Where to keep guinea pigs

[fruitpastille]

So we are very seriously thinking of adopting some rescue pigs. We've been told we must have a hutch 4ftx2ft. This is quite big! I thought they could go in our conservatory which is a good size but it is cold in there in winter despite radiators. It's also hot in summer but they could go outside then. Rescue lady said if it's too cold for humans to sleep there then it's too cold for pigs. Anyone got advice? It seems crazy that we have a 4 bed house but no room for small pets! I could fit them in the kitchen but I'd have to get rid of the armchair I have in the corner for relaxing...

I was thinking the same thing about Ferplast cages, all the ones I've seen that are advertised for guinea pigs are too small. Pet shops are mostly ignorant about the amount of space that a guinea pig needs . We have a chain pet shop near us and the size of the cages they have the guinea pigs in waiting to be sold are cruelly small - they have four pigs in a space a third of the size that we have ours in which is probably why we have so many pigs because I feel sorry for them

We keep ours in the conservatory, on cold nights we put blankets over the top and sides, and plenty hay in. There is a radiator in there though, and I set the thermostat so it comes on if the room gets too cold. Hot weather is a worse problem, as it the height of summer it gets very hot. They live in the kitchen/diner then. They prefer it in the kitchen as it’s closer to veggies!

The Ferplast I'm looking at is 120x60cm as recommended. Although I might go for a second hand 5ft one that is much cheaper. I'm getting a fleecy liner. Do I need straw as well as hay?

No, no straw because it's too hard for guinea pigs and can scratch their eyes. If you get a fleecy liner then I also suggest the puppy pads and the horse bag to wash them. We've gone back to wood chippings instead of the fleece pads because they never got clean when we washed them.

Have you decided to adopt the two rescue pigs? They'll probably let you reserve them until after xmas. We got a new pig just before Xmas one year but had to wait until boxing day to collect him.

Thank you for all the advice. I got two little piggies last week and they have stayed with a friend who is going to put the cage on our doorstep tomorrow morning for a surprise. I'm very excited!!

Awww, that's lovely. Can we see a picture of them?

Make sure she puts a blanket round the cage and leaves them with hay, food and water though and you bring them in immediately.

She's only next door! I'm texting her when we're ready and she's going to knock and run away

Photo

Awww, they are siblings of two of ours - practically identical!
How lucky that she's next door

Awww welcome to SuperFurryAnimals pastillepigs

Just in time for the best Vegetable Trimmings Day of the Year (aka Christmas Dinner)

Are they little boys or girls ?

When they need quiet time you can put a cover over the cage and they are more likely to explore . At the moment , the tunnels ans hidey spaces are 'safe' and everything else is "out there " wide open space and you have no idea what might swoop down and carry them off ( things like griffins and huge eagles ! )

I put a big cardboard sheet over my pigs sleeping area to give them darkness otherwise they bury themselves in hay.

Enjoy the new piggy snuggles

Look up c&c cages. Build your own massive one for much cheaper than a tiny ferplast one and keep them in the living room - cheaper and you get to build a lovely relationship with them.

In kitchen- mine loves it there

Mine live outside in a heated shed, but come inside regularly to play. One likes ramps, the other doesn't.

3 very excited children today. Piggies are happy to come out now they've settled in and have had a cuddle. They've got a section which is under cover if they want to hide away. Middle child has read all the information pack very carefully and has changed water/checked food etc. Youngest can't stop talking about them as she lies in bed not sleeping. Eldest just wants to cuddle them! The cage fits nicely into an alcove in the kitchen but we'll move them to the conservatory when it's a bit less frosty. Definitely not space in our living room!

Look up c&c cages.

God, don't! They are a nightmare - in theory they are great but our pigs go upstairs and leap about popcorning and the sides collapse - they even manage to get the two metal bars off that support the upstairs.
If I could buy an affordable alternative I would. We've added heaven knows how many extra cable ties and it just isn't sturdy. Maybe we are doing something wrong.

But yes, it's way better than a ferplast one.

C&C are good because they're airy and you can adapt the shapes
But the hay does travel and they need lined to protect little guinea paws.

I don't have an upper level , my lardy hogs wouldn't entertain the ramps

2ft by 4ft really isn’t that big. It depends how often they’ll have free run of the garden. If it’s daily and you can commit to that and weather proof a section of it then a large indoor cage is fine. I wouldn’t recommend a double hutch as that still doesn’t give them much room to run and popcorn.

Ours are in our living room in a 2x4 c&c cage. It takes up our entire bay window (not a drafty window, I checked obsessively) but it is so nice having them close by. They are hilarious little creatures and now wheek when they hear me come downstairs in case I have veg for them.

We have a squeaky kitchen door so the gps stand on their back legs with a paddington bear stare if nothing is forthcoming when you go back in the lounge . I left a bag of kale on top of the hay box next to their cage and the little darlings climbed on their house and one of them jumped from there onto the box to get it.