How to Build a Guinea Pig Cage? 3 Easy Steps

Guinea pigs are animals that love socializing. So, if having them as a pet is what you’re planning on, do adopt two of them at least. Now, if your mind is set, quite relatively, building a suitable house for those cute furry ones is something you cannot avoid.

Having spent a large share of my teenage days with half a dozen guinea pigs in my backyard, I found wooden homes as the perfect shelter for them. So in this article, I’m going to show you how to build a guinea pig cage out of wood.

Here, I’ll show you making a unit for a single one. In general, 7.5 sq. ft. space is needed for a guinea pig. So, you need bigger arrangements for more than one. No worries, the process will be same anyways. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

How to Build a Guinea Pig Cage from Scratch?

Guinea pigs love to explore, and therefore, they need bigger spaces for living or exercising. The furry tiny fun-loving creatures are also fond of burrowing into wood or cardboard shavings. Seeing them moving and ramping up and down the ladders is a fun thing.

As I’ve said before, they like to be in a pack of two, three or more. But for now, I’ll show you a project making a wooden cage for only one. You can later use the same technique for a bigger project.

The Necessary Materials at a Glance

Solid pieces of wood.
Wire netting.
Wood staples.
Nails or screws.
Galvanized clamp locks.
Electric drill.
Screwdriver.
Hammer.
Measure tape.
Saw.
Wire-cutters.

You can also revamp a large, old cabinet or cupboard.

The Preparation

Arrange the project layout or setup. Naturally, a bigger hutch is better for any type of creature. If you’re planning for more than one guinea pig, you’ll have to add approximately 2-4 sq ft for each of them. And of course, apart from making a one-story cage, you can also build a two or three-story cage. The next thing you’ll require is a ramp to let your pet move between the floors.

In general, guinea pigs are not animals with athletic nature. But they enjoy moving and exploring when they feel. Always remember not to keep your guinea pigs outdoors. The cute little furry creatures need an indoor ambiance having a temperature of 18–27 °C (65–80 °F).

Now follow the instructions step by step.

Step-1: Sketch the Cabinet

Before beginning with the tools, it’s necessary for you to prepare a sketch of your project with proper details. This should include the measurement of the living space, the height, the width, and the levels you might want to adjoin to the cage. When you prepare a blueprint of your project, your works run more smoothly. Also, you can prevent unnecessary mistakes that may cost you time and big bucks.

Step-2: Measure and Sand Wood

Now that you have your blueprint ready, build the frame of your cage by cutting the materials taking proper measurements. You will require having three lengths for the wooden parts separately. One for the length, one for the width, and the other for the height. You must have four pieces to the least of each size. They’ll serve as the walls of your hutch. Also, you’ll have to measure a piece of wood for the opening doors of the cage and the various panels of the hutch interior.

Measure wood while double-checking your measurement before you advance to the cutting process. Use a hand saw and an electric drill for making the cuts with precision.

Once you are done and all of the wooden parts are ready, smudge the edges with sandpaper. Smooth edges will help your pet avoid accidental injuries. You can use sandpaper of large grit to finish off the pieces.

Step-3: Assembling the Pieces

Well, by now you’ve readied all the required wooden pieces and you’re ready for the final step. You guessed it right; it’s time for assembling the pieces.

Start with installing the walls, the floors, and the roof. You can use a wood stapler to put the pieces together. The floor and the roof of your hutch must be solid enough. It’s ideal for the floor to be plastic made, so it doesn’t get easily ruined by water or urine. But it’s better for the roof to be made of sturdy wood.

Do not use any wire netting for the cage floor. Some pet owners suggest using a wire netting so it becomes easier to clear away the feces of your guinea pig. However, it’s a kind of flooring that may lead your pet to unwanted injuries. Breaking a leg of your favorite pet might be the worst case scenario.

You may want to use chicken wire instead as the cage walls and it’s simple. Just fix the chicken wire netting to the cage sides and finish it off stapling with a wood stapler. Remember to cut off the excess.

Few Additional Things to Think About

Some people may still want to have wooden floors. If this happens to be you, place a thick plastic or a tarp on the floor. This way, you can prevent it to be soaked and littered with urine. You can also place thick layers of bedding like newspaper, wood shavings, shredded cardboard and such. This will help absorb any type of liquid from your cage.

Some of the guinea pigs might be fond of gnawing on wood. I suggest not allowing it to do so. If you notice this behavior in your pet, go for a plastic or steel cage instead of a wooden cage.

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Frequently Asked Some Questions And Answers

1. How big should a guinea pig cage be?

Ans: In general, 7.5 sq. ft. space is needed for a guinea pig. You’ll have to add about 2-4 sq. ft. for each when making a cage for multiple ones.

2. How to clean guinea pig cage?

Ans: Remove the existing bedding and get rid of the feces. Use fresh water and pet-friendly disinfectant for the cleaning. Toothbrushes can be used as a good scrubber if needed.

3. How often to clean guinea pig cage?

Ans: Cleaning on a daily basis is recommended to get rid of the feces at least. A thorough clean every 3-4 days is a must.

Conclusion

Making a cage for your guinea pig is an awesome project. It becomes more amazing when your child gets one as a new pet. Be wise while choosing the materials. Test a few designs until you find the one that suits your furry little pet.

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