Guinea pigs - a suitable environment
This section contains information about the things your guinea pigs need in order to have a safe and comfortable living environment.
A safe and comfortable home
How big should a hutch for guinea pigs be?
Guinea pigs need a large weatherproof home that is raised off the ground. The more space they have the better, so buy or make the largest you can afford.
Do my guinea pigs need an exercise run as well as a hutch?
Guinea pigs should have a large exercise run on a grassy shaded area, safe from predators (such as cats or foxes) so that they can get enough exercise. In cold weather they need an exercise area indoors (e.g. in a shed or car-free garage). Ideally, their run should be attached to the hutch so that the guinea pigs can exercise whenever they want to.
How big should an exercise run for guinea pigs be?
The run should be big enough to allow your guinea pigs to have a good run around.
Where should I put my guinea pigs’ hutch and run?
The hutch should be positioned out of direct sunlight and strong winds. In the winter they should be housed indoors (e.g. in a shed or car-free garage – exhaust fumes can be fatal). They still need access to a large exercise area when housed indoors or they can develop problems such as obesity or osteoporosis (brittle bone disease).
Should I move the hutch if the weather gets very hot or very cold?
Guinea pigs are sensitive to extremes of temperature. Move the hutch to a shaded area if the weather gets very warm, and make sure they have shade in their exercise run. Heat stress can occur at temperatures over 27°C. They should be housed indoors (e.g. in a shed or car-free garage) during the winter months, with access to a large exercise area. If the weather gets very cold, give them extra bedding.
What type of bedding should I give my guinea pigs?
The hutch should be lined with a 2-5cm deep layer of clean woodshavings or shredded paper, with soft hay or straw on top. The sleeping area should contain clean, dry hay, straw or shredded paper as bedding. Ideally, any material used should be dust-free.
How often do I need to clean my guinea pigs’ hutch?
The hutch should be cleaned at least once a day, by removing any shavings or bedding that are wet and dirty, removing any uneaten fresh food and cleaning the food and water containers before refilling them. You also need to clean the hutch more thoroughly to keep it clean and hygienic – once a week is usually adequate.
From time-to-time the hutch should be completely stripped out and scrubbed, with your guinea pigs only being allowed back into the hutch when it is completely dry.
Hazards and poisons to watch out for
Ensure the hutch and run are escape-proof and safe from predators such as dogs, cats, foxes, rats, and birds of prey. Indoors, guinea pigs can chew through electric cables, so don’t let them have access to these.
The following is a list of plants and flowers that are poisonous to guinea pigs. There are many others not on this list, so don’t let your guinea pigs go near plants or flowerbeds if you are not sure whether they might contain poisonous plants, or if they might have been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides.
Plants and flowers that are poisonous to guinea pigs
- Bluebell
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Dock
- Foxglove
- Hyacinth
- Laburnum
- Poppy
- Ragwort
- Tulip
- Yew
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