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♥♥Manda ♥♥ May 25, 2011 at 4:31 am

Hiya! I’m so glad you love guinea pigs, they are the BEST pets ever!!Ok, guinea pigs aren’t really like hamsters, or mice because they can’t and don’t like climbing steep ladders, running in wheels or balls etc. But for things that will make your guinea pig happy I would suggest:CuddleCups, Beds and Sofabeds, my pigs LOVE to lie in them and fall asleep: Depends which country you’re in. Try this if you’re in America http://www.cozycavy.com/ I also know a really good supplier in Australia, message me if you need their website address.Cardboard boxes, pigloos and hideys: Guinea pigs are timid creatures and like to hide underthings. Look in your local petstore for pigloos and other hidey holes, of if you’re low on cash try getting a large icecream tub or plastic box and cutting holes in it. I have made huge mazes with shoe boxes before lolSome cat toys/ bird toys: A few playful piggies will like to chase a small cat/ parrot ball around, especially if it jingles. I have one little guinea who absolutely adores his jingle bell ball.Another piggie: Guinea pigs are very social and often get depressed living by themselvesI definitely haven’t covered everything, but try this website for good ideas. http://guineapigcages.comGood luck with your piggie!

Hala May 25, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Your guinea pig needs a friend to be with. Guinea pigs are herd animals and like to be with at least one other guinea pig of the same sex. The guinea pig friend would provide company and he wouldn’t be nearly as bored, as he would be able to interact with his friends.It is also best to let your guinea pig out into the garden to run around and eat grass. Guinea pigs absolutely love grass and it is important in their diet. If your garden is not secure, then put him in a sheltered run.If you don’t have a garden, at least let your guinea pig run around in a room in your house. He would appreciate the exercise.As for actual toys, many guinea pigs like large tunnels to run through. You can make this yourself out of cardboard. Make sure it is big enough so that your guinea pig can’t get stuck in it though.My guinea pigs really like these things called ‘willow balls’. They are balls made out of strands of willow branches and my guinea pigs love pushing them around and chewing on the wood.You could also make a ‘tent’ out of a towel or some newspaper for your guinea pig to hide under. Guinea pigs love little sheltered areas where they can feel safe. Another thing he may like is a paper bag to run in and out of. Just lie a paper bag down on its side like a cave. You could even put some of his favourite food in there.

Kate May 26, 2011 at 4:46 am

I like to stuff toilet paper rolls with hay. They play with it for hours until they get all the hay out. Try stuffing a sock as well they will throw it around and have a great time. You can also make little bags out of fleece so they can run inside them and cuddle up into it. They love to sleep in them and run in and out.

R0nda May 26, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Get him something wirey.Maybe a dog toy or somthing

Bob Bone May 27, 2011 at 4:59 am

You can make home-made toys! My guinea pig loves hidey houses made out of cardboard, towel tents ( you can look them up on google, great for piggies!), brown paper bags, and my piggie loves a wooden board propped up on the side of the cage, he hides in it all the time, and it’s a great chew toy! just don’t use treated wood! You can also give them a pile of hay for them to hid in and eat! I also made a tunnel out of an oatmel conatiner ( the round one) he loves playing in that! Who needs to buy toys?

hydee g May 27, 2011 at 4:56 pm

toilet paper rolls. are great. they are fun and good for their teeth because as u may know their teeth constently grow. i also have a guinea pig his name is stetson. im in 4-h and have been showing guinea pigs for about 4-5 years and have been in 4-h for going on 11 years so i have learned alot.have fun with ur guinea pig they are alot of fun.

♥deb b♥ May 28, 2011 at 4:17 am

Cardboard tubes (big enough for the guinea pig to run through), homemade cardboard hidey house (shoe box, paper bag with hay inside, Paper plates: Some pigs enjoy flipping these around, others like to hide under them. I take a paper plate and fold it in half so it makes a kind of tent. My pigs runs through and flips it over until they gets tired and then just chews on it. Make sure you use a plain paper plate and not one with any kind of plastic coating, as plastic and laminating are very harmful to guinea pigs’ digestive systems. Tissue paper: I found out about this one by accident one day. I was wrapping presents and had my guinea pigs running around on the floor. I soon noticed they was spending all of their time playing with a piece of crinkled tissue paper. Now, I take plain white tissue paper, crumple it a bit and place it in their cage. I think she enjoys the sound it makes when she moves it around- plus, it doubles as a hiding space.

