Guinea Pig Care Guide

The guinea pigs in the picture above are Jack and Charlie, two brothers who we acquired over three years ago and have become part of our family. When we first got them (on an impulse) I knew very little about guinea pig care, and I had to do some very quick research!

I obviously did something right as they are still happy and healthy pets, and so I thought it might be useful to share some of the tips that helped me.

Are guinea pigs the right pets for me?

If you are thinking of getting guinea pigs for the first time, there there are a few things to consider. Guinea pigs live on average for 5-8 years, so you are entering into a long term commitment, and you will need to be able to spare some time and attention for your piggies every single day.

The first thing to understand is that guinea pigs are sociable animals, and don't like living on their own. They much prefer to live in pairs, or larger groups. Obviously, if you want to avoid having a population explosion, then avoid a boy-girl pairing, or have the boy neutered. Pairs or groups of girls work perfectly, boys can be trickier but a pair of boys can do very well together, especially if they have grown up together. My boys are brothers and have always lived together with absolutely no problems, except minor squabbles over the last piece of carrot! I have heard that an older boar paired with a baby boar also works very well.

Secondly, you need to be prepared to have a very large cage or hutch. The minimum recommended size for two guinea pigs is 4 feet by 2 feet (120cm by 60cm), and you will need a bigger cage if you have a larger group. Guinea pigs don't fare well living outside all year round, unless you can provide some insulation or maybe place them in a shed or garage, as they don't withstand very cold temperatures very well. I tend to keep mine inside in the winter, and then move them to an outside hutch for spring and summer, which has always worked fine for me. If you are short on space, you may be better with a hamster or gerbil.

Thirdly, be prepared to commit some time to them. Guinea pigs need feeding daily (usually twice or more), cleaning regularly otherwise they do tend to get smelly very quickly, and of course they need attention and cuddles from their human friends. The more time you spend with them, the friendlier they will become. Guinea pigs are naturally shy, nervous animals, and you will need to invest some time into getting them used to you.

Feeding your guinea pigs

A guinea pig's diet must consist of more than just dried food. They also need unlimited supplies of hay, and daily meals of fresh fruit and vegetables to stay fit and healthy. And don't forget a supply of clean water. Most fruit and vegetables are fine, but there are a few to avoid such as potatoes, mushrooms and iceberg lettuce.

I tend to feed my piggies twice daily. In the morning, they get a bowl of dried food, and at teatime they get a big bowl of veggies. They also always have hay available in a hay rack, and in the summer they are also out on the lawn each day eating the grass.

Eating is a guinea pig's favourite hobby, and a good way to getting them used to you being around is to feed them treats such as chunks of cucumber by hand. You can experiment to find your piggies' favourites. My two will do absolutely anything for a sprig of parsley!

You need to be prepared for the expense of keeping your piggies in fresh fruit and vegetables, but there are a few shortcuts you can take. My boys are often fed on offcuts and peelings of vegetables I am preparing for the rest of the family. For example, they are perfectly happy to eat carrot peelings, cauliflower leaves, broccoli stalks and even apple cores.

For more information on feeding your guinea pigs, please see my other hub here

Guinea pigs are very friendly animals and make rewarding pets. They are great with children as they seldom bite (except for the odd 'rogue' one) and are happy to be handled and cuddled.I would recommend them as family pets.