Guinea pigs!!! Essentials....

[Illbefinejustbloodyfine]

I postedcabout getting some piggies and got loads of great replies. The cage is arriving tomorriw, then I need to kit it out.

What are the essentials? Best bedding? Mats/fleece or other?

Toys/beds/hides?
Give me ideas please before I buy the entire shop.

Also - any medical supplies needed? Do they need regular Parasite treatment? Any other first aid kit items?

Small pets board is your key here.
Search that, loads of helpful posts.

I use brown cardboard to line the base ( I pick up boxes put out for recycling). Then lots of hay is a must. I feed them the guinea pig feed from Sainsbury's which is fine. They like carrots tomatoes celery. I don't feed lettuce there is something about the laudenam building up in their bodies. But they love it if you can pick them a carrier bag full of grass. Pics please!

Bedding - washable puppy pads. Absolutely NOT straw or sawdust.
Plenty of good quality hay and nuggets not muesli. My two loved the excel mint nuggets,
Plenty of fresh veg every day. They can also have blueberries or a bit of apple as a treat.

Dandelion leaves were also very popular and sticky weed.

I use fleece liners custom made to the size of enclosure, but use wood shavings underneath their hay section as it’s easier to spot clean wet things. Lots and lots of hay (don’t use a hay bag), some hides (at least 1 per pig), things to chew eg wooden tunnels, seagrass items-both in pets at home. They will need nuggets and fresh veg daily too.

Oh they need a food bowl each! And like "in my onesie" said a hiding place each.

We use fleece bedding. I have a big fleece cage liner which we change out once a week (have two on rotation) but change the few little pads in the eating and drinking area every two days or so.

I use a plastic tray lined with newspaper for their pile of hay and change that daily topping it up as needed. Have a hanging bag of hay too so they can stretch up to that.

Water bottle gets washed and refilled regularly. I give them a handful of guinea pig kibble daily and a little bowl of salad daily too. They chirp like mad when either of those are due😊

I have an extendable tunnel for them so vary the length of that to keep things interesting. A little wooden hidey too that they can go under or over (one of them loves hanging out on top of it for the view- even sleeps there!). And finally a little hammocky thing that the other one loves hopping into to snooze.

I have a few small little toys- a jingling ball, a little rattly mouse thingy etc that they occasionally shove around the place.

Finally nail clippers and that powder stuff in case they accidentally get nicked during nail trimming.

They're a bit of a pain because they poop SO much which necessitates a daily sweep out. But the poop and used hay makes great compost and they are very endearing bless them- eyes closing in bliss when you give them a little head rub😍

Oh god I'm so excited ! I saw the fleece liners but thought they were rather pricey and I'd need at least 2. Something to consider.

So, 2 bowls for nuggets, a hay tray, a veg bowl, water bottle. At least 2 hides. Stuff to gnaw. Nail clippers

Proplex as a liner is my top tip. I lined my pigs hutch (floor and a third of the way up the walls) with it 6 years ago and the floor and sides of the hutch are as good as new still.