Don't Buy A Guinea Pig Before You Buy His Guinea Pig Hutch
A wonderful hobby for children and for adults is keeping guinea pigs. And because of this guinea pigs are becoming an extremely popular pet. However if you're now considering buying your first piggy you do need to first spend some time thinking about the guinea pig hutch you will house him in.
Your new piggie will be kept in a guinea pig hutch in most cases. They can be kept indoors or outdoors although if kept outdoors you should be aware that they can be subject to stress from excess heat or cold. But before you buy your first guinea pig house you need to be aware of several things.
There are plenty of guinea pig cages available on the Internet or in pet shops, though in the vast majority of cases they are way too small, and will be much too cramped for your new favourite pet. The reason most people buy a guinea pig hutch which is too small is that the smallest cages are the cheapest. So it's important to make an effort to ensure that your pet is housed in a cage that is sufficiently spacious.
Some people overcome the problem of cost by making their own guinea pig hutch, and if you are able to do so this is a fine way of housing your favourite pet in a spacious house that will do an optimum job. It is quite possible to build housing that is entirely adequate and which is very low cost if you source your own materials, including second-hand materials, and build it yourself.
But you should also understand that guinea pigs get bored easily and will still need entertainment even if they have a nice large hutch. The best way to provide entertainment for your guinea pig is to provide him with a companion, thoug you do need to research which sexes go together and which do not.
If you put a male with a female you will end up with a large number of guinea pigs very quickly, unless of course you desex one of them. If you don't then you will need to keep them apart and this defeats the purpose.If you put 2 males together you can end up with fighting, so the best combination is to start with 2 young females.
And you'll also need to provide something for your piggies to chew on as their teeth grow continuously and they need to chew to help wear them down. A piece of wood is sufficient and if they don't have this they will chew on their hutch. As well they need a constant supply of fresh hay and some playthings such as plastic pipes or boxes for them to play in.
So before you buy one or more guinea pigs understand the requirements for adequate housing, in particular buy or build a guinea pig hutch that is sufficiently spacious, provide them with playthings, and if you are buying more than one make sure you buy the correct sexes.
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.
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.
