Cage advice for a total newbie!

[Hallie]

Hi all!

We’re looking to get 2 guinea pigs in a couple of weeks (is 2 an ok number or should we get 3?). They’ll live outside while it’s warm and we’ll bring them in during the winter. I’ve read SO many different views online that I’m even more confused than before I researched! Could you possibly help on two of my bigger questions, please!

1. I’m reading currently that you’re not to give them wood shavings (that’s all was used when I was a kid!). So I saw that paper is best. Does this mean newspaper or the packs of paper fibre from pet stores? They don’t look natural” being all different colours so I don’t know what’s best.

2. Between two cages, one that’s got two floors raised off the ground. The other has one enclosed room and then a ladder down to an outdoor area on the grass. I don’t know what would be best. (Photos attached)
I work so I don’t know whether it’s be wise to let them have the run of the outdoor part without us there - or would this be ok because we don’t live in a fox area?
Or would they be best having a bigger enclosure to run in, not on the grass?
I’m just worried they’ll only be running outside when I come home for lunch or after work and want them to have as much space/fun as possible.

Thanks so much in advance! I’m one of those massive planners and a big worrier of getting things right!

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

Hello, this is the set up we have for my daughter's two girls, we have dogs so had to make a secure area that we know the dogs can't get into, we've just been given the metal run so that they can have more room during the day, it doesn't quite work with the hutch but we'll see how it goes, we had been giving them time in the run after school under supervision but this now means they can come in and out a bit more, although they both appear to be hiding in the pics! We've just moved the hutch to its current position, it was the other end, we plan on moving it around so the grass can recover/grow.

 

[Hallie]

Ahh thanks so much for your reply! That fenced area is amazing! That helps a lot to know you only let them out after school. I think I’m leaning towards a bigger cage with a separate run to let them out into when in but didn’t know if that’d be enough for them! X

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

We've only had them about 5 weeks so are still learning! I'm happier now we have the metal run and hopefully it's secure enough for them to be out all day, but that is only from today, my daughter has been handling and playing daily after school and they seemed happy with that and I think the fencing is secure but didn't really want to take the risk of them just being out in that so when we were offered the metal run it seemed to make sense. If they had a single storey hutch it would probably fit inside, so we've kind of done it the wrong way round!

 

[Siikibam]

The smokey xl (first pic) isn’t big enough in terms of the inside area. They need at least 4 foot (the enclosure part). I'm not sure on the measurements of the one in the second pic. Those ramps also look too steep. Your piggies may not like ramps anyway.

The Chartwell hutches have been recommended by a few slaves on here. The one I linked to is a 4ft. You could get a separate run and somehow connect it to the cage with tunnels or something. Or you could just have it separate and move them from hutch to run and back.

In terms of numbers, two are fine. If you get (2) boars then you need a 5foot hutch at minimum. Bear in mind more than two boars together has a VERY HIGH failure rate. If (2) sows you can get a 4 foot. I think for 3 sows (or two sows & a husboar) you’d need 5 foot hutch.

As for letting them out when you’re not home, you need to guarantee that foxes don’t come into your garden.

Wood shavings are ok. There’s a brand some use which is ok. Snowflake is a good brand, I’ve used it before. There’s also aubiose, a horse bedding. I absolutely loved it in the short time I used it. I’ve also used biocatelet (cat paper based bedding) and another type from pets@home - breeder celect- which is similar. This thread is a good list on bedding.

Hopefully that answers your questions enough! Sorry for the information overload it’s good you’re preparing before you get them!

 

[Hallie]

Thanks for all the info! I’ve written off the first cage now and looking at the 2nd. I’d read in reviews that the ramp was ok if a side was put on and something under it to make it less steel? I’ll have to see though! The dimensions of the 2nd are the same as the one you linked but 2 floors, so assume that’s ok! Thanks so much.

I think we’ll get two sows :-) And thanks about the bedding I’ll definitely look at the horse bedding. I’d seen the Carefresh bedding in the pet shop which I think is a similar concept? X

 

[PERFECT G PIGS]

Could something get in the run/hutch with the run cover over hutch top a sides with gaps in. Maybe use some netting to cover gaps in.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, this is the set up we have for my daughter's two girls, we have dogs so had to make a secure area that we know the dogs can't get into, we've just been given the metal run so that they can have more room during the day, it doesn't quite work with the hutch but we'll see how it goes, we had been giving them time in the run after school under supervision but this now means they can come in and out a bit more, although they both appear to be hiding in the pics! We've just moved the hutch to its current position, it was the other end, we plan on moving it around so the grass can recover/grow.

Hi all!

We’re looking to get 2 guinea pigs in a couple of weeks (is 2 an ok number or should we get 3?). They’ll live outside while it’s warm and we’ll bring them in during the winter. I’ve read SO many different views online that I’m even more confused than before I researched! Could you possibly help on two of my bigger questions, please!

1. I’m reading currently that you’re not to give them wood shavings (that’s all was used when I was a kid!). So I saw that paper is best. Does this mean newspaper or the packs of paper fibre from pet stores? They don’t look natural” being all different colours so I don’t know what’s best.

2. Between two cages, one that’s got two floors raised off the ground. The other has one enclosed room and then a ladder down to an outdoor area on the grass. I don’t know what would be best. (Photos attached)
I work so I don’t know whether it’s be wise to let them have the run of the outdoor part without us there - or would this be ok because we don’t live in a fox area?
Or would they be best having a bigger enclosure to run in, not on the grass?
I’m just worried they’ll only be running outside when I come home for lunch or after work and want them to have as much space/fun as possible.

Thanks so much in advance! I’m one of those massive planners and a big worrier of getting things right!

View attachment 118049View attachment 118050

Please make sure that you bring your piggies inside during hot weather and during the winter months. The fenced off area next to the wall is a heat trap and the sleeping area is too small for all time living space in winter.
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[Hallie]

What

Please make sure that you bring your piggies inside during hot weather and during the winter months. The fenced off area next to the wall is a heat trap and the sleeping area is too small for all time living space in winter.
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

What fenced off area? We’re getting a diff hutch now but it’s two floors and getting a separate run. They’ll be in the shaded part of our garden this summer, inside during winter and then we’re converting one of our garages (unused) for following year and making it as cool/ventilated as possible for summer.

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

What


What fenced off area? We’re getting a diff hutch now but it’s two floors and getting a separate run. They’ll be in the shaded part of our garden this summer, inside during winter and then we’re converting one of our garages (unused) for following year and making it as cool/ventilated as possible for summer.
[/QUOTE


I think the reference is to my fenced area.

 

[Wiebke]

What


What fenced off area? We’re getting a diff hutch now but it’s two floors and getting a separate run. They’ll be in the shaded part of our garden this summer, inside during winter and then we’re converting one of our garages (unused) for following year and making it as cool/ventilated as possible for summer.

I was referring to the pictures of the guinea pigs in a fenced off area from another member.

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

It was in reference to my photos of our fenced off area.