Would this set up work for Guinea Pigs?

[LingDiLong]

I'm wanting to get a couple of guinea pigs from our local rescue centre and have bamboozled myself by looking at a vast array of runs, hutches and cages.

I'm considering getting a large cage that could be used indoors and placing this in the shed during the summer months. It would come inside in the winter. Then I'd have a run (one of those metal ones with mesh on the top) that they'd go in as much as possible. The run is 115cm square.

Does this sound workable? Or do I have to have a hutch?

TIA

[guineapiglet]

Hi - just a thought, but do try Freecycle for hutches and runs, they are often given by people who no longer keep small pets and are usually in good condition. That way you might pick up a hutch for your shed and an indoor one for the winter time. We did keep our guineas in a large 'inside' run inside our shed for quite some time and moved the indoor hutch in when it got cold, however the indoor hutches are not very robust, weather proof and more importantly, other animal proof, so you may find your guineas have other visitors in the shed! The indoor ones are low to the floor and this is the advantage of hutches, they are higher up and easier to insulate.( Make sure any indoor hutch has igloos or shelter for the guineas to hide in and you can buy covers for them to make them secure). Do try and get as big a run as possible, ideally with a covered, raised end so you can bob hay in if necessary and a cover against the weather. Im not sure about the metal ones if they dont have a covered and secure end, guineas do like hiding spaces and feel secure if they can run into it if they need to. Good luck!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi LingDiLong welcome to the wonderful world of guinea-pigs! They are fabulous.I got back into guinea ownership after having them as a child.My DD wanted a pet (she fancied a hamster but I talked her into my way of thinking and last year we got 2 one-year old brothers from a rescue)

WRT to run- mesh won't protect them.It's got to be cat and fox proof. We have a 7' rabbit run that is chrome coated metal (it can fold up and has long 'pegs' to secure it to the lawn)They won't dig but you need to make sure nothing digs its way in.
This morning I found the foxes had shredded the newspaper and tried to pull the blanket through the bars (my hogs were safely in their Pighouse) so don't underestimate the damage they can do.


I don't have a hutch for my pigs.I looked at hutches, all the advice was put them in a shed or garage for winter. So I gave our pigs the DC old wooden playhouse. It's got a floorspace of 5'5" x 5'7". My DH made a few alterations to it. They have a big haybox with a wooden lid (made out of an old bookcase). A wide wooden ramp leading to the lid (both covered in old carpet). He made a half wood,half screen door (old fireguard) to fit inside when the wooden door is open.And one of the windows can lift out (mesh and wire fencing lined to protect from foxes/insects).
There's a barrier across the doorway to stop any chance of escape.
The house itself is slightly raised on a wooden plinth (in the rain they were fine.The garden was like a river)

There's lots of website that give you cage size recommendation.Most say 4'x2' minimum. (I have an indoor cage for winter that is 4'x2' and it's barely adequate. It's just for winter night)

They like lots of hiding spaces. They need company but they need there own space (especially if you decide on 2 boys). If they get in each others faces,that's when fights start.

And they are untidy little ratbags. Unlike rabbits or other furries. I had one GP who would pooh on a flat newspaper lined tray.Most just pooh where they walk.

The Rescue you are looking at will give you an idea of what you need space wise. Though some of them insist you keep them indoors.
C&C cages (the ones you build with the square grid sides) can adapt to the size and shape you want, you can do different levels, and you can add space. Some cages have upstairs but if the ramp is too steep they won't attempt to climb so might be stuck on one level.And the sleeping quarters are small.DD and I were looking at cages today.Just out of noseyness

You need to allow space for food bowl, waterbottle/bowl, veg plate, hay

We find the indoor/outdoor works for ours. They have a morning hello and breakfast.If I'm home they go out in their run.Otherwise they might get a couple of hours at evening. A cuddle at night .
In winter they go out in the morning to the Pighouse with heating (hot waterbottles in fleece covers) in loads of hay.

And if you do put them in the shed, try and have a light.Makes a huge difference!

Good Luck.
Lots of guinea-pig people on here will be along.
Some keep indoor. Some outdoor. Some both like mine. It all works. Alot depends on the age of your pigs too. Very baby babies would be need to be protected more than adults, but summer is a nice time to get them..

[LingDiLong]

Thanks guineapiglet, you're right I think. An indoor cage won't be made for outdoor conditions, even in a shed. 70s, your set up sounds brilliant. DH is unconvinced that our shed is up to the job. I've found a very nice hutch that incoporates a run for a reasonable price. Think we'll go with that for now and get ourselves an indoor cage with next month's wages!

Not sure who's more excited about getting the guineas, me or the kids!!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If you have a hutch + run make sure you can move it if they are attatched.
GP are like locusts on grass (and they cover it with pooh-good for the soil but they needs fresh grass patch quite regularly).

And yes you can pretend the GP are for your children - but I do the cage cleaning and I paid for them so I reserve the right to claim them as mine .(My 2 little boys)
Just cut their nails- very judgey looks from GP2

[LingDiLong]

Ok, I spoke too soon. DH has caught Guinea Pig fever and is outside sizing up the shed with all kinds of plans to build hayboxes and fix up the door to make it more secure!!

It would be nice to give them that space, and it means the kids can properly get in and look at the piggies in a way they couldn't if they were in a hutch.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

my DH spent his birthday last year sorting out the Pighouse (and it cost us virtually nothing, we had most of the stuff in the shed)

My DD sits in the Pighouse with the boys and chats with them.(She's 10yo and very hands on.She does the eyes/ears/claws/teeth and body check every day) GP2 has a fatty eye and a few little skin lumps.GP1 had a lump on his belly (now gone ).They've seen a rodentologist.

If you get them from a rescue ask what vet they use.It's hard to get a cavvy savvy vet and you don't want to be phoning round madly if one of your pigs are ill.Though by and large they are fairly healthy.

[guineapiglet]

Would definitely recommend keeping them in a shed/pighouse outside esp in good weather - we used to put an enormous haybale in and go and sit with them for hours some time each day - would clean the floor regularly, and we had a kind of 'stable door' on the shed, so the bottom would be secure, top open for ventilation - it wsa the place for feeding/cuddles/stories when the kids were little, - sadly my son was very allergic to the guineas when they were inside, so this was a brilliant compromise, he could sit and hold them and not be affected by them. A friend has cut a hole in side of her shed, and then attached the run to it, in a clever way, so guineas can go in and out as as they please. Shed must be secure at night though, and rat proofed so they cannot get in from below.

Feeling very 'broody' for guineas now, reading all these lovely threads, esp about 'singing guineas' have had 12 over past 8 years, and last one passed away last spring, we have just moved house ( renting) and am not allowed to have any pets now. If anyone of you is in the Winchester area and ever needs a pet sitter, guineapig cuddler, let me know, I miss them terribly!

[LingDiLong]

Ok, we're going to go for a more traditional hutch/run/indoor cage set up for now and make the shed a long term project. We've had a proper chat with our guinea pig rescue and to make it suitable will take a bit of time and money cos we want to make sure we do it properly. We're actually getting our guinea pigs tomorrow! Someone my DH works with wants to get rid of some so she's giving us 2 girls and all the stuff except the run. They're 3 years old and were handled a lot up until 6 months ago when their owners lost interest a bit so I'm hoping they'll be ok to pick up for cuddles when they get used to us. Can't wait!