What sort of home and environment do Guinea pigs need to be kept in?

Guinea pigs are a popular choice of pet for children, but they’re actually somewhat complex to care for, have lots of specific needs, and definitely require adult supervision and appropriate management.

The type of homes that Guinea pigs need can itself be quite complex, and it needs to keep them safe, comfortable, secure and happy; and take into account all of the different facets of this, such such as protecting them from the elements and extremes of temperature as well as meeting all of their needs for enrichment and normal social behaviours.

This article will tell you what sort of homes and environments Guinea pigs need, and the different things you need to provide and take into account to house and look after them in the appropriate fashion. Read on to learn more.

Housing a Guinea pig

Guinea pig houses are sometimes referred to as hutches, cages, or pens; but they all need to tick the same basic boxes in terms of how they’re constructed, set up, and what they incorporate.

The necessary size of a Guinea pig’s indoor home will depend on how many Guinea pigs you have, and it should be split into rooms, to provide hiding places and warm, snuggly spaces for sleep that are comfortable and secure. But in terms of the size of the overall unit, there is no such thing as too big; but there is such thing as too small.

The largest Guinea pig you keep should be able to stand right up on their back legs without reaching the roof, and it should cover at least one square metre of floor space, more for a greater number of Guinea pigs.

There should be room for each Guinea pig to be able to stretch out to their full length without touching each other, and they should not have to be in close quarters if they need personal space!

Guinea pigs usually curl up and stick together, but forcing them close together can cause problems, so the more room the better.

The construction of the house should be sturdy, and more than capable of keeping potential predators out. Also, some rooms of the hutch or cage should not open to the outside (such as with wire-fronted rooms) so that they remain warm and so that your pets, as prey animals, can hide if predators are around.

It must also be properly weatherproofed, to avoid leaks, damp, and draughts; and not have exposed areas that your Guinea pig may begin to chew.

A Guinea pig house also needs to be insulated and placed in an area where the temperature outside won’t result in overly high or low extremes. A temperature range of between 15-25 degrees Celsius is about right year-round; above or below this can be dangerous for your pet, so you may need to move the hutch or cage in different seasons.

A run or pen for exercise

Guinea pigs need a secure run or pen too, which is ideally accessed directly from their main house. They must be able to get inside, and be able to get to shelter or to hide, at all times when allowed out.

When the temperature dips below around 15 degrees Celsius, your Guinea pigs will need to stay inside as it will be too cold for them.

While Guinea pigs don’t burrow like rabbits do and can not jump as high as rabbits, they do need a cover or roof on their pen or run. This is to ensure that birds of prey and predators that can themselves jump fences cannot get to your pets.

Guinea pig bedding

Guinea pigs need the right sort of bedding in their cage or hutch, to allow them to snuggle up and to keep them warm in winter. This should be made from something that is not harmful if your pets ate it, like hay or very soft straw, as Guinea pigs do tend to eat their bedding and you cannot really prevent this!

Wood shavings and so on are not suitable for Guinea pig bedding as a result. Bedding must be cleaned out and replaced regularly, and droppings and soiled patches removed daily.

Things to chew on

Guinea pigs need safe things to chew, to keep their teeth worn down to an appropriate level and because chewing is a natural behaviour in Guinea pigs. Untreated wood that is sold specifically for Guinea pigs is best for this, and a better choice than artificial chew toys.

Toys and things to entertain themselves with

Finally, Guinea pigs can be quite active pets, and they’re certainly highly inquisitive! In their outdoor run, they like to have obstacles, things to explore, and things to play with, like balls they can push around.

Once more, these should be chosen with care to ensure they’re both safe, and provide enrichment for your pets. They also love tunnels, both in their home and in their run, and will tend to both hide in these and use them for exercise.