Housing
The possibilities for housing your guinea pig are endless... So what housing is best for your guinea pigs, your space, your time and your money? Here's a
run-through of some of the many possibilities, our own personal recommendations and tips for everything to do with guinea pig housing!
run-through of some of the many possibilities, our own personal recommendations and tips for everything to do with guinea pig housing!
Indoor vs. Outdoor
The first question to ask is will your guinea pigs be living indoors or outdoors? We recommend indoor housing as it helps protect from the weather, predators and generally offers more interaction time with you and your guinea pigs. However, we also realise this isn't always an option. Aside from indoor housing, two common housing options are a hutch for the patio, or something for permanent grass living. Which direction you go is ultimately your decision, so here are our cage and hutch recommendations.
The first question to ask is will your guinea pigs be living indoors or outdoors? We recommend indoor housing as it helps protect from the weather, predators and generally offers more interaction time with you and your guinea pigs. However, we also realise this isn't always an option. Aside from indoor housing, two common housing options are a hutch for the patio, or something for permanent grass living. Which direction you go is ultimately your decision, so here are our cage and hutch recommendations.
INDOOR OPTIONS
Plastic Based Cages
Plastic based cages are only suitable for indoor living and are recommended by QGPR. They are a good choice as they are easy to clean and offer so much more interaction between you and your guinea pigs. It's important these cages are only used indoors though (they are not suitable for patio use) as they aren't predator proof and offer no protection from the elements. Plastic based cages are also easy to decorate and rearrange with items like igloos, hammocks, tunnels, caves, tents... the options are endless! These cages come in a variety of sizes, so ensure your cage is the right size for your number of piggies. 
C&C Cages
C&C (Cube and Corflute) cages are easily made and have endless possibilities in regards to size, shape, levels... if you can imagine it, you can make it! They have become a huge hit, but with the metal cubes becoming hard to get, you may need to do some looking around to find all of your parts. These cages are ultimately designed for fleece bedding, but can also be adapted for kitty litter, wood shavings or shredded paper. It's important to remember this cage is not at all predator proof and should be thoroughly thought through if you have other pets such as dogs or cats. This cage is also only suitable for indoor use. 
Play Time Hutches
Do your guinea pigs live inside but you would love to be able to give them a day on the grass in a safe house when the weather is perfect for it? A two-story hutch is fantastic, but if your guinea pigs won't be out for too long, a grass run makes a great, predator proof house for when you can't sit and watch them in a play pen. Ensuring that your run is big enough for two and doesn't have a wire base, as well as snake proofing the bars if not already done so, means you have a cheap, easy to move house for your guinea pigs to enjoy the outdoors occasionally. |
OUTDOOR OPTIONS
Wooden Hutches
Wooden hutch varieties that come on stilts can be used indoors or outdoors on a patio. They provide a built-in enclosed area for your guinea pigs to enjoy. These hutches are generally NOT predator proof though, having only the black bars, and will need snake-proof wire added to ensure your piggies are safe if being used outdoors. These hutches come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, so you can choose a size that is suitable for your number of piggies. When looking at this style of hutch, it's important to ensure you purchase something with a wooden or plastic base, as the wire-based hutches provide an extreme risk to your piggy's tiny, delicate feet. 
Grass Hutches
At QGPR, we recommend any guinea pigs living permanently outside on the grass should have a hutch with a second level. This second level not only gives them more room, but also allows them to get up and off the grass and distance themselves from the cold and dampness of the ground. These hutches are also often not predator proofed, having only the black bars and need snake-proof wire attached to them to ensure your guinea pigs are safe. When considering this style of hutch, it's important to note guinea pigs love grass and will eat the bottom area to the roots in two days on average. 
,Piggy Mansions
If you want your piggies to live outside, and have lots of room without the risk of being taken by dogs, cats, snakes or birds of prey, why not buy them a mansion? Chicken coops often make great homes for guinea pigs and allow you to make bigger groupings. These hutches also don't need moving as often (generally speaking) as there will be much more grass for your guinea pigs to work their way through. These can be purchased through eBay, some produce stores or second hand. Please ensure you predator proof these upon purchase, if not already done . |
Free-Ranging
Free-ranging outdoors is not an option for guinea pigs. They have long lost the abilities of their wild relatives, the cuy and are no longer able to fend for themselves. Animals such as dogs, cats, birds of prey, snakes and even rats pose risks to guinea pigs. Free-ranging indoors though, provides a suitable living environment for guinea pigs. Dedicating a safe room or area to free-range provides the opportunity for exercise, room to play and fun with hideys, tunnels, houses and more!
Free-ranging outdoors is not an option for guinea pigs. They have long lost the abilities of their wild relatives, the cuy and are no longer able to fend for themselves. Animals such as dogs, cats, birds of prey, snakes and even rats pose risks to guinea pigs. Free-ranging indoors though, provides a suitable living environment for guinea pigs. Dedicating a safe room or area to free-range provides the opportunity for exercise, room to play and fun with hideys, tunnels, houses and more!
Bedding
With so many different types of bedding available now days, choosing the bedding that is right for you and your guinea pigs has never been easier. Your choices include wood shavings, shredded paper, recycled paper kitty litter, fleece and sugarcane mulch. Wood shavings are extremely absorbent and low-odour; however it can matt in guinea pigs with longer hair and blow out of outdoor cages. Wood shavings are by far the most commonly used bedding, but ensure you buy the type that has been dust extracted. The Refuge's favourite brand is Hysorb.
Kitty litter made from recycled paper is another popular bedding choice. It is also low-odour, doesn't matt in longer haired breeds and is readily available. Choose brands such as Breeder's Choice, which is made with no additives or chemicals and is virtually dust free, to ensure if your piggies ingest any, it will do them no harm.
Fleece is becoming increasingly popular for those who prefer to wash and re-use their bedding. Simply layer a few pieces of newspaper, some towels and top with fleece. This bedding choice can be colourful, personalised and fun for guinea pig owners to decorate their cages. It is also inexpensive, as you simply wash it and re-use! Fleece does get dirty quickly however, so needs daily spot cleans with a dust pan and complete bedding changes every few days.
With so many different types of bedding available now days, choosing the bedding that is right for you and your guinea pigs has never been easier. Your choices include wood shavings, shredded paper, recycled paper kitty litter, fleece and sugarcane mulch. Wood shavings are extremely absorbent and low-odour; however it can matt in guinea pigs with longer hair and blow out of outdoor cages. Wood shavings are by far the most commonly used bedding, but ensure you buy the type that has been dust extracted. The Refuge's favourite brand is Hysorb.
Kitty litter made from recycled paper is another popular bedding choice. It is also low-odour, doesn't matt in longer haired breeds and is readily available. Choose brands such as Breeder's Choice, which is made with no additives or chemicals and is virtually dust free, to ensure if your piggies ingest any, it will do them no harm.
Fleece is becoming increasingly popular for those who prefer to wash and re-use their bedding. Simply layer a few pieces of newspaper, some towels and top with fleece. This bedding choice can be colourful, personalised and fun for guinea pig owners to decorate their cages. It is also inexpensive, as you simply wash it and re-use! Fleece does get dirty quickly however, so needs daily spot cleans with a dust pan and complete bedding changes every few days.
Cage Sizing
Ensuring that your guinea pigs have enough space in their housing is an essential part of their health and happiness. It is recommended that guinea pigs have a minimum of 60cm x 60cm each so they can move around happily. Here are our minimum cage size recommendations according to number of piggies:
2 piggies 1.2m x 60cm
3 piggies 1.4m x 75cm
Bigger herds will need C&C or multiple storey housing. Work out the floor space you require (e.g. four piggies require the minimum of 60cm x 60cm multiplied by four), and then measure the floor space you will have available (length by width of the cage). If your second calculation is the same as or larger than the first, you've found a cage the right size!
When selecting a hutch or cage, it's important to consider the amount of space removed by ramps from both the base floor and the top floor. You also need to consider the top level only on full time grass hutches, as all guinea pigs need to be comfortably housed above the ground level.
Ensuring that your guinea pigs have enough space in their housing is an essential part of their health and happiness. It is recommended that guinea pigs have a minimum of 60cm x 60cm each so they can move around happily. Here are our minimum cage size recommendations according to number of piggies:
2 piggies 1.2m x 60cm
3 piggies 1.4m x 75cm
Bigger herds will need C&C or multiple storey housing. Work out the floor space you require (e.g. four piggies require the minimum of 60cm x 60cm multiplied by four), and then measure the floor space you will have available (length by width of the cage). If your second calculation is the same as or larger than the first, you've found a cage the right size!
When selecting a hutch or cage, it's important to consider the amount of space removed by ramps from both the base floor and the top floor. You also need to consider the top level only on full time grass hutches, as all guinea pigs need to be comfortably housed above the ground level.
Cleaning Tips
Requirements for cage cleaning vary depending on the type of housing and bedding you opt for, but here are some handy tips we've picked up along the way to make your cage clean that much easier!
Requirements for cage cleaning vary depending on the type of housing and bedding you opt for, but here are some handy tips we've picked up along the way to make your cage clean that much easier!
- Add a small amount of recycled paper kitty litter or Carefresh to your Hysorb if you have a larger herd of piggies, as the added absorbency helps to keep the bedding dry and your costs down.
- Scoop out the dirty bedding into a rubbish bag with a dustpan, and if lining the cage with newspaper, roll it up and add that to the rubbish bag as well. You can remove all the remaining bedding with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
- Spot clean your fleece with a dust pan and brush daily to keep the fleece cleaner for longer.
- To remove build-up and smell from the enclosure itself, give it a quick scrub with some vinegar and then rinse. This works well for both plastic and wooden housing.
