Small Animal
Pickering has been educating and entertaining its customers for many years with the many exploits of the inhabitants of our Small Animal Room. Come pay us a visit and see our rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, ferrets, and kittens.
Whether you are starting off with your first pet or are a seasoned veteran we have the expert staff and advice to help you care for your animals.
Rabbit Facts
Types
Holland Lops grow between 4-5 lbs
Mini Lops grow between 4- 6 lbs
Mini Rex only grow to between 3-5 lbs while
the regular Rex can reach almost 11 pounds
The Netherland Dwarf reaches just over 2 lbs
The Flemish Giant can reach a wopping 13-15 lbs
Food
Some of a pet rabbits biggest potential health problems
concern digestive disorders caused by an impoper diet,which in
turn leads to impacted hairballs.
Their diet should include dry and moist food including
fresh veggies, fruit and a high concentration of Timothy Hay.
Foods to Feed
Alfafa, radish, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, fennel,
kale "bok choy", kiwis, peaches, watermelon, apples, pears,
strawberries and papaya can help decrease hairballs
Foods to Avoid
Vegetables that are high in sugar and starch which includes all types of beans corn, peas, potatoes, cucumber, red beets, tomatoes, zucchini, iceberg lettuces and celery
General
Their life span is generally between 7 to 10 years. Rabbits are Crepuscular, which means they are most active in the early morning and evening
Guinea Pig Facts
Types
Abyssinians have a harsh coat with rosettes and ridges, sometimes known as "cowlicks."
Peruvians have dense soft sweeps that can
grow several inches long.
teddy bear guinea pigs have a dense even coat,
but the individual hair shafts are bent or kinked,
they are sometines referred to a "Brillo Pads."
The skinny pig is a hairless pig, occasionally they
have patches of hair on its face and paws.
Guinea Pigs usually weigh about 4 lbs in weight.
Food
Guinea Pigs thrive on fresh high quality food with hay,
fresh veggies and fruit. Like humans guinea pigs cannot
manufacture their own vitimin C so ensure that
their diet has food that can provide them with
adequate quantities.
Foods to Feed
Sweet red peppers, strawberries, papaya, broccoli, kiwi, cantaloupe, mangoes, honeydew melon, squash. cooked turnips and cooked spinach.
Foods to Avoid
Avocado, chocolate, dairy products, meat, onions, potatoes, raw beans, shelled nuts or seeds and iceberg lettuce and celery.
General
Generally they have a life span of 4 to 6 years but many have reached up to 10 years. They are Diurnal, so they have the same schedule as humans, awake during the day and asleep at night.
Hamsters
Types
The Syrian Hamster is also known
as the Teddy Bear or Golden, they grow
to be about 5-7 inch The Roborski Hamster
smallest only is the sm reaching about 2-3 inches in length
The Campbell's Russian is also known as
the Djungarian or striped hamster, they
reach 3-4 inches in length
Food
Hamsters thrive on fresh high quality food with hay,
fresh veggies and fruit. When trying a new veggie
or fruit only provide about half a teaspoon or as
much as they can comfortably fit in their cheek pouch.
Foods to Feed
Carrots, broccoli, peas, spinach, squash, corn, green beans, they enjoy most fruit but remember to remove the seeds from apples because these are poisonous
Foods to Avoid
Iceberg lettuce, kidney beans, onions, peanut butter, raw potatoes, rhubarb and celery.
General
Genrally they live between 2 to 3 tears but Roborovski's often live past 3. They are Nocturnal they wake early in the evening and are active until morning.
Ferrets
Types
Marshall ferrets are not a breed. Marshall Farms is where the majority of U.S. ferrets are bred. The animals are sold to pet stores and then to the public.
Domestic ferrets only come in one breed.
There are however wild ferrets such as the
black footed ferret and the ferret's closest
relative, the polecat.
Domestic ferrets come in different colors
and markings but they are all the same breed.
Food
Ferrets are carnivores and food passes through
the digestive system of a ferret very quickly.
They also lack the ability to derive nutrition
from plant matter. Ferrets have a quick
metabolism along with a short digestive system,
so need to eat frequently usually 3-4 hours.
So provide specialized ferret food, along
with fresh water
General
Males tend to be larger than in females in length and weight. Females are about 18 inches long, and weigh between 1 and 3 lbs. Males weigh between 2 to 6 lbs and grow to about 24inches including their tail.
Ferrets sleep about 16 hrs a day, but they will readily adapt to your schedule.
