Guinea Pig Cage Setup: Make an Enriching Home for Your Piggies
Getting ready to your first guinea pigs is so thrilling, however will also be complicated. Everybody appears to have totally different opinions on what’s required, what’s non-compulsory, and the way you must arrange a guinea pig cage.
You wish to have every little thing able to go when your guinea pigs come dwelling, and it’s really easy to neglect the little issues!
For a guinea pig cage setup, you’ll want bedding, water bottles or bowls, hiding locations, and a guinea-pig protected hay. Non-compulsory issues to incorporate are meals dishes, hay racks, a litter field, and toys. You’ll additionally wish to ensure your guinea pigs’ cage is massive sufficient, since most pet retailer cages don’t meet the minimal necessities.
On this article, we’ll talk about every little thing there’s to find out about guinea pig cage setup for inexperienced persons!
Guinea Pig Cage Dimension
The perfect dimension of your guinea pig’s cage depends upon what number of piggies you might have. For two guinea pigs, the minimal requirement is 7.5 sq. ft—however 10.5 sq. ft. or extra is preferable.
Extra guinea pigs will want extra space. In case your guinea pigs squabble usually, they could profit from extra space as properly to maintain their bond intact. Male guinea pigs have a tendency to want extra space than females because of this!
See our calculator to determine how a lot house your guinea pigs want or the desk under.
| No. of Guinea Pigs | Most well-liked Cage Dimension | C&C Cage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Guinea Pigs | 10.5 ft² | 2×4 grids |
| 3 Guinea Pigs | 13.5 ft² | 2×5 grids |
| 4 Guinea Pigs | 16 ft² | 2×6 or 3×4 grids |
| 5 Guinea Pigs | 19 ft² | 2×7 or 3×5 grids |
Larger is all the time higher, and you must by no means go below the minimal requirement! Subsequent to a piggy pal, an applicable cage is the perfect enrichment you may give your guinea pig. Nothing can exchange it.
Guinea pigs want unobstructed ground house to run round and get train. They aren’t constructed to climb, so whereas they could use a loft or second degree, it doesn’t depend towards the sq. footage of their cage.
Belief me, there’s nothing like seeing your guinea pig doing zoomies across the cage ground, racing via their tunnels, and popcorning fortunately!
What Sort of Cage is Greatest for Guinea Pigs?
Pet retailer cages are virtually all the time too small for guinea pigs. The one one we suggest is the Midwest cage for 2 guinea pigs. This one is very good as a result of it may be hooked up to a second Midwest should you ever really feel like increasing your piggies’ house (or including to your herd!).
Nevertheless, our favourite right here on the positioning are C&C (cubes and Coroplast) cages. These may be purchased premade from the Guinea Pig Cage Store or different retailer, nevertheless it’s sometimes cheaper to make them your self.
All you’ll want are storage cubes and Coroplast, which is a sort of corrugated plastic that may be discovered at most {hardware} shops.
Storage grids needs to be 14 inches throughout with no less than 9 (9×9) holes. If they’ve lower than this, your guinea pigs’ heads can get caught inside.
In case your guinea pigs are nonetheless infants, you would possibly must layer the grids to create smaller holes and forestall them from escaping their new dwelling. After they develop up, you’ll be able to take away the additional grids as they received’t be wanted anymore.
Different choices for guinea pig cages embody different handmade designs, or massive playpens with waterproof liners to guard your flooring.
What do you Placed on the Flooring of a Guinea Pig Cage?
Guinea pig cages want bedding to soak up urine, make cleanup simpler, and provides your guinea pigs a tender floor beneath their ft.
Secure sorts of bedding embody:
- Fleece liners (comparable to GuineaDad liners)
- Bathtub mats
- Paper bedding
- Aspen shavings
- Kiln-dried pine shavings
- Hemp bedding
We favor fleece liners or tub mats as they’re the comfiest to your piggy, probably the most eco-friendly, and the most affordable over time.
Whereas they price extra upfront, this stuff may be reused. In the event you go for one of many disposable choices, you’ll find yourself shopping for a number of baggage of bedding each time you clear the cage! This price will add up rapidly.
Nevertheless, there’s no proper or incorrect reply as long as the bedding is protected for guinea pigs, dust-free, and also you clear the cage recurrently. Your bedding additionally have to be absorbent—in any other case, your piggies might be sitting in their very own urine, which is a well being threat.
By no means purchase pine shavings which haven’t been kiln-dried, as these are dangerous to guinea pigs. Different kinds of softwood shavings, comparable to cedar, are unsafe and needs to be averted altogether.
Important Gadgets for Setting Up Guinea Pig Cage
Guinea pigs don’t want an excessive amount of of their cage to maintain them completely happy, however you do want the next provides:
- Water bottles or bowls
- Locations to cover
- Fixed entry to hay
Meals dishes, toys, hay racks, and litterboxes are all non-compulsory. It depends upon the way you handle your piggies—there’s no proper or incorrect as long as every little thing you add to the cage is protected.
We’ll go into extra element under that will help you determine what sort of cage setup is best for you.
Water Bottles or Bowls – Which is Greatest?
It’s greatest to have one water bottle or bowl per guinea pig. They are often territorial little creatures, and this ensures they aren’t holding each other from consuming.
Most guinea pig house owners use water bottles within the cage as a result of they create much less mess, can’t be tipped over, and the water stays cleaner.
Water bowls are okay, however have to be checked continuously because the piggies would possibly kick hay, pellets, or feces into the bowl. They’re probably going to want refilling a number of instances a day.
