Do guinea pigs need hay in their bed?

There's no escaping the fact that guinea pigs love the stuff. They eat it, play in it, forage in it and sleep in it. Hay is a great bedding choice as it encourages lots of natural behaviours. You can line the base of the cage/hutch with some layers of newspaper and then pile plenty of hay on top.

Do guinea pigs need hay in their cage?

Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth.

Can guinea pigs live on hay bedding?

Timothy hay: Timothy hay can make a good bedding for guinea pigs. In addition to being a natural food source, guinea pigs enjoy tunneling through it, making nests in it and just playing with it. Fresh timothy has a pleasant smell, and will absorb some urine.

What do guinea pigs like to sleep in?

While they don't sleep much, guinea pigs still need a secluded, comfy spot to snooze. Place a sleeping box or cuddle cup in your furry friend's cage and line it with some soft hay or paper bedding to keep him comfy. Get a large sleeping box for more than one guinea pig to share.

What's the best bedding to use for guinea pigs?

It should be easy to clean up and biodegradable for easy disposal. There are several types of bedding available for Guinea Pigs to nest in, including paper-based, fleece, wood, and hay. The best bedding for your Guinea Pig is either a paper or fleece based bedding.

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What do you put in the bottom of a guinea pig cage?

The best items to put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage are absorbent, soft, and odorless. Hay, paper and aspen shavings, 100% wood pellets, and fleece meet those basic requirements. Used alone or combined with other materials, all are good options to cover the bottom of a cavy enclosure.

Do guinea pigs have to have straw bedding?

Straw is not usable for guinea pig cages because it won't absorb the moisture or ammonia odor produced when your pig urinates or defecates. The stiff, hard stalks of straw also don't make a very comfortable bed for your pig to lie on.

What can guinea pigs not use for bedding?

Do guinea pigs need blankets?

Add blankets and towels.

Blankets give your guinea pigs something to snuggle up under, which helps them better maintain their body heat. Any blanket will do, though smaller is probably better. A small fleece blanket is a great option. You can also cut up old towels to use.

Do guinea pigs like blankets over their cage?

Full cage covers, if they are open enough for proper ventilation and light, then they still aren't really providing that sense of security your guinea pigs desire. They want to feel safe from overhead birds of prey. They only feel safe under cover.

Can I use a bath mat as guinea pig bedding?

Bath mats are very comfortable for guinea pigs. They have most of the perks of fleece (minus the variety of patterns), with less of the headaches. For example, no wicking is involved. Also, they're light and very easy to switch out and to clean.

Can I use puppy pads for guinea pigs?

Puppy pads can be used in a guinea pigs cage as long as they are switched out, or cleaned often. Leaving them in the cage for too long can make it a dirty place for them to live.

How often should I change guinea pig bedding?

Under the best of bedding circumstances, you'll need to refresh midweek and full clean once a week. Sometimes, you need to refresh or clean every other day. Sometimes every 3 days.

Should I cover my guinea pig cage at night?

How Much of the Cage Should you Cover at Night? Covering the whole cage at night can create problems and affect your guinea pigs breathing. That means that you should only cover part of their cage at night. This ensures that the cage remains properly ventilated while still letting in some light.

Can guinea pigs use cat litter?

Avoid cat litter, as it can be harmful to guinea pigs. If your guinea pig like to go to the bathroom in a particular place, that area is the ideal spot for the litter box.

How do you potty train a guinea pig?

How do guinea pigs stay clean?

Grooming. Daily grooming is essential for long-haired guinea pigs to help keep their coat in good condition, and is good for short-haired guinea pigs too. Using a suitable brush, brush the coat gently in the same direction as the hair grows, and gently remove dead hairs, tangles and pieces of twigs, dry leaves or burrs ...

Can you put a towel in a guinea pig cage?

Got some old towels somewhere in your home? If so, you can totally throw them in your guinea pigs' cage and use them as bedding!

Can you use a dog crate for a guinea pig?

Dog crates can be pretty expensive, and usually (if not always) can only house up to 2 guinea pigs. However, if you only have two guinea pigs, and can find a large enough crate for a reasonable price, it is a great option!

What can you use instead of newspaper in a guinea pig cage?

The main bedding substrate options for guinea pigs include fleece cage liners, cloth, paper and wood shavings. Fleece cage liners: These are fast becoming a very popular option especially for indoor housed guinea pigs. Not all fleece liners are the same.

Do guinea pigs get cold at night?

Your Guinea Pig's Preferred Climate

Some rodents, like ground squirrels or Eastern chipmunks, hibernate when the weather turns cold, but guinea pigs don't. Instead, guinea pigs are most comfortable in air temperatures of about 65°F to 75°F. Anything below about 60°F is probably too cold for your pig.

How do you know if your guinea pig is cold?