REHOMING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Requirements for Re-homing Guinea Pigs

1. We only allow a solo piggy to be re-homed if we are able to bond them with your piggy. We do a free bonding service for male/male, female/female & neutered male/female.

2. Accommodation:
An indoor cage measuring at least 118cm x 59cm or an equivalent size c&c run ie at least 3x2 (42" x 28"). Also a run in the garden or yard in the warmer months or floor time if living in a flat. For boys we would prefer you to get a larger cage ie Ferplast 140, Ferplast 160 or Little Pet Warehouse 100cm square cage. With some pairs, if we think they need a larger cage we will advise you.

WE DO NOT REHOME TO HOMES WHERE THE GUINEA PIGS WILL BE OUTSIDE ALL YEAR OR HAVE NO HEATING IN THE WINTER IF IN A SHED

If you are keeping them outside in the summer, a hutch with a minimum size of 5ft x 2ft placed outside or in a shed with a window with a separate run attached. The hutch would need to be brought into a shed or garage with heating during the winter months ie September to April. It may also need one or two Snugglesafe heat pads too. Please note that not all hutches are 2ft wide & some only 15" wide which would mean you'd need an 8ft long hutch to give you the same floor area. WE DO NOT recommended 2-tier hutches.

If planning to keep them in an outdoor hutch during the summer, this should only be done from the end of May until the beginning of October. The hutch should be situated in a shaded area with the front of the hutch facing away from midday sun.

All outdoor runs should be fully enclosed to keep them safe from predators both 4-legged & with wings. They will also need a shaded area by adding a towel etc to the roof  to block out the sun.

3. Bedding:
Preferably not wood shavings. There are lots of better alternatives such as Puppy Pads with Hay on top,  Auboise (hemp based), Raviera & NedzBedz (oil seed rape straw based), Fitch, Back2Nature & other paper based bedding. With all these it is best to cover with a layer of hay. Please note, never use straw for guinea pigs.

4. Food:
A diet consisting of approx. 80% hay, 15% veggies & 5% pellets. Our 2 recommended nuggets are Harringtons Optimum Guinea Pig Nuggets & Science Supreme Guinea Pig Nuggets (either standard or grain free).

It is best to use ceramic bowls with vertical sides as lots of other types of bowls are easily tipped. Mason Cash are the UK's best manufacturers & can be bought online or at all good pet stores. For a pair of guinea pigs we recommend a 6" (15cm) bowl for veggies & 2 x 5" (13cm) for nuggets & Readigrass.

5. They must be kept safe from predator pets such as cats, dogs, snakes etc. They should also not be kept with rabbits or graze on the same grass as rabbits.