____________________Guinea pigs require a clean pen, food twice a day, and fresh water daily. These are simple, basic requirements for a house pig. A guinea pig kept outside is going to need a little bit more in the way of housing for protection from the weather.
The pen I chose for my own guinea pig is actually a Rubbermaid™® under-the-bed storage unit. Its sides are about 5 inches high and the floor of it measures about 1˝ feet by 3 feet. I took a length of cardboard about 8" high and made a "corral" to fit inside the Rubbermaid container. This made a higher barrier so the guinea pig is less apt to want to jump out (and none ever have), plus it helps to keep drafts down. I then filled it with bedding material. Currently the bedding is pine shavings as a trial, though I have used CareFresh and did like it very much. I have tried a pelleted bedding and didn't like that at all. I came across another product I'd like to try, but I must order it. So far, I would recommend the CareFresh over everything else I've tried. It's biodegradable, and won't hurt them if they eat it, plus it doesn't contain the resins that the shavings have.
I feed pelleted feed that is made for guinea pigs and Cocoa gets about an ounce at breakfast and an ounce at dinner. During the rest of the day, he'll also get treats such as apples, lettuce, grass, and hay. He doesn't like carrots! But LOVES apples and lettuce. He loves to tunnel under and through the hay, which I bring home from the farm where I keep my horse. Since I buy a grass-blend hay for the horse, I can easily grab some to bring home for Cocoa. He loves it!
More info to follow soon. Stay tuned!
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