Guinea Pigs - Ideal Housing: Natural Behavior and Needs

• Posted on 18 August 2023
• By DRD Knaagdierwinkel
• Posted in Guinea Pigs, Housing
• 0

Providing suitable housing for guinea pigs is crucial, not only for the owner's convenience but also for the well-being of these adorable rodents, often kept as pets. To understand how to best accommodate guinea pigs, we must comprehend their natural behavior and needs.

Natural Behavior & Needs

Guinea pigs are not passive creatures. Just like other animals, they have specific natural behavioral patterns and needs that must be met for their well-being. Here's a deeper dive into some of their essential behaviors and requirements:

Foraging and Exploring the Environment

Guinea pigs spend most of their day exploring their surroundings and searching for food (foraging). This active behavior encourages movement and keeps them engaged. Adequate space is a must as it allows them to roam freely and discover their food in various places.

Shelters for Safety

In the wild, guinea pigs move through tall grasses and bushes to find shelter from predators. Our domesticated guinea pigs retain these instincts and require various shelters in their enclosure to feel secure while moving around. Some examples include huts, tunnels, platforms, etc.

Personal Space

Although guinea pigs are social animals that often live in groups, they also need personal space. Unlike some other rodents, guinea pigs are not "cuddle animals" that prefer to snuggle closely. They prefer a bit of distance. Therefore, provide plenty of shelters for them to rest without being disturbed.

Minimum Dimensions for a Guinea Pig Enclosure

In the Netherlands, guinea pigs are still often kept in (too small) cages with minimum dimensions of 120 cm, which is far from ideal for their well-being. That's why we don't offer guinea pig cages in our range; instead, we have expandable guinea pig runs. To meet their natural needs, an area of at least 2 square meters is ideal. This space is best suited for:

• Two male guinea pigs (boars).
• A neutered boar with 1 or 2 females (sows).
• Three sows (although this is not preferred; it's always best to keep a neutered boar with sows).

For larger groups of guinea pigs, more space is required. As a rule of thumb, you can use the following:

• At least 1 square meter per (neutered) boar.
• At least 0.5 square meters per sow.

In addition to ground area, the enclosure must be at least 2 meters long and 80 cm deep so that guinea pigs have space to run and can easily pass each other.

What About Outdoor Housing?

While guinea pigs are usually kept indoors, outdoor housing is also possible with the right adjustments. For guinea pigs permanently kept outdoors, specific requirements apply:

• A minimum area of 4 square meters.
• A group of at least 4 guinea pigs to generate body heat.
• Shelters that can withstand various weather conditions such as snow, rain, wind, and cold. Any wooden huts can be coated with animal-friendly paint.
• Security against predators from all sides is an absolute necessity.

The well-being of your guinea pigs is a top priority. Make sure you understand their natural behavior and provide housing that meets their needs. This way, these adorable rodents can lead a happy and healthy life.