Get A Guinea Pig Hutch And Some Guinea Pigs And You've Got Happy Children
Kids love a pet, but sometimes parents don't love pet's quite so much. Pet's make a mess on the carpet, they're expensive when you go to the vet and they are always a headache when you go on holidays. So if you've got children who are pestering you for a pet what should you do? Should you just say no?
Have you considered guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs make great pets for children. They're small, if they poop on the carpet it's not a problem, they're rarely sick and you can leave them outside. They won't tear the furniture to pieces and they won't bark at the neighbours. They're cheap to house, cheap to feed and you can usually find one for under $20.
A piggie is perhaps the perfect pet for kids who live in a household with parents who don't want a long-term commitment or the hassles of buying a cat or dog. Whilst a cat or a dog can live for up to 15 years or more, leading to a seriously long-term commitment to your pet, a guinea pig has a lifespan of not much more than 5 years.
A guinea pig is easy to handle and easy to tame and turn into your best friend. They rarely bite and they will happily sit on your child's lap for hours while they are brushed or stroked.
However it's also true, as with many animals, that you should supervise young children, even when handling guinea pigs. Guinea pigs do not take kindly to being dropped.
They like to be with people and other guinea pigs, so it's usually better to buy 2 at a minimum.
It's not expensive to feed your guinea pigs, all they require is some simple food such as some grains or commercial pellets and some grass or vegetable scraps. It's wise to supplement their diet with a little vitamin C from time to time.
However you need to give some thought to buying a good guinea pig hutch.
Housing your piggie is something you need to think about before you buy him. Most commercial guinea pig hutches sold in pet shops are too small. They need space to run around and exercise, as well as some space for toys to play with. It is not difficult to build your own hutch and it's a good project for dad to share with the kids.
Or why not consider building the guinea pig house yourself. With a few pieces of treated outdoors timber, a little wire and a few clasps and hinges and you can make a cage that will be ideal for him to live in. It's fine to house your guinea pig outdoors however care should be taken on particularly cold or hot days. They need a dry draught free area in the hutch for them to sleep and you can put hay on the floor of that for a bed.
So if you've been searching for the perfect solution to a pet for the children you ought to consider giving them a guinea pig.
