DIY: guinea pig hutch
Do you want to make a guinea pig hutch that looks attractive and provides enough space for your guinea pigs? Why not turn an old cupboard into a guinea pig hutch with the help of transparent acrylic sheet! An ideal way to upcycle an old IKEA cabinet