Hi, I’m torn between using straw or wood shavings from Pets at Home? I was just wondering what all of you use in your bed and if anyone knows what type of wood shavings Pets at Home sell as we can only really use Aspen.
Hi!
Straw is a no no with guinea pigs - it is too hard, is an unsuitable food source (guinea pigs need hay, hay and more hay) and a constant risk for eye inuries. There are now also more environmentally friendly alternatives to wood shavings if you look around.
Please take the time to read these guides here. You may find them helpful. Are you planning for outdoors piggies or indoors accommodation? Many of our majority of indoors owners prefer to keep their piggies on fleece bedding with hay lofts or 'kitchens' these days.
If you opt for a hutch, can you make sure that it can be brought under cover in winter/during storms or that your guinea pigs can come indoors? The same also applies for heatwaves like the last summer where far too many piggies passed away from heat strokes in hutches and on the lawn - even in shade where they were still exposed to the hot breezes and the heat being flung back from buildings.
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
Hot Weather Management and Heat Strokes
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
You may also find these two guide collections here helpful as they address many of your questions. It is good that you are doing your research beforehand since a lot has changed in a recent years as to how we keep guinea pigs and interact with them.
Are Guinea Pigs For Me? - A Guide
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
If you can, please consider adopting your guinea pigs from one of our recommended good standard rescues to avoid the usual pitfalls that can await the unwary; they are more effort, but worth the peace of mind as you adopt only fully quarantined/vet cared and carefully bonded piggies that are used to human interaction. Plus you have the rescue to fall back on if you run into serious trouble throughout the life time of your piggies.
In fact, adult piggies past the teenage months that are used to a home environment are usually better starter pets than wiggly and jumpy babies that by the time they have settled down are no longer quite as cute teenagers.
Please be aware that the average life expectancy of healthy guinea pigs is 5-7 years. They are NOT disposable not short-lived children's pets and the long term care will rest on your shoulder once initial interest has quickly waned.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
