My Mirror Stop

Do you know that of all the guinea pig supplies you are going to need, the most essential one for keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy revolves around your guinea hutch?

That is correct and the hutch is by far the biggest investment you will make in terms of money spent on your new pet so you better make sure you do this right so you have a healthier and happier guinea pig for many years!

The first factor you should consider when picking a hutch is the size. Think about your pet for a minute here... guinea pigs are playful and love to run around. A little hutch means not very much running and the running you are completing happens in your own feces. This is not a pleasant thought for anybody.
 
I’m not suggesting that the guinea hutch has to be so big that it takes over a room, but do be confident that you purchase a hutch big enough for your guinea pig to both hide (utilize as a cave) and scamper about (to get some exercise).

If you have the space, a 4 feet by 4 feet guinea cage is great... but do not purchase one any smaller than 2' x 2'.  However, if you own more than one guinea, you need to stick with a bigger cage. Keep in mind, if your guinea pig (just as with other pets) doesn't have the ability to play and exercise, then you will have an overweight pet which will probably escalate to health problems and depression.

When looking to buy a cage an additional thing you should pay attention to is that it has a solid floor.  This is much better than a wired bottom.  If you use your imagination for a minute, you can imagine many reasons why a wired floor would not be good for your pet or for you. The most common form for a bottom in a guinea cage is a plastic floor. This solid floor is a lot easier to wash and maintain. Additionally, if you are able to buy one that slides in and out easily you will be much happier over the course of time.

Another thing that a lot of people don't think about when they are looking at hutches is the door. You will want to take notice to this element and be sure that you (or the person with the biggest hand in the household) is able to get your hand inside the cage and are able to shift throughout the the cage with ease. You don't want to be struggling when you are required to get in there!

After your hutch is picked out, you will want to decide the kind of bedding you intend to utilize. I have used pretty much all types of bedding available and hands down I will always choose a product called Timothy Hay. This is very safe for your guinea pig and they love to play in the hay and are known to consume it. As well as the bedding you are going to need to to consider purchasing a few toys for your new friend. These can be places for him/her to hide and to play . You will be able to aquire items such as balls, rocks, large PVC pipes, spinning wheels, etc. Get inventive and make your guinea hutch a fun place for your guinea pig to play and sleep!