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The same rule holds true for building a hutch outside. Most store-bought hutches are made poorly or have exposed wood. You can find out where pet stores buy their cages and purchase a metal commercial cage, remove the wire bottom and set it on a fairly high table.
If you do choose to build your own, avoid using chicken wire and instead opt for welded wire, because chicken wire can cause injuries to an animal's mouth if he or she chews on it. However, you do not need to worry about the guinea pig chewing its way through either type of wire.
Never use an aquarium to house a guinea pig. The ammonia fumes from their urine will make them ill unless they are in a well-ventilated cage.
It is just human nature to avoid doing things that are difficult or inconvenient. Therefore, make sure that the cage that you buy and the area in which you place it are easy for you to access regularly. At least once every two weeks you will need to remove everything from the cage and clean it from top to bottom.
Making a Cage a Home – Bedding
Avoid Pine and Cedar Like The Plague
Bedding means the wood chips, hay or straw that you keep in the bottom of the guinea pig’s cage for it to lie on and chew on. While you may be tempted to buy the sweet smelling pine or cedar shavings sold in pet stores, don’t. The phenols (pleasant odor-producing chemicals) present in cedar and pine are poisonous to many small animals. If you use pine or cedar scents, eventually your guinea pig may develop respiratory system problems, liver damage and a compromised immune system.
A safe bedding is Aspen. Aspen is a hardwood and is safe for guinea pigs. You can buy Aspen at pet store chains for anywhere between four and fifteen dollars. Another safe bedding is called CareFresh. These shavings are made from recycled wood paste and are biodegradable. Both Aspen and CareFresh have good absorbency and odor control. You can buy CareFresh for around five dollars for a liter bag.
For the highest absorbency of all, consider using Cel-Sorb Plus. This is made from recycled paper and claims to be 400% more absorbent than wood shavings. If you have a garden, you can use Cel-Sorb Plus as fertilizer or compost instead of throwing it away. You can find Cel-Sorb Plus at PetSmart in inexpensive eight-quart bags.
Guinea Pigs Previous Page (13)
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