Coconut May 28, 2011 at 4:36 pm

First of all, make sure you have a large enough cage. The minimum requirements are 30″ by 50″ for 2 guinea pigs. If the cage is not big enough, take it outside in the backyard daily for some running around. Your local pet store should probably have harnesses which you can attach to your pig, like leashes for dogs. Those will make outdoor activity safe.Your cage should have a small hutch or hiding place for your pigs. Try also to get cardboard chubes for it to run around. Some bird or rabbit toys work for piggies too. Having wooden chews or treats make them happy and content. MAKE SURE that you don’t give it an exercise ball or wheel like hamsters, because guinea pig’s spines arent as flexible, and these wheels will hurt them. Have fun with your piggie!

Mudd May 29, 2011 at 5:00 am

If you’re talking about the fluff in the chubbs or tubes, or whatever they’re called – no it’s not safe for guinea pigs. They could chew it, ingest it, get an intestinal blockage, or other problems to not make it worth giving to them. It would be fine maybe for a hamster to use as bedding, but that’s about all I might consider, if even that, since they like to pack stuff in their cheeks.

Alissha May 29, 2011 at 4:22 pm

You can get untreated willow balls that can be tossed around. Also, hard plastic cat toy type balls with a bell inside can be fun.A paper bag stuffed with hay and then smooshed shut can keep them entertained for a long time. Or maybe my Timothy isn’t that smart

Bunny Lover May 30, 2011 at 4:59 am

It depends what kind of tree it isAnd it HAS to be untreated, treated wood is very bad to eat

rugbratmom May 30, 2011 at 5:01 pm

I do not currently have a Guinea pig but I have had them in the past.Guinea pigs are not tough to please. If you want to buy something for your piggy you might look at cat and ferret toys but be careful to remove the toys if they become broken as they could be dangerous. They are happy with simple home made things though. Oatmeal containers are always a big hit. Some will be happy to roll a tennis ball around the cage. A small paper bag full of hay, a crumpled up piece of paper, a cardboard tube (you might want to cut a slit down the side so he can’t get stuck), a sock stuffed with bedding and tied at the top. If you are crafty you could try to make one of the tunnels or pouches like they sell in the stores. You could take a beanie baby or other small stuffed animal, cut it open, remove the stuffing, and re-stuff it with bedding and then sew it back closed.

Confucius May 31, 2011 at 5:04 am

Theres this type of soy mixture that people use to glue some newspapers together, look into that.

Carol May 31, 2011 at 4:22 pm

I use bird toys for my guinea pigs all the time and they LOVE them. Chose the ones that have a lot of wood they can chew on with a bell on the end they can ring, mine spend a lot of time with them. They also like the package of 4 1′ balls for birds, they throw them all over the cage.

