly throughout the year. Ribbons, Certificates and Trophies are awarded, and entry fees are low. Classes are divided into age groups and pets are well catered for.

An annual National cavy show is held in Naranderra at which cavies from all over Australia are exhibited.

BREEDS.. Basically pedigreed cavies are divided into three main types of coat length groups. Short, Medium and Long hairs and then into Breed groups and/or into individual breeds, for example in the Shorthairs there are Selfs (all one colour), Agoutis (the top half of each hair is tipped in a contrasting colour to the bottom half) and Marked (two or more colours in a pattern on the cavy). They can then be classed in individual breeds, Self Blacks, Self Whites, Golden Agoutis, Silver Agoutis, Dalmatians, Rainbows. All clubs have a show schedule and are easy to understand.

STUDS.. There are cavy clubs all over Australia so Studs are registered nationally with the Australian National Cavy Council. The cost is $15 and forms are available from the Secretary, most clubs in Australia do not recognise any offspring from pedigreed parents as pedigreed (they cannot be sold or shown as such) unless they have registered a stud name.

NEWSLETTER.. Members are advised and informed of any information or club activity through a newsletter called "KV CHATTERS" which is issued regularly throughout the year.

MEMBERSHIP FEES... These are due on the 1st of July annually, they are kept to minimum, aiming to cover costs only. Current Fees are:- Initial Joining fee of $2.00 (paid only once) + either, Junior $5.00; Pensioner $5.00; Single Senior $12.00; Family (2 adults + children) $15.00.  Our Club colours are Royal Purple and a Kelly Green

PURCHASING STOCK.... Cavies can be bought from breeders in this area or from other breeders around Australia and even New Zealand and England. Prices can range for pedigrees from $5 to $15 for breeding stock and from $10.00 upwards for a good showable animal. It is best to go to a couple of shows and look at all the different breeds and find one or two that really takes your fancy, find a breeder of that breed and ask questions, most will be only too pleased to help. They are easily transported to shows in the family car and generally require little show preparation for the judging table. In general, showing and breeding cavies is a fascinating and relatively inexpensive hobby involving the whole family.

Our show atmosphere is very informal and is regarded as a very good time out with friends and other families.

Basic Information on Guinea Pigs......

GENERAL...Modern cavies are all descended from their original ancestors from the South American country of Peru. The ancient Incas domesticated the cavy thousands of years ago.

The Guinea Pig is not really a pig at all, even though they are known as Boars & Sows they are in fact rodents and are more closely related to the porcupine than anything else.

Their gestation period is more than 2 months and they have large, fully furred and very quickly active babies which suckle for about 4 weeks.

DIET.. Guinea Pig or Rabbit pellets should be on offer at all times either in a wall dish (large half moon birdseed dish) or a heavy floor dish (a double or single catfood dish is good). Never use poultry pellets as they contain meatmeal which will damage the liver and eventually kill. Water should Always be available and gravity feed bottles are best. They can be fastened on the outside of the hutch with the drinking tube through the wire with the bottle hooked to the wire to stay in position.

Like Humans, Cavies must have their daily dose of Vitamin C and the best way to give it to them is in fresh vegetables, weeds and grass, fed to them twice a day morning and night.

Following is a Short list of what they like to eat

Carrots (all), Celery, Lettuce, Cauliflower leaves (washed), Sweetcorn (all), Cucumber, Pumpkin (not seeds), Apples, Pears, Bananas (leaves and skin), Beans, Peas, Grapes, Melons (water, rock etc), Oranges (no skin), Dandelions, Milk thistle (not thorny), Young dock leaves, Tomatoes, basically all fruit and vegetables. DO NOT FEED any Bulb vegetables (like onions etc) but root vegetables (like carrots, turnips)are fine, but be sure not to feed the tops as some of the varieties can kill. Rhubarb is definitely a no no. Make sure there are no toxic weeds in the grass or in the lawn such as Oxalis. Anything which exudes a sticky white sap/milk avoid. The best rule to follow is If in Doubt Don't Feed.

HOUSING...A cavy needs protection against dogs, cats and maybe other animals so an outside hutch needs to be very strong with an enclosed space at one end with a floor up off the ground for shelter in various weather conditions. Bedding is quite a simple matter of a lining of newspaper with a layer of straw/hay/woodshavings (not dust) on top. To clean just lift out the newspaper and you can use it for compost.

HEALTH.... A cavy is a very clean and healthy animal when well cared for. They adapt better to cold than to heat though, so in our summer months make sure they have plenty of shade, but do keep them out of drafts as they can easily catch a cold and develop into pneumonia. If any lice or mites appear on or in the coat or skin then use a wash or dip, one designed for both cats and dogs. NEVER use Penicillin for anything on your cavy it will kill without fail.

An only cavy is a lonely cavy so give him lots of love and attention and he will call and come to you when he sees or hears you. Two sows will live happily together but do not put two adult boars, that have been bred to a sow, and unknown to each other, together, as they will fight nearly to the death. Two raised together from babies will live well together, provided that they do not even see or smell a female, for their whole lives.

N.R.C.S. Show Schedule

For more information on joining the club especially if in Australia email me by clicking on the bird J