Housing
Guinea pigs need to be housed in pairs or more, and in order for that to happen, they need a big space to live in.Guinea pigs need to be housed in either cages or hutches. Cages can be made of a variety of materials, including wire grids, wood, and PlexiGlass (also known as Perspex). Cages should have a solid, leak proof, smooth bottom, so wire bottoms aren't recommended. Ideal bottoms are plastic bottoms and coroplast (or correx) bottoms.
Hutches are enclosures for guinea pigs that are kept outside. It's debatable whether to keep guinea pigs outside or not, since they may not have enough interaction with their owners and temperature fluctuations or predators may harm them. The most common design for a hutch is a hutch with wooden floors and ceilings but wire framed with wood for the walls, since that provides good ventilation.
Types of Cages
There are lots of different kinds of guinea pig cages, but there are four main ones. These are Pet-Store cages, C&C cages, DIY cages, and outdoor hutches.
Normally, Pet-Store cages are too small for even one guinea pig. Even though guinea pigs are called "pocket pets", they really do need a lot of space. The reason they need big cages is that guinea pigs cannot use wheels to exercise like other small animals because wheels put too much strain on a guinea pig's fragile spine. In addition, these cages are normally very pricey.
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C&C cages are becoming very popular. They are cages made from wire cube grids that can be found at stores like Walmart and Target, and are normally marketed as storage unit grids. The base is made of coroplast (or correx), which is similar to a combination of plastic and cardboard. You can build a cage yourself or you can buy a cage kit online.
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DIY cages are custom cages that you can design yourself and choose your materials. These cages, though pricey, are great because you can make them in custom sizes and shapes and can match your home decor easily. This cage is possible the most expensive to make, but it's one of the best ones to have because it's great to be able to play around with the size. Some commonly used materials for these cages are PlexiGlass (or Perspex), and closet shelving for the fronts and sides, while wood is used for the frame of the cage.
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Hutches are a great way to house your guinea pigs outside. It is debatable whether guinea pigs should be housed outdoors or not. Some people keep their pigs outside and say it's the best way to house them, while others say that it's best for guinea pigs to be kept indoors. One advantage of keeping your guinea pigs outdoors is that they get a constant supply of fresh air and they won't be stinking up your house. However, some disadvantages are the weather affecting the health of the guinea pigs, less interaction with the owner, and wild animals that could try to eat your guinea pig. With all that being said, your hutch will need to prevent sickness due to weather and wild animals getting at your guinea pigs. Most rabbit hutches are great for guinea pigs, since they also have plenty of space. Hutches can also be custom built, which is great for areas that are colder because you can add thicker walls or a more weatherproof hutch.
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