One Guinea Pig Hutch Pluse Two Guinea Pigs And You Have The Perfect Companions For Your Children
There are small animals around which are cute and furry and make wonderful pets for children (and adults). For many people a dog or a cat is a very serious commitment and a dog or cat is often too large to be the perfect pet for small children.
And they pose some risks. For example that have been many instances of young children being attacked by their own pet dog.
I personally think that one of the best small animals that makes the ideal pet for young children is guinea pigs. We have a guinea pig for my own daughter and she absolutely loves him.
They have some huge advantages as a pet. They rarely live much longer than around 5 years, so you won't be looking after the guinea pig after the kids have left home. They are cheap to buy, usually under $20, they are cheap to feed and don't get sick as often as other animals. They are warm and furry and like company and will happily sit on your child's lap in the evening being petted.
Despite the fact that guinea pigs are small cheap pets there are still some important matters to think about before you get your first guinea pig. And the first of these matters is how you will house him.
Generally guinea pigs live in what is normally called a guinea pig hutch or a guinea pig cage. Guinea pig hutches or cages are normally kept outside and are often built from timber and wire, though metal is useful and easy to clean.
Normally a guinea pig hutch will have 2 areas, a sleeping area that is covered over and protected from the weather and an outdoors area where he can play and exercise and nibble grass.
It's better not to use wire on the bottom of the hutch as this can hurt guinea pigs feet and cause a condition called bumble foot.
The majority of guinea pig hutches sold in pet shops are way too small. It's not difficult to make your own cage, and if you're handy you can do so quite cheaply, but it is most important to ensure that it is as large as possible. If not then you must give your guinea pig time each day to run around and play and exercise.
Guinea pigs are is not hard to feed although like all animals you need to learn about what they should and should not eat. They need hay which is good for roughage and will eat a range of fresh green leaves from vegetables as well as fruits like pears and apples. Avoid lettuce and cabbage. They love grass.
You need to understand that once you buy one, (or more), guinea pigs you are committing to cleaning out their guinea pig cage regularly, as young children will rarely do this do this well. And you also need to ensure that he is regularly groomed to keep his hair in good condition and free of knots. This of course is part of the fun.
So if you're looking for a small, soft and cuddly pet for the children consider a guinea pig. He is the perfect pet provided you house him in a good large guinea pig hutch and feed him properly.
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.
What You Need to Know About Guinea Pig Cages
One of the most important things that you can do to ensure your guinea pig's health and happiness is to make sure your cavy has a nice clean home to live in, and that he has plenty of room to run around!
It isn't difficult to please and house your pet cavy. They will be very content in one of the wide variety of guinea pig cages that you can find at your neighborhood pet store. They don't require much to be happy in their home but they do have a few simple requirements: a secure cage so they can't escape or another family pet can't get in, a solid floor, the right kind of bedding material, a hideaway for privacy, and protection from extreme heat and cold.
As you will learn, or may have read in some of my other articles, cavies are very social creatures. They enjoy, and actually need, the company of other guinea pigs. If you are reluctant to keep two guinea pigs then you will need to plan on spending plenty of time with your pet to keep him from getting lonely and bored. If they get lonely or bored they will get depressed and may develop behavioral problems like chewing on itself. If you feel you might be willing to raise two cavies then be sure to include that in your plans to choose an appropriate cage.
Size Does Matter
Where your cavy is concerned, the bigger the cage the better. Your pets need lots of room to romp around and get exercise, and the more exercise a cavy gets, the happier he's going to be. The cage must also be large enough to allow room or space for their hideaways, their playthings, their food dish, and their drinking bottle.
Minimum cage area recommendations are as follows: somewhere between seven and eight square feet for a single cavy; somewhere between ten and eleven square feet when you've got two cavies; for every extra guinea pig in your cage you ought to have somewhere between two and three additional square feet of living space. This amount of room will give your cavies plenty of space for romping. Without adequate exercise your furry friend will get fat, and overweight cavies are more likely to develop health problems.
Provided enough room your cavies are going to be really playful, running laps around the cage chasing each other, leaping and hopping!
Guinea pig cages mustn't be a glass enclosure of any sort, such as a fish tank. These kinds of glass enclosures don't supply enough ventilation or clean air, two things your cavy requires. Extra ventilation also means that the cage will always be dryer, and this is usually a much healthier environment for your pet. Cavies can tolerate the cold better than they can tolerate heat, and a well ventilated cage will allow heat to dissipate easier. But you should be careful not to locate the cavy cage in an area that is exposed to cold drafts. Cavies tend to be susceptible to respiratory complications, and when exposed to cold, drafty, and damp conditions they could swiftly develop pneumonia and die. Lastly, avoid guinea pig cages with wire bottoms because your pet can get their toes and feet caught in the wire mesh.
A little hideaway house of some kind is an essential element of your guinea pig's home. Occasionally guinea pigs need somewhere to hide out and enjoy a little "alone time". Simple things like a section of plastic pipe will perform the job more than adequately. Enjoy a bit of fun putting together this hiding place - your guinea pig is going to be happy!
It's important to choose the proper bedding material for your cavy cages. There are many type of bedding material available at pet stores. Just be sure you only buy products which have been labeled as being bedding material for caged animals, otherwise you might be getting something which looks similar, but could possibly be harmful to your pet. I have found that the very best bedding material is a combination of shredded paper product and cut hay. It is advisable to line the bottom of the cavy cage by using newspaper, after which you can arrange in a covering of the mixed bedding materials. The paper will absorb urine and the hay will stay dry, and give your cavy something to nibble on!
