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

Things needed for a great hutch

Guinea pigs are great pets and they require a safety shelter and giving them a great hutch is wonderfully nice. There are lots of hutches that you can buy in local pet stores near you but then you have to check its quality and consider some of these things before you buy one.

The hutch must be waterproofed. In order to protect the hutch from rotting, it is needed that the hutch be coated in a preservative so as to protect it from the rain, and from your guinea pig’s urine, dropping, and spilled water. It is vital that you choose a preservative that is safe for animals or else you might end up getting your pet ill. If you are planning to keep your little pet indoors, like a shed, then this step is less dangerous and can still help prolong the life of the hutch.

Moreover, during the winter season, it is important that you protect your guinea pigs from elements. The hair of your little pet will thicken naturally to provide them extra warmth but then you still need to shelter them from the rain and cold wind. As much as possible, move the hutch inside, may it be in a shed or other building. More so, you can also hang a piece of carpet over the hutch in order to provide more protection, but never leave them like this all day long. Even when it is winter, they like to get some plenty of sunlight.

Another important consideration upon buying a great hutch is the size of it. As to any type of guinea pig cage, the bigger the hutch, the better it would be. Cavies are considerably larger than most other small pets and giving them enough space is truly nice. You should also give your guinea pigs plenty of room to run around and enough space to be alone whenever they want to. It is also vital that you offer them a large, unobstructed area so that they can run without hesitation at full speed. Read the rest of this entry