 Small Royalty Bird Cage - Black US $299.95 
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Many guinea pig care experts agree pet guinea pigs can't live outside because they can't tolerate extreme temperatures. However, using a run outside is ok in milder weather, if you keep a watchful eye on the skies. Guinea pigs do need to come out of their cage or house every day for exercise to prevent stress, boredom and stop them getting overweight, leading to serious health issues.
Although you may have heard of Cubes & Coroplast modular housing kits (C&C cages) they are not recommended for outdoor use. You can of course buy a run from pet stores, just be careful it's big enough. Guinea pig rescue experts recommend a minimum of 7.5 square feet for one guinea pig (rising by a further 3 square feet for each next guinea pig). If your run isn't bigger than this, you're wasting your money - the idea is to have more space then their home to properly run around in! Another option is buying one second hand but disinfect it using guinea-pig safe disinfectant before use. You can make your own using a wood frame and wire or mesh. Here are some tips to ensure it's safer and more rewarding:
Watch out for:
Garden chemicals lawn 'treatments' weed killer and so on - can be poisonous, as guinea pigs will nibble and chew
Anything sharp - cut wires poking out, splinters from rough wood, etc - and anything on the floor of the run too, in the grass or earth
Electrical cables - guinea pigs are notorious for chewing electrical wires
Poisonous plants - it's not possible to list them all here - get a guide book for your area or do some thorough research online
Chemical treatments - used on wood or materials in the 'frame' of the run - some are poisonous to pets
Spaces in any mesh or wire - that they could become trapped in (especially little feet!)
Predators trying to get in: foxes, racoons, stray dogs and cats, birds, raccoons, snakes, ferrets, rats - and your other pets could want to play or attack your guinea pig. Even if they seem to get along just fine, you never know when the call of the wild could surface!
Unsupervised children - kids have to learn good handling and care techniques, and may otherwise injure the guinea pig by picking it up, dropping it, or feeding it inappropriate food
Top Tips
Guinea pigs feel less stressed if they have a place to go to and 'hide' in. Include a 'hidey place' inside the run, from a pet store. Or try a durable low-level plastic 'stool' - the type you might use to stand on to reach a high shelf.
Check carefully every time at least after an outdoor session that your pet hasn't picked up parasites - fleas, tics, small flies, etc. Check especially carefully in warmer weather for sore patches - flystrike is a horrible condition where flies lay eggs on the skin which hatch within hours. The maggots eat the skin and cause serious illness if untreated. Ask your vet for anti flystrike products to guard against this and take your guinea pit to the vet immediately if you even suspect an attack.
IMPORTANT:
None of this information is intended to replace the advice of a knowledgeable professional vet on guinea pig care. These articles are intended as a general introduction to the topics only. Every single animal has different needs - so whilst efforts have been made to provide helpful information, we respectfully advise you to check with your vet to accommodate your individual pet's needs. Thank you.
Jules Hanson is a lifelong animal lover and has a special passion for guinea pigs. Jules has an entire website devoted to guinea pig runs, with detailed, specialist information only for guinea pigs and references to expert sources of advice above and beyond the major animal welfare charities. To find out all about guinea pig runs, visit http://www.guineapigruninfo.com.
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