Guinea pig care sheet

Hi readers, this is my guinea pig care sheet.

Guinea Pig Care Sheet

An Introduction to Guinea Pigs

Scientific Name: Cavia Aperea f. Porcellus.          Group Order: Rodentia.

Adult Weight: 500-900g (1-2lbs).    Adult Length: 8-11inches (20-28cm).

Life Span: 3-8years.    

Guinea pigs are loving, cute and cuddly Rodents from South America who will provide fun and entertainment for the whole family.

What do you need?

1. A large hutch or cage. This will cost about £80-£150 depending on how many guinea pigs it is going to house.

2. A large indoor or outdoor run. This will cost £50-£100 new but you can find ones second hand for around £10-£30 if you’re lucky!

3. Good quality pellets. The best pellets are Burgess or Supreme science selective.  

4. Hay £1-£22.   

5. Straw or Shredded paper (Optional).Straw will cost £1-£10 and shredded paper is free or around£5 in a pet shop.  

6. Wood shavings or other type of small animal bedding. This type of bedding will cost £1.50-£10.

7. Fleece (optional) free or up to around £20. 

 8. Cuddle cups (Optional) Free if you make it-£10.  

9. Fresh Vegetables and Fruit. They will eat the same as you but to be safe look at the list below or online.

10. Food dishes. These will cost around £1-£6.

11. Water bottles. Costing around99p-£10 there is a huge price range for water bottles.

 Indoors or outdoors?                                                                                                           

When you’re deciding whether to keep them indoors or outdoors there are a few things to consider: Is there anyone in your family who is allergic to Guinea pigs? To find this out you can visit someone with guinea pigs.

Will you still go out in the winter to feed them and clean them out if they’re outdoors? 

Are there any little children in your family who are rough with small animals? If there are you may want to consider a different pet especially if they come round regularly or live with you.   

Types of cages

Cage number one: Hutches are the normal type of cage for outdoor guinea pigs but they can rot quickly if you don’t get a good quality one.

Cage number two: Puppy pens make perfect indoor guinea pig cages because you can put a hard swimming pool in to protect the floor. These come in a range of sizes so you can get one that fits in with your house.

Cage type number three: C and C cages are Cube grid storage cubes and coraplast which is like corrugated plastic which makes it water proof and chew proof. Normally if you have a c and c cage it is normal to use fleece but you can use wood shavings or any other type of bedding you want to use.

Cage type number four: Indoor cages are normally made from a plastic base and hard wire tops that can be taken off for cleaning out and storage which is good if you only have them indoors during the winter. Some indoor cages aren’t big enough for two guinea pigs but you can join two or more together if you have a group of guinea pigs.

Cage type number five: Wooden playhouses or sheds can make brilliant guinea pig cages if you line the floor with coraplast or vinyl which is flooring that you can find at most carpet shops but can be expensive but you won’t have to buy it again for ages.

What to feed your guinea pigs

It is very important to make sure you only feed your guinea pigs vegetables and other plants that are safe.

Vegetables and Fruit: All colours of Bell peppers, Broccoli, Carrots, Kale, Parsley, Coriander, Cabbage, Sweet potatoes if peeled, Water melon, Pears, Celery, Cucumber(in small portions), Tomatoes(in small portions), Corn on the cob, Baby corn, Seedless grapes, Beetroot, Lettuce(NOT iceberg), Spinach, Banana, Runner beans, Pumpkins, Turnips and Parsnip.

Plants: Dandelions, Grass, Chickweed, Clover, Rose leaves, Daisies, Sunflowers and Marigolds.

Hay is dried grass and should make up 80% of your guinea pigs diet. Types of hay suitable for guinea pigs are: Timothy, Alfalfa (for young or nursing guinea pigs) and Meadow. You can get your hay at a local farm or horse supplier for a very good price.

Pellets are good for guinea pigs to have but can be quite expensive. Pellets have all the vitamins and minerals that your little friend will need. The best brands are: Burgess Excel, this comes in two flavours: Blackcurrant and Oregano and Mint. Blackcurrant and Oregano is more expensive than Mint. Supreme Science Selective is good but doesn’t come in different flavours.

Bedding

Straw is stems of crops like Barley and Oil seed rape and makes a very cosy bed for your guinea pigs and they will eat a little bit too! A danger with straw is it can poke in your guinea pigs eyes.

Shredded paper is the cheapest as you can use catalogues and old magazines and you can make it in a hurry as you don’t have to buy it. A downside to shredded paper is you need a good shredder but it doesn’t have to be big it can be small.

Hay this is also a food but guinea pigs love to hide in it!

Wood shavings can be brilliant base bedding and are very absorbent but can get in their eyes.

Other beddings are: Carefresh and Hemp. Carefresh is like wood shavings but softer. Hemp isn’t absorbent but if your guinea pigs are litter trained it would be fine.

Runs and outdoor enclosures

Runs come in loads of different sizes but bigger is better, especially if you have lots of piggies! When choosing a run make sure it is good quality and not falling apart. Sometimes you can get second hand ones that have barely been used and are a good price. There are a few different types of run but the best types are these ones: Solid metal wire and wood and mesh. Solid metal wire runs are the best as they don’t rot and most types you can take apart for storage so they don’t go rusty (and your guinea pigs can’t eat them!). Wood and mesh will rot after a few years so if you’re going to have guinea pigs for a long time and want to not have to buy a new run unless you absolutely have to as they are quite expensive this is not the best type of run for your piggies.

Outdoor enclosures are brilliant for in the summer but you can’t move them like runs and you can make them bigger than a normal run! Outdoor enclosures are fun to make as a DIY project.

TOYS!!!!!                                                                                                                    

Toys are a fun and exciting things for guinea pigs to play with. There are many types of toys but these are the easiest to buy or find: Bendy bridges are available in many pet shops and online so you will be able to get one or two. Jingly balls are great (but some guinea pigs will be scared of them) they come in a variety of sizes and colours. Logs and branches make exiting play things for guinea pigs and they will gnaw on them. The best type of wood to use for logs and branches is oak or willow but willow is bendy so oak is the best.

Treats

Most guinea pigs will enjoy treats every now and again. It is always important when buying treats for guinea pigs to make sure they are suitable , with low sugar and no dairy, egg or meat/fish. Some treats for other small pets like hamsters contain these ingredients that guinea pigs aren’t allowed. Good ingredients are: Oats, Seeds, dried fruit, vegetables and herbs and hay.

If you want to give your guinea pigs healthy treats these are the best brands: Rose wood, Woodlands, Wilko own brand and Supreme science selective.

Other things you can feed as treats are: Oats, Grass seed, Forage and Muesli.

Poisonous plants and vegetables: Dock, Bluebells, Ragwort, Ivy, Foxglove, Oleander, Crocuses, Daffodils, Tulips, Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Rhubarb, Potatoes, Tomato leaves, Lily of the valley, Iceberg lettuce, Potatoe skins, Hot peppers, Mushrooms and Avocado.

Poisonous human foods: Chocolate, Dairy products, Eggs, Meat and Fish.

Visit me and my piggies at: guineapigsrcute.blogspot.co.uk for more facts and ideas for guinea pigs.

Feel free to print my care sheet off,

Book Worm :)