Whenever you first deliver your guinea pigs dwelling, it’s a good suggestion to supply each a water bottle and a bowl except you already know they’ve been consuming out of a bottle already. Some guinea pigs must learn to use a water bottle, and a bowl prevents dehydration within the meantime.
Meals Dishes
In the event you present meals dishes to your guinea pigs, have one for every piggy. Meals is one other important useful resource that we don’t need them holding each other from!
Meals dishes can comprise your guinea pig’s meals and make cleanup a bit simpler in the event that they don’t eat all of their pellets, as an example. Nevertheless, they aren’t essential.
Many individuals scatter feed, or sprinkle their guinea pigs’ greens and pellets across the cage. That is very enriching because it makes your piggies forage for his or her meals, equally to how they might outside.
Hay Entry—Ought to You Use a Hay Rack?
The very first thing you must know is that many hay racks offered in pet shops are harmful for guinea pigs. Hay racks or baggage ought to all the time have holes massive sufficient for the entire piggy to suit inside.
This prevents them from getting their heads caught, which may be lethal should you don’t discover it straight away. Bear in mind, guinea pigs are supposed to be continually consuming. They’ll go into GI Stasis, a lethal situation, in the event that they don’t eat for 12 hours or extra.
Some hay racks have holes which can be too small for even a piggy’s head to suit via, however these make it very tough for them to succeed in the hay. Hay is one thing you by no means need your guinea pig to work for. It needs to be freely accessible always.
That stated, listed below are the protected choices relating to hay holders:
- Hay racks or baggage with massive holes that your guinea pig can’t get caught within
- An enormous pile of hay on the cage ground – that is messier and also you’ll find yourself throwing away extra hay, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely enriching for guinea pigs to burrow within the hay
- A litterbox or tray crammed with hay – this accommodates the mess whereas permitting for the enrichment that comes with burrowing, and likewise helps to get your guinea pig’s peeing and pooping in the identical place as they eat
Litter Field – Can Guinea Pigs be Litter Skilled?
Many individuals have litter packing containers of their guinea pig cage. Nevertheless, the thought of litter coaching your piggy is a little bit deceptive.
Guinea pigs can maintain their urine, although not all will. They don’t have any management at throughout their poop, and it’s estimated they poop as much as 100 instances a day!
For that reason, it’s unimaginable to litter practice them as you’ll a cat or a rabbit. Their digestive programs transfer too rapidly they usually are inclined to go wherever they’re at.
Nevertheless, guinea pigs are inclined to poop and pee probably the most the place they eat and the place they sleep. This information helps us to make cleanup as straightforward as attainable on ourselves!
Right here’s how:
- Purchase a shallow container that may match within your cage, or make your personal litter field out of Coroplast.
- Fill the litter field with guinea-pig protected bedding of your selection. By no means use clumping cat litter!
- Add the hay! You may both put a pile of hay contained in the litter field or dangle a protected hay bag or rack on the cage wall.
- Your guinea pig will crawl inside of the litterbox to eat hay, and do most of their peeing and pooping in that space.
- In the event you use fleece bedding, add smaller items of fleece (pee pads) beneath hidey homes. These may be switched out when moist, permitting your bigger fleece liners to remain clear longer.
Hidey Homes – How Many do Guinea Pigs Want?
Guinea pigs are prey animals. Within the wild, they might cover in darkish locations to maintain out of predators’ sights. In captivity, it’s important to supply them with a number of locations to really feel protected.
I like to recommend one hiding place per guinea pig, plus no less than one further. Bonded guinea pigs normally do okay with one-entrance hides, however these with two or extra entrances are perfect for bonding new guinea pigs or sustaining a bond between two males.
Male guinea pigs are typically extra territorial than females and will get into little arguments extra usually, although not all the time!
My favourite hiding locations for guinea pigs embody:
- Picket homes
- Fleece tunnels
- Cardboard packing containers with massive holes minimize out
- Fleece or towels draped over a nook of the cage
My guinea pigs had been huge chewers, so I attempted to keep away from plastic gadgets.
Plastic is okay in case your guinea pigs don’t chew it, however most will—and it’s not protected for them to digest! For this reason I like to recommend utilizing wooden or different pure supplies across the cage.
Lastly, you’ll wish to take into consideration the location of your hiding locations. Protecting single-entrance homes in opposition to the cage partitions will give your guinea pigs house to run, whereas they will get in the best way in the midst of the cage.
Tunnels and different multi-entrance hides are greatest for the middle of the cage as they don’t hinder your piggies’ operating house.
Toys – Do Guinea Pigs Use them?
Toys can really be fairly controversial within the guinea pig world! Some individuals are all for them, whereas others say they’re ineffective.
Personally, I feel it’s value giving toys a shot! My guinea pigs would chew on toys not often, however different piggies use them the entire time.
Don’t anticipate your guinea pig to play like a cat or canine, although. One of the best toys are ones they will chew, as a result of piggies love consuming! Some can even toss toys across the cage or nudge them round to “redecorate” their house.
I’d begin out with easy, low-cost toys comparable to rest room paper rolls or paper baggage crammed with hay.
At all times ensure toys are protected with no choking hazards or harmful supplies. Keep away from salt licks, something with seeds, and something your guinea pigs can get their head caught within.
For extra data on toys, take a look at our submit on what guinea pigs wish to play with!
Good Guinea Pig Cage Setup = Blissful Piggies
Guinea pig cage setup may be advanced, however I hope we’ve been in a position to break it down for you merely! As you be taught extra about your guinea pigs as people, it’ll be simpler to make the perfect choices for them.
Simply bear in mind the necessities: bedding, hiding locations, a water supply, and fixed hay. Every thing else comes down to non-public selection.
