Guinea pigs are burrowing animals by nature. In the wild, they live under the ground in dens they dig themselves. These burrows provide them with a sense of security. For this reason, guinea pigs who live above ground as pets enjoy having nest boxes, a substitute for burrows, inside their cage.
A nest box is a small enclosure that contains the animal’s bedding and has an entry hole cut into it. It provides a safe place to sleep and hide. A cardboard box would work well as a nest box, but most guinea pigs will quickly chew it to pieces, so wood is preferred. (They’ll chew that, too, but not as fast.)
Commercially made nest boxes are available through pet supply outlets and mail-order catalogs that specialize in small animal supplies. Or you can build your own. Just make sure the wood has never been treated with anything toxic.
Your guinea pig’s nest box should be big enough for the animal to turn around in while several inches of bedding are in place. Make sure the entrance to the nest box is big enough for your guinea pig to go in easily and that one side of the box is removable so you can clean it. There should be no sharp edges anywhere in the box.
No comments:
Post a Comment