EXERCISE

In warm, dry weather, it is good to put your guinea pigs in a spacious run on the lawn. They will thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to munch their way through copious amounts of grass and clover. They are extremely effective lawnmowers and will quickly reduce a patch of long grass to something resembling a bowling green! On days when they can do this they will require less fresh vegetables/fruit as the grass contains plenty of vitamin C and other nutrients.

NEVER feed guinea pigs with grass from a lawnmower collection box as it very quickly begins to ferment in the box and this continues in the animals' stomachs causing very painful and often fatal bloating.

NEVER put your guinea pigs on wet ground as this can be very unpleasant and potentially very harmful for them.

On damp days, you can still allow your guinea pigs the opportunity for some exercise in a run: Instead of putting the run on grass, place it on a concreted or paved area such as a patio. You will need to put some bedding material (eg. shavings) in the corners of the run to absorb urine, and some hay & food, and, of course, a water bottle. Doing this has the added bonus of wearing down the nails and if it is done often enough this will significantly reduce the need to clip them.

In wet or very cold weather, the run can be set up inside a shed or outbuilding in the same way as on a patio. This will allow your pets a chance for some exercise and a change of scenery even in the worst weather that the British climate can produce. Avoid oily patches on a garage floor as this can be harmful.

Some hutches have a built in or attached run. These are very good as they allow the occupants the freedom to run between the the shelter of the hutch and the expanse of the run.

The choice between a combined hutch-run and separate units is simply a matter of personal preference. A combination unit has the advantage of convenience and greater freedom for the animals, whereas separate units mean that the guinea pigs will be handled more because of the need to transfer them from hutch to run and back again. The separate run is also easier to move around to different areas of the garden to ensure even lawnmowing and therefore an ongoing supply of fresh grass. (A patch of grass inside for example a 6' x 4' run will likely only last a day or two for 2 or 3 cavies).

Whichever type of run you choose it is essential that it is of a sturdy construction with small gauge mesh (preferably no more than 1cm x 1cm), a secure lid and an area that provides shade and shelter. (This can be either a solid panel section at one end of the run, a box or other structure placed inside, or a light coloured blanket or sheet placed over one end). A bottle of clean water should always be attached to the run to provide the animals with a drink. The run must sit securely on the ground with no gaps under the edges which would allow the occupants to escape, or unwelcome visitors to get in. Some people secure the run to the ground using large tent pegs. This is an especially good idea if you have dogs or other potential predators in your garden.

in extremely hot weather, it is a good idea to drape a light coloured blanket or sheet over most of the top of the run. This provides shade and therefore protection from the fierce sun. The light colour also helps to deflect some of the heat away thus keeping the animals a little cooler.