New Guinea pig owner - advice on bedding

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Sw75

New Born Pup
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Hi, we’ve had our 2 baby girl guinea pigs for a week (bought for our 2 children) and are novices to piggie ownership. We’ve read books, read online but I’m still not sure how much sawdust/hay we should be putting in their hutch. We’ve bought a large, 2 storey hutch and they seem to spend most if their time in the section with the wooden door, ie where we can’t see them. We have sawdust down all over but how much hay do I put in their “bedroom”? Should it be for them to keep warm in only? We also have a hay dispenser thing attached to the outside for eating as well as 2 food bowls. Thanks in advance.
 
Hay should be on tap at all times. I’m not sure what amount to tell you. They like sitting, playing, hiding in and eating it so I’d do a good few Handfuls, enough for them to hide in.
 
Hiya (^_^) I cover the floor, bedroom and play/feeding area with shavings and then in the bedroom area i put straw on top. It helps to keep it warm if they are being kept outside. Also piggies should have a unlimited amount of hay to feed on.
Hope that is any help x
 
Do you mean sawdust, or are you using woodshavings actually? Sawdust is a no-no for guinea pigs, it is too fine and dusty which is bad for their breathing.

They are probably spending most of their time in the hidden part because they are still nervous in their new surroundings and want to hide from predators etc. Guinea pigs love to burrow in hay so maybe putting lots of hay in the open part next to the hidden part would encourage them to come out and 'play' there.
 
Always better to have too much hay than not enough. Fill their bed area with it and put another large pile downstairs :)
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Do you mean sawdust, or are you using woodshavings actually? Sawdust is a no-no for guinea pigs, it is too fine and dusty which is bad for their breathing.

They are probably spending most of their time in the hidden part because they are still nervous in their new surroundings and want to hide from predators etc. Guinea pigs love to burrow in hay so maybe putting lots of hay in the open part next to the hidden part would encourage them to come out and 'play' there.
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I mean wood shavings sorry...I bought it fro the shop we got them from. Thanks, good idea re the hidden part.
 
Thank you everyone. Everything came from the pet shop so excuse my use of the wrong wording....hay and wood shavings. Still haven’t got the hang of al this piggie stuff!
 
Sw75 said:
Thank you everyone. Everything came from the pet shop so excuse my use of the wrong wording....hay and wood shavings. Still haven’t got the hang of al this piggie stuff!
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It does take a while! I have mine in a double decker hutch I just line it with newspaper and then put mountains of straw on top and top it up every couple of days. The also have a hay tray and two hay bales which attach to the inside of the hutch doors for yet more hay to go in. You can never have enough hay where piggies are concerned. I have 5 piggies so it doesn't last very long! They never eat the clean hay from the hay bales though. They only seem to like eating the stuff they have walked, pooed and wee'd on!:vom: They have always been the same. I suppose it must taste nicer!
 
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