The Complete Guide to Rearing Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are friendly, inquisitive, and gentle animals that rarely bite or scratch, making them ideal pets for both children and adults. Native to South America, they live between 4 and 8 years, with males called boars and females sows.

Guinea pigs

Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are natural grazers and need a diet that supports their health and vitamin C requirements. Here’s what to provide:

• Hay: Fresh, clean hay should be available at all times to aid digestion and keep their teeth healthy.

• Pellets: Offer a high-quality guinea pig mix or pellets twice daily. Avoid rabbit food—it’s not suitable for their nutritional needs.

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C, so supplement their diet with small amounts of melon, oranges, dark leafy greens, and other vitamin C-rich produce. Avoid overfeeding, as with rabbits.

• Vitamin C Water Supplement: Available at pet stores, this is an easy way to ensure they meet their daily requirements.

• Water and Feeding: Always provide fresh drinking water from a gravity bottle. Use earthenware bowls for food, as guinea pigs tend to chew plastic.

Housing Your Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs thrive in a safe, clean, and quiet environment. Here’s how to create the perfect home:

• Indoor or Outdoor Housing: They can live comfortably both indoors and outdoors, but avoid areas with sudden loud noises.

• Hutch Options: Wooden hutches are ideal, though a wire cage with a solid plastic floor can also work. Your hutch should be weatherproof and include a separate nest area for each guinea pig.

• Bedding: Use shredded paper or wheat straw. Avoid fluffy bedding.

• Protection from Weather: Install a louvered door for cold protection and ensure shade in summer.

• Space Requirements: Two guinea pigs need a hutch of at least 120 x 60 x 45 cm. Smaller hutches require a separate run or daily supervised exercise.

• Grass Runs: A grass run in the garden provides exercise and natural grazing, with a shaded nest area.

• Avoid Housing with Rabbits: Guinea pigs and rabbits have different needs. Unless you have experience, never house them together.

Breeding Guinea Pigs

While guinea pigs can breed as early as 30 days, healthy breeding practices recommend:

• Males: 6 months before mating

• Females: 10 months before mating

• Pregnancy: Lasts 60-65 days, producing 3-4 pups

• Weaning: Pups can be weaned at 3-4 weeks

Health Care for Guinea Pigs

A healthy guinea pig is alert, bright-eyed, and has a shiny coat. To ensure they thrive:

• Spend time and attention with them—they love company.

• Provide a balanced diet and avoid sudden changes.

• Keep bedding clean and dry, changed daily.

• Clean their housing weekly using mild disinfectants.

• Avoid extreme or sudden temperature changes.

• Clean water bottles and food bowls daily.

• Provide gnawing blocks and chew toys to wear down constantly growing teeth.

• Groom daily, especially for long-haired breeds.

Benefits of Owning Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs have been appreciated for scientific, pet, and even food purposes:

1. Scientific Uses

• Widely used in laboratories for testing serums and antitoxins.

• Hospitals and labs often maintain breeding pens to ensure a constant supply.

2. As Pets

• Gentle, curious, and harmless animals are perfect for children.

• Less common than rabbits, making them an interesting novelty pet.

• High demand in pet stores ensures they are always sought after.

3. As Food

• Guinea pigs are entirely vegetarian, making them clean and nutritious.

• Can be prepared like rabbit or poultry—soups, stews, pies, roasted, broiled, or baked.

• Ideal for consumption at about half-grown for the best flavor and tenderness.

Guinea pigs are charming, low-maintenance pets with unique care requirements that make them incredibly rewarding companions. With proper feeding, housing, and attention, these gentle creatures will thrive and provide years of joy.