The perfect home for your guinea pig

Guinea pigs will be happy if placed inside a large weatherproof hutch. Keep the hutch off the ground and out of direct sunlight and strong winds. It is best that the hutch be moved indoors like a porch during cold weather. Hutches that are sold in pet shops appear too small.

Guinea pigs usually live in hutches outdoors but they can be kept indoors with cages too. Those that live indoors tend to be friendlier as they are more exposed to the entire family. If your little pets are housed outside over the winter, the hutch needs plenty of hay so that they can burrow in and it is highly necessary to cover the hutch during the night so as to keep them warmer.

They may require a clean layer of dust extracted wood chippings or a biodegradable litter to avoid them respiratory problems. It is best to place it on the floor of their homes, and often a layer of newspaper underneath the bedding is a great way of soaking up the urine and provides them warmth. Plenty of soft hay must be shaken so as to remove the seeds or shredded paper is absolutely perfect for bedding or burrowing. Hay is much more preferred than straw because straw can injure the guinea pigs eyes.

In the summer guinea pigs can be put out in runs on the garden and they make great lawn mowers too. However, if you have treated your grass recently, it is best not to expose them to it as they can ingest poison. During cold weathers, indoor runs are suitable. Always give your little their exercise for them to be alert and happy.

It is highly vital that your guinea pigs homes be cleaned. It is great for your little adorable pets that their homes are cleaned everyday and their beddings must be changed weekly. Read the rest of this entry

Hutch for your adorable little pet

The most important thing that you can give to your guinea pig is a safe hutch for them to stay the rest of their lives with. It is place for them to play, eat and live as well. For this reason, it is vital that you get them the best hutch.

For human beings like us, the hutch is something that you need to provide to your guinea pigs for shelter against bad elements, for them it is their homes. It is a place where they feel they are safe and rested. It is where they find it cozy and friendly. So it is necessary that the hutch is perfect for them.

There are lots of hutches you can find at your local pet store and you have to choose a hutch that is big enough and spacious for them to run and play as they are comfortable with it. Guinea pigs like to run and giving them enough room to do this activity would be wonderful. You don’t have to buy a big one if you only own two guinea pigs. Just get the hutch that is enough for your pets that you are having.

Moreover, a hutch that features a detachable plastic bottom is preferred rather than those who have wire floors. Wire floors can harm your little pets as their legs and ankles might get caught up with the wire mesh. Also, with detachable plastic bottom, it will be easier for you to clean wastes. Choose a hutch that has a firm and stable flooring and keep in mind that the bigger the hutch, the better it is for your little pets.

You will also need to consider the door of the hutch and make sure that your hands can get in and out so that it would be easy for you to arrange things inside. Also, you can feed your guinea pig at ease and convenient for you to clean the hutch.

When you have two guinea pigs, it is recommended that your hutch measure ten and a half square feet, and for a single guinea pig, must measure at about seven and a half square feet. A bigger hutch is fine as long as you can afford it and have ample space for it. Read the rest of this entry

Guinea pigs need a safe environment too.

Guinea pigs are sociable animals but mixing them with rabbits is not recommended. Rabbits should be kept together with other rabbits or humans, and guinea pigs should be kept with other guinea pigs. Ferrets also are best kept with other ferrets and with humans too.

As guinea pigs are sociable animals, care must be taken when you introduce them to other guinea pigs or animals. If you are to place more than one guinea pig together, then both must be neutered and the best combination would be two females or two males. Never place both female and male together as they may breed and this may be a problem.

Female guinea pigs can be kept together in groups and two males may also live together. You can introduce a young male to an older male, but you cannot put together two adult males that are of similar age as they will fight for dominance. A male and female will obviously produce more guinea pigs however males can be castrated from 5 months of age and then can be kept with females.

Also, there should always be a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water in a drip feed bottle. A bottle with a metal spout is one of the best ways in providing them clean water intake as this prevents the water from getting soiled and be undrinkable. Always ensure that it is full and the spout is working properly.

Guinea pigs must be fed twice a day and it should be a mixture of meadow hay, greens, pellets, washed fruit and vegetables. They can eat with a variety of food it should be given quality hay to wear their teeth down and fresh food. Like humans, guinea pigs can’t produce their own vitamin C. a guinea pig will eat food rarely that may be harmful to them. You should bear in mind that you not give them potatoes. Also, give them small quantities of lettuce and apples. Apples may cause ulcers in the mouth, and lettuce can cause diarrhea. Read the rest of this entry