How To Set Up Guinea Pig Habitat

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Despite her name, the guinea pig is neither a pig, nor is it from Guinea. This adorable rodent originated in the Andes and became popular equally a household pet since being introduced to Europe by traders in the 16th century.

Their life bridge tends to be around 5-6 years, but the longest living guinea pig has been recorded by the Guinness Book of Records to live to the grand sometime historic period of 14.

While guinea pigs are modest creatures, they do have very specific needs in lodge to stay salubrious and happy. Find out virtually what hutch set up they need, and their other intendance requirements below.

What size hutch or cage do I demand for a republic of guinea pig?

A hutch for one guinea grunter should be at least 90cm long by 70cm wide, whereas for two should be at least one.2m long by 70cm broad.

The hutch needs to be a minimum of 0.7sq meter for upward to two animals, but 1sq meter is preferred if you have the space to spare.

Despite their pocket-sized size, republic of guinea pigs need a lot of space to run around in. Most cages which are marketed every bit guinea grunter cages are actually too small-scale, particularly for more than one beast.

The hutch must have a dissever sleeping surface area and prophylactic hiding places, pipes and shelter where the guinea pigs can retreat to when they experience afraid or need some peace and tranquillity (in that location must be enough places for all guinea pigs in the hutch to hide away simultaneously).

a guinea pig hiding in her hutch The hutch should be big enough to provide hiding places for your guinea pig

Best location for a guinea pig hutch

Republic of guinea Pigs do best when kept indoors, especially when they go plenty of attention from their humans.

It doesn't affair where which room in the house the hutch is kept it, simply be aware that guinea pigs accept very sensitive hearing and then keeping them somewhere quiet is recommended.

A room with access to the outdoors would exist ideal, every bit they should besides be allowed to graze occasionally – either through an outdoor run, or in a safe enclosed outdoor infinite.

If you must go on your hutch outdoors, it must be predator and weather proof and out of direct sunlight – in a shed would exist best. But brand sure you withal give your guinea pigs plenty of attention, equally they are sociable creatures! Our article on Keeping republic of guinea pigs outside offers lots of advice on this.

Guinea pigs must not be kept in garages used for vehicles, every bit the fumes might kill them.

Republic of guinea pigs do not do well in extreme conditions. They should not be kept outdoors if the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, and should be kept abroad from heat sources when indoors.

So not put them side by side to a radiator or fireplace, and non by a large window where they will get excessive heat from the sunday in summer, or a draft in winter months).

They are also small and vulnerable to predators – other animals should be kept away from the hutch, whether information technology is kept indoors or outdoors (this includes household pets), and the hutch should be predator proof if kept outside.

If yous're looking for a hutch, Jollyes sell a selection of hutches on their website.

What bedding should I use for my guinea pig?

In the wintertime months, brand sure y'all provide your guinea squealer with extra bedding to keep warm. The bedding should not exist make out of anything fluffy, as this can cause injury and health bug if ingested.

Softwood products, like pino and cedar wood, can besides be harmful to the guinea pig'south health. The best bedding for guinea pigs is hay, which provides the main component of their food (more on this below).

Guinea pig runs

Your guinea grunter's run should be big plenty to run around in, go sufficient exercise and to graze.

If you lot want to brand a run yourself, you should use a sturdy mesh, at least 16 gauge or less.

You should build the frame commencement, then that you end upward with several panels.
You should then attach the wire mesh. Yous can do this using either a staple gun or U nails.
You should trim off any ends of the wire mesh, and push the ends into the panels.
Yous can then attach the panels to each other, ensuring the wire mesh is on the outside.
You tin can practise this using self tapping eyes, these wait a bit like hooks. You can put them into the ends of the panels. You should then button coach bolts through the hooks, thus hooking one panel to the other.
Information technology's a good idea to also include a roof on the run, to preclude cats or foxes trying to get at your guinea pig. Discover out how else you lot can fox and rodent proof your run.

Don't be tempted to leave your guinea hog in her run overnight because foxes once more may try to get at her.

When indoors, your guinea pig tin can exist let loose to explore under supervision, but make sure she cannot escape and that cats, dogs and rabbits are kept out of the room.

Practice republic of guinea pigs need hay or straw?

Yes. Hay is vital to keep the guinea pig'south digestive system in proficient working order and should office as the largest ingredient in her diet. Make sure it is grit-free though!

Guinea pig food

Hay should be readily available at all times, and forms an important function of your guinea pig's nutrition. In winter, hay can be used as extra bedding to proceed your guinea pig warm, and will besides double up equally food (so should naturally be topped up regularly).

Water is crucial for the wellness of a guinea pig. She must accept a constant supply of fresh water, checked twice daily (in winter, information technology is important to regularly cheque the water has non frozen).

Guinea pigs besides need vitamin C to stay healthy (much like humans, they exercise not produce it naturally).

Pellets specifically designed for guinea pigs can exist purchased from pet stores and online at retailers though these can degrade over time (keeping them in a cool night identify helps preserve them), so many owners choose to give their guinea pigs vitamin C supplements in addition to the pellets.

Leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, parsley and kale are likewise a great source. Citrus fruits are largely all-time avoided.

You can buy some guinea sus scrofa nutrient and treats from Jollyes, who as well sell online.

Republic of guinea pigs and grass cuttings

Never feed your guinea pig lawnmower clippings, as these tin cause serious wellness issues. Allowing your guinea hog to graze on your lawn is fine, and is encouraged.

Grass is very important for your guinea pig'due south digestive system. In the wild, guinea pigs graze on grass, herbs and some plants, like dandelion. Grass is non just of import for their digestive organisation, but as well for their teeth, which abound continuously. Eating grass and other leafy foods helps to vesture their teeth down to the correct length and shape.

Fresh vegetables can also exist included in your guinea sus scrofa's menu, but root vegetables and fruit should just be given as treats, every bit they are non a natural part of her diet.

Avert making frequent changes to your guinea grunter's routine and introduce foods gradually.

Even with the all-time care your Guinea Pig could yet become ill. Our Guinea Sus scrofa insurance offers £ii,000 of vet fee cover, and then at times off illness you tin can focus on your Guinea Squealer, not the cost of handling.

Can you litter train a guinea pig?

Yes, but information technology may have some fourth dimension. Unlike cats and dogs, guinea pigs cannot communicate to their owner when they demand to 'exercise their business organisation'. They are also a lot less likely to understand what you want them to do.

However, with the right guidance, yous might yet be able to train your republic of guinea pig to potty in 1 certain expanse.

An of import thing to sympathize is that, in the wild, guinea pigs have no defence against predators. They do not attack and will just freeze if threatened. For this reason, they prefer to keep all of their action to dark areas where they feel rubber.

If yous're going to put a little tray in a guinea pig's muzzle, y'all should put it somewhere dark and fairly enclosed. It will assist to put their food in the same dark surface area, equally guinea pigs like to potty in the same place they consume (a little gross, but that's nature for you).

But place a modest tray in a dark, covered part of the cage, with a flake of newspaper and some bedding on it, and, afterwards a while, your republic of guinea grunter should kickoff to utilize this as a litter tray. You might still discover waste product in other parts of the cage occasionally, just it will be much easier to keep clean.

should guinea pigs live together? Republic of guinea pigs are best kept in pairs or small-scale groups

Should guinea pigs live together?

Absolutely. In fact, republic of guinea pigs crave the company of others of their kind and volition do best in pairs or small groups.

Pairs and groups should be kept to either all females, all males, or females and a neutered male person.

Females can be kept in pairs, as can neutered males (preferably if they had been together from birth).

It is best to innovate the republic of guinea pigs to each other as babies, to encourage bonding, simply adults tin besides bond (this may non e'er be the instance though).

Is it okay to proceed rabbits and republic of guinea pigs together?

Never continue republic of guinea pigs in the same hatch equally rabbits, every bit the republic of guinea pigs may be injure.

Guinea squealer toys

The best toys for guinea pigs would exist pipes and tubes that they can run through. Cardboard boxes also make for first-class DIY tunnels.

Avoid plastic toys, as these can be harmful if ingested, but wooden chew toys, like fruit tree and willow tree sticks, are peachy, as republic of guinea pigs enjoy gnawing and chewing. Chew toys specifically designed for guinea pigs are available in pet shops and online. Jollyes offer a range of guinea pig toys on their website.

These are intelligent creatures who love to explore their surroundings so hiding small amounts of nutrient around their enclosure is some other great way to keep them entertained. But make certain yous don't leave the food lying around for long periods of time, every bit the guinea pigs' environment must be kept make clean.

Republic of guinea hog ramps

To give your republic of guinea pigs some actress practice and interest, you lot can either build or purchase a ramp for them to run up and down. This tin either exist to connect multiple levels of their cage, or as a separate play area.

Exist aware though that they might non be able to figure out how to use information technology, or simply not exist interested.

Placing food or treats at the elevation and bottom of the ramp might assist, as can lining the ramp with fleece to requite the republic of guinea pigs some grip, or creating a roof for it to brand them feel more secure.

Guinea grunter water bowls, dishes and bottles

At that place is much debate about whether information technology is meliorate to utilise water bowls or bottles for republic of guinea pigs. With bowls, they should be kept off the basis to avoid the guinea pigs fouling in them.

Some guinea pigs will not drink from bottles, but it might exist worth a try, every bit information technology is also safer for the republic of guinea pigs (some guinea pigs find it difficult to potable without inhaling the water into their lungs).

Either fashion, the water should exist replaced regularly (twice daily is recommended) to make sure it is fresh.

Your republic of guinea pig's nutrient bowl should also be kept off the footing, for the same reason. It should exist cleaned regularly, to avoid illness (the dish should be rinsed every time the food is replaced and washed more thoroughly – with a small corporeality of washing up liquid – two to three times a week).

The basin should be heavy enough that your republic of guinea pigs cannot overturn it.

These items can all exist purchased from pet shops or online.

How best to communicate with your guinea pig

Republic of guinea pigs are much less likely to empathize instructions than animals such as cats and dogs. In the wild, guinea pigs are extremely vulnerable and then they go scared very easily.

While it is possible to train your guinea sus scrofa and, once they experience comfortable in their environment, they are likely to bear witness affection and bask being handled past their humans, yelling at them will do cipher just turn them into timid, unfriendly animals.

Guinea pigs must always be treated gently and not be exposed to loud noises (including raised voices) as much as possible.

If a guinea pig has had a bad experience with humans in the by, information technology is probable to accept more time to accommodate to its new surroundings and owners, but with honey and gentle care, information technology should somewhen become a happy, well-adjusted pet.

As they are small and fragile, they may not be suitable pets for very immature children, but older children should be fine, equally long as they understand they must handle their guinea hog with care.

An important thing to remember is that, unfortunately, guinea pigs practice sometimes stop up in shelters. So, if you lot are thinking of getting a republic of guinea hog, do take a look at websites like the Blue Cantankerous and the RSPCA for your new little buddy. The beloved y'all volition get in return volition exist more than worth it!

Tin can I preserve the wooden base of a guinea sus scrofa hutch?

We've got two tips here for y'all:

To avoid the base of the hutch being ruined by the guinea pigs' waste or by spilt h2o and food, many owners line the bottom of the muzzle with plastic sheeting or lino.
These are ofttimes available from carpeting shops and you may even exist able to become the material cheaply or for costless if it is cutoffs the store.

Make certain you cover the lino or plastic with newspaper and with bedding besides, to keep the flooring of the hutch soft, and to avert your guinea pigs nibbling on the base material, which can be harmful to them.

Correx is some other useful material for making waterproof trays.
For home made wooden structures you can likewise employ resin (the gluey stuff that comes out of copse).
It can be bought in cans (hardwear or boating shops would be a skillful identify to look, equally resin is actually used to waterproof boats) and spread over your wooden base to create a plastic coating that keeps the wood safe from liquids.

It is best to simply utilise this on the base of the hutch, and possibly the lower end of the walls, then that your guinea pig cannot chew the coated areas (resin is generally pet safe, but it's best not to have any risks).

Thanks to LooBoosShedZoo 'Keeping a Republic of guinea Pig Cage Waterproof using Resin', available on YouTube for this tip.

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