The best home for your guinea pig
Always bear in mind that the bigger the cage, the better the condition of your guinea pig. For health and well-being regarding your guinea pig, it is important that you provide them a large living area as much as possible. There are cages that are easy and inexpensive as an alternative to the small cages used by breeders and those that are sold at your local pet stores.
The standard for a minimum cage is 7.5 or 10.5 square feet and you can see to it that your little pet’s behavior improves otherwise. You can deliberately enjoy new tricks of your happier, healthier, and much perkier guinea pigs when exposed to a proper environment.
Most panels are 14 inches square and allow the connector between the grids and one panel or cube is wider than a foot. It is important that you do not use grids with inner square spaces that are greater than 1.5 inches. Ensure that you are using the right kind. There are brands that have different size and will require you to measure differently or overlapping some grids using cable ties rather than connectors. Take note that you measure it twice, but cut it once.
There are also precautions that should be taken into consideration too. Babies, very young or very small guinea pigs, and pregnant mothers may require some temporary additional height that must be place on the sides of the cage. More so, any wire hay rack must be used with caution when it comes to very small guinea pigs.
There is also the old breeder-espoused cage standard that measures two or four square feet, but this no longer apply these days. The new standards set today have been proven over the years with worldwide adoption and success.
You might be asking why a big cage for your guinea pig is needed. Pet store-sized cages are glorified litter boxes. Animals should not be force to live in a litter box. Providing your cavy a bigger cage will promote exercise and exploration space that is very vital for their long-term health and happiness. Read the rest of this entry
Providing your guinea pig a safe haven
Guinea pigs need to be protected as they are little creatures. Choosing a location for your guinea pig is highly important. They need a place wherein it is bright and a dry and out of direct sunlight and facing away from the prevailing winds. It would be best if you choose a place that has a fairly constant temperature throughout the day. They can’t cope with temperatures that may be too cold nor too hot. Just like humans, guinea pigs can’t stand extreme temperatures.
It is also important that you do not place the hutch directly on the floor as it may get too cold and this can be more susceptible to rotting. It is best that you raise it up by placing it on a table at about waist high. Also, there are some hutches that have built-in legs designed specifically for this reason. More so, raising the hutch would help prevent your guinea pigs from your other pets and predators. This gives you easy access when you want to play with them or want to clean the cage.
Guinea pigs enjoy playing so giving toys and accessories would make them really happy. When it comes to furnishing the hutch, choose a heavy food bowl as to which they will not be tipped over easily. Water supplied from a bottle is ideal and this has to be attached to the hutch’s mesh front as water bowls tend to get filled with hay and food pellets and this will make the water unsuitable to drink and the cage harder to clean.
Moreover, your guinea pigs would love it if you give them the selection of toys and accessories for them to be entertained and stimulated. You must bear in mind not to go over the top as these can take much more space. Read the rest of this entry
Guinea pigs deserve a great home. They have a strong nesting instinct and they enjoy having a comfortable and clean place to live. There are lots of hutches that you can find in local pet stores near you. But then making a hutch for your little pet is a great and fun way to express your personal style and personality of your guinea pig. There are ideas that include a traditional chicken wire or galvanized wire and wood form. There are also a thematic or decorative style and recycled materials hutch.
A traditional hutch for your guinea pig is great. It is basically made from wood and chicken wire. Whilst the most common shape for hutches is rectangular box, there are some hutches that are built in a chalet or pyramid style. Hutches are divided into two sections. One side is exposed to the light with a chicken wire as a barrier and the other side is covered with slats of woods so as to give the guinea pig their privacy and provide protection from other elements.
A decorative hutch makes the traditional hutch to a more step. There are lots of opportunities you can gain in choosing a theme. A medieval guinea pig hutch may include a drawbridge style door, turrets, and faux stone paint job. You can also recreate with a fancy pig palace wherein it includes mirrors, jewels and feathers. You must also bear in mind that these decorative elements should be safe for your little pet and safely out of gnawing distance.
You can also recycle a hutch. Visiting a thrift store or yard sale can give you lots of ideas for your guinea pigs hutch. You can transform an old washtub, an apple crate, or vintage suitcase into a wonderfully personalized guinea pig hutch. You can your guinea pig the most stylish, eco-friendly, pet there is in your neighborhood. Adding chicken wire or other same recycled barrier is truly important. A good recycled hutch still contains the hutch necessities and safety features. Read the rest of this entry