I ♥ Guinea Pigs! June 1, 2011 at 4:56 am

Here are some AWESOME, free ideas!”Towel TentsCut up or fold larger bath size towels. Be sure to cut off any hanging threads. Towel tents in the corner make a great hidey hole that can be washed and don’t take up too much room. You can just loop the towel through cage wires on the corner and secure with a safety pin or two. We use binder clips to secure the towels. 3 work great securing the tent in a triangular fashion to the grids.Paper BagsEasy, inexpensive, fold and toss when dirty. Try folding them down, or cutting them down to fit better in the cage. Lay them on their side–cave style. Be sure to cut off any handles. Or try stuffing a paper bag with hay. A toy and a hay rack in one! Cut some entrance/exit holes on the side for more fun.Cardboard BoxesShoe boxes, tissue boxes, empty soda carton boxes . . . Turn boxes upside down or sideways for a cave. If sideways with a bottom, throw in some bedding or hay for a soft hide-away. If upside down, cut out one or two entrance and escape holes. Escape holes are good if you have more than one piggie. If you have a box with a top on it, you can put them on their side and have the top like a door that swings open from the top. That is a huge hit with the pigs!Cozies or Cuddle CupsThese are HUGE hits with the guinea pigs. Please see the Accessories page for details. They LOVE snuggling in their cozies. With a little ingenuity and craft skills, you can make your own versions of these items as well. We consider a tunnel and cozy a must have for every cage!TunnelsThese are HUGE hits with the guinea pigs. Please see the Accessories page for details. They LOVE running through and sleeping under their tunnels. With a little ingenuity and craft skills, you can make your own versions of these items as well. You can even make a cube tunnel for play time or as an accessory in a large cage. Use two extra grids and attach them together to form a corner (90 degree angle) or make a U-shape from one or two grids. Put it down as tent and put an old towel or blanket over it. You may want to secure the corner connections with cable ties. We consider a tunnel and cozy a must have for every cage!Crumpled-Up Pieces of PaperVery simple, but the piggies love them. Plain paper is better. They will probably chew on it and eat it. Occasional paper eating is okay.Sheet of NewspaperAlso very simple, but a big hit. Good to chew on, crawl under, play tug-of-war with. Make sure there are no staples. Most newspaper is made with soy-based dyes which are safe for the pigs. Check with your newspaper company if you are not sure.Toilet Paper and Paper Towel Cardboard SpoolsStuff some Timothy Hay in them and they make great treats. Be sure to cut a slit down the length of any tube so that a playful, curious piggie won’t get stuck, like the piggie in the photo to the right.Oatmeal ContainersToss when dirty or chewed down. Slice lengthwise to make sure they can’t get stuck as shown. Bricks, Cinder Blocks, or Rough StonesMay help in wearing down nails. Make a pad of bricks available in the summer time. They can lay on the cooler bricks. Also, you can put the bricks under the water bottle to help absorb drips and ensure they get their little claws on them. Or, make a little low pyramid with bricks (assuming you have a large cage) and put the food on the top platform. With bricks, cinder blocks, and stones, make sure there is NO danger of any item falling or dislodging in such a way that could hurt a piggie or piggie paw. Try putting the stones or bricks under or next to the hay racks, especially if you hang the hay racks from an upper deck in a cube cage. A cinder block with holes in it can make an interesting gym for them.Old SocksYou can leave them alone or stuff them with bedding. These can become a favorite pillow that gets dragged around the cage. Tie off or sew the top closed. You can also stuff the toe with a tennis ball.Tennis BallsMay be better than cat toys as they will roll around easier on bedding.Ping Pong BallsTo push around.Small, Lightweight BowlsItems that they can toss or get inside, like an empty cottage cheese container.Pine ConesPine cones don’t have the pine bedding risk, but they should be sterilized first. Bake first to sterilize at approximately 200° for 20-30 minutes on foil to catch any sap drippings. These might be a favorite.MirrorsOn the outside of the cage. If they are on the inside, make sure they are pet-safe.Fruit Tree BranchGood chew treat, free if they come from your UNSPRAYED backyard. Untreated wood, twigs and logs that have been aged for at least 3 months. Apple tree branches can be eaten fresh off the tree. Stay away from: cherry, peach, apricot, plum (fruit trees with pits) and redwood branches, which are all poisonous.Children’s Wooden BlocksFor chewing and pushing around. Please make sure any children’s blocks are not coated with any sealants (shiny or

La Songeur™ June 1, 2011 at 4:56 pm

Clothing, ice cream tubs, plasticware, paper towel rolls, paper cups, paperware, toilet paper rolls, wood baskets (with untreated wood), jingle bells off of a wreath.

sunsh1ne June 2, 2011 at 5:00 am

Mine also love toilet rolls slit down the middle (so that they don’t get their heads stuck), and stuffed with loads of yummy-yummy fresh grass. They sit there for hours trying to get the last bit of grass out! Keeps them entertained and a very simple way to give them cheap but useful toys. If you let them out for floor-time, you could also hide bits of carrots and cucumber around the room in corners.

Victoria June 2, 2011 at 4:38 pm

Guinea pigs love to chew. For them, it keeps their teeth in good shape and it’s also entertaining. Some great chew toys include:An unused paper coffee filter. The paper is safe. So scrunch it up into a ball. Most guinea pigs will wave it around and then when they get tired, they will lay down and chew on it. Give one to each guinea pig.When you use up a roll of toilet paper, take the carboard tube inside and cut it lengthwise. Stuff it with hay so the hay only sticks out each end. Your guinea pigs will love trying to get the hay out. The reason you cut the tube lengthwise is so they can’t get their heads stuck in the tube.Dry some bread so it’s crispy. Use wholegrain bread and you may have to experiment because you want bread that dries crispy, not hard like cement. Break one slice in half, and then break that into 4 pieces. Give half a slice to your guinea pigs (once a week is plenty). This will keep their teeth clean and most guinea pigs LOVE dried bread.Pile up a bunch of grass hay. Guinea pigs love to play in the hay! When they get tired, they will munch it as a snack. I had one merino who used to build a nest out of his leftover hay and even make himself a roof. When he was all done, you had a pile of hay and couldn’t tell there was a guinea pig inside. A guinea pig will NOT overeat hay, so it’s safe to give them lots now and then.For play toys they won’t chew…Get piece of thin cardboard and cut into a strip half an inch wide and 6 inches long. Try to get your guinea pig to grab it with his teeth. Then very gently pull on it. If your guinea pig pulls back, now you have him playing tug-of-war. Guinea pigs LOVE to play tug-of-war, but make sure the piggy wins MOST of the time.A little CD player. Guinea pigs like mellow music, such as “The Four Seasons” by Vivalde or music by Enya. Play them some music a few hours every day. My guinea pigs all curl up and stretch when they hear music. Some even purr and roll around. Music is the best way to prevent boredom. Some guinea pigs really like “Switched.on Bach” by Wendy Carlos or techno music by Sasha. Don’t play it too loud. When I leave in the morning, I turn on the CD player and it keeps the guinea pigs entertained until I come home for lunch.A ping-pong ball. They can’t chew it, it’s not scarey, and with a little luck, they will LOVE batting it around. Guinea pigs usually “bat” things by pushing with their noses. ¨Attach a little mirror to their cage where they can admire themselves. Some of my guinea pigs pay no attention to the mirror, but I have one who charms himself all morning by gazing at his reflection.If all else fails, get a parakeet. A parakeet is easy to keep and it will bond to your guinea pigs. One parakeet will keep your two piggies entertained all day long. It is not true that parakeets carry diseases which will kill your guinea pigs. I keep two parakeets with my little band of boars and they are all best friends. My parakeet loves getting a free ride on my senior boar’s back now and then. It’s just comical and they all love each other.Do NOT put a guinea pig with a larger bird such as a cockatiel, lovebird, or conjure (small parrot). These birds are capable of hurting a guinea pig when they get mad. A parakeet is a docile bird and when a parakeet is irritated, it simply complains and will NOT bite a guinea pig (although, a parakeet may bite YOU because you are a great big human and a parakeet knows it can not hurt you!) One of my parakeets is quite bossy and when he wants the hay box all to his greedy self, he will gently pull on the guinea pig’s fur so the guinea pig moves his butt over. I have one boar who has figured out the parakeet is all bark and no bite. He simply ignores the parakeet and eventually, the parakeet will settle down and they eat their hay side by side. The parakeet gets the seed heads and the guinea pig gets the grassy stems. My other parakeet is a perfect gentleman and he doesn’t bother himself with hay at all. Afterall, he’s a PARAKEET, not a GUINEA PIG!!!

cali_goodin June 3, 2011 at 4:11 am

toilet paper rolls just make sure to get all the paper & glue off first