Housing
Guinea pigs will need a warm and dry hutch or cage at all times. They are very close to the
ground and are therefore prone to chest infections if they are on damp bedding.
Hutches
Guinea pigs can live outside, but will need
extra insulation for the hutch in the winter and in the rain. Many people move hutches into sheds or inside during the winter. I will
need to see that the hutch is going to be warm enough and protected in the winter. You can also buy small heaters for their hutches
or snugglesafes, which are like hot water bottles that last for up to 10 hours.
Hutches should be placed off the ground and in a sheltered
position out of direct sunlight.
The minimum size hutch/cage for a pair of guinea pigs is 48" x 24 " (120cm x 60 cm). Although
guinea pigs are small, they spend most of their lives in their hutch so it's important that they have space to run around, and also
away from each other. If the space is not big enough it can lead to fighting as the guinea pigs will feel claustrophobic. With hutches
the bigger the better. Double decker hutches also give added interest and is good to offer your guinea pigs more that one bedding
area so they can have time apart if they want.
Many people keep their guinea pigs in sheds which give them excellent space to
live in. The photo below is an example of an excellent outdoor shed for guinea pigs. It has a run attached so that the guinea pigs
can exercise freely as well. I can sign post you to some suitable suppliers of hutches that are very reasonably priced and meet the
minimum requirements. It is usually cheaper to purchase online than in a pet shop.
