Best guinea pig hides and houses

What makes a good guinea pig hide?

A good hide lets a guinea pig get out of sight quickly and get out again just as quickly. Guinea pigs are prey animals, and the RSPCA says hiding places should be secure and out of sight of predators, which in a home includes cats, dogs and birds of prey seen through a window. Look for four things:

• Two openings, or an open-ended shape such as a tunnel or arch.
• Room for an adult to turn round and lie stretched out.
• Safe to chew: untreated wood, willow, hay, cardboard or fleece.
• Easy to clean or cheap to replace.

Woodgreen recommends open-ended hides such as bendy wooden arches, and hides with more than one entrance. The reason is practical: a guinea pig cornered in a one-door box by its cage mate has nowhere to go, and that is when fights and nipped ears happen.

How many hides do guinea pigs need?

At least one per guinea pig. The RSPCA's rule is that there should be enough places for all your guinea pigs to hide at the same time, and Woodgreen adds "the more the better" for runs. In practice, for a pair we would use two proper hides, one at each end of the cage, plus a tunnel or a pile of hay as a third bolt hole. Groups of three or four need more, because the lowest-ranking guinea pig often waits until the others have chosen. Our guide to guinea pig pairs and groups explains how rank works.

Wood, hay, fabric or plastic: which hide is best?

Wood and hay are best for most cages, fabric is lovely indoors, and plastic is the one to be careful with. Woodgreen warns that plastic pods and igloos can get very hot in summer, which can be fatal, and Burgess also recommends wood or fabric over plastic for the same reason.

What size should a guinea pig hide be?

Big enough for an adult to walk in, turn round and lie down, with doorways it can get through without squeezing. For tunnels and pipes, the MSD Vet Manual says at least 13 cm (5 in) across. Purdue's vet school suggests 10 cm (4 in) pipe, but that is snug for a full-grown boar, so we follow the MSD figure. As a guide, the Omlet Zippi shelter is 33 × 33 × 21 cm (13 × 13 × 8 in), and a reviewer of a 43 × 28 cm (17 × 11 in) wooden cabin notes that its 10 × 14 cm (4 × 5.5 in) doorway can be tight for rounder guinea pigs. If you are buying for a pair to share, choose the larger size every time.

What is the best house for guinea pigs indoors?

Indoors, the "house" is the cage itself, and the hides inside it are the bedrooms. Start with a cage that is big enough: at least 10.5 sq ft (about 1 m²) for a pair, as our guide to the best guinea pig cages explains. Then add a sturdy wooden or hay house at each end, a fabric cosy or tunnel in the middle, and keep the centre clear for running. Our guinea pig cage setup guide has layouts that work.

Indoor guinea pigs also need the room to be right. Keep the cage away from radiators, sunny windows and draughts, and out of busy rooms. Woodgreen notes that guinea pigs are easily scared by loud noise, which is why a quiet corner matters more than a pretty house.

What is the best hutch for 2 guinea pigs?

For two guinea pigs outdoors, choose a single-storey hutch of at least 153 × 61 cm (5 × 2 ft) that is raised off the ground, weatherproof, and joined permanently to a run. That is Woodgreen's minimum for two sows or a neutered male and female, rising to 182 × 61 cm (6 × 2 ft) for two boars. PDSA asks for more, at least 1.5 × 1 m (59 × 39 in), with an attached run of at least 2 × 1 m (79 × 39 in). We would aim for the PDSA size if your garden allows.

• One floor only: Woodgreen does not recommend double-level hutches.
• Raised legs so the floor stays dry.
• A sloping, waterproof roof and a separate enclosed sleeping area.
• Strong mesh and bolts that foxes cannot work open.
• A doorway or tunnel straight into a run, so they can choose shelter or space.
• A shady spot, out of the wind.
• A plan for winter: the RSPCA says to bring guinea pigs in below 15°C (59°F).

Woodgreen's minimum run for a pair is 182 × 122 × 46 cm (6 × 4 ft × 18 in), with several hides or tunnels inside it. See our guinea pig temperature guide for keeping a hutch cool in summer and warm in winter.

Best guinea pig hides, houses and hutches

How to make a guinea pig hide at home

Some of the best hides cost nothing. The MSD Vet Manual suggests a small wood or cardboard box, Purdue's vet school mentions tubes, bricks and rocks, and Burgess lists cardboard tubes stuffed with hay, paper forage bags and upturned plant pots.

1. Choose a plain box. A shoebox for one, or a larger supermarket box for two. Remove tape, staples, stickers and any glossy labels.
2. Cut two doors. Make each doorway at least 13 cm (5 in) wide, on opposite sides, with the edges at floor level.
3. Fill it with hay. A layer of feeding hay inside makes it a bed and a snack at once.
4. Swap it out often. Replace it the moment it gets wet, soiled or chewed through.

For a hay hedge, Burgess suggests stuffing a hanging basket or magazine rack with hay and laying it on its side. You will find more ideas in our guinea pig enrichment guide and in our pick of the best guinea pig toys. Our complete guinea pig care guide covers the rest of their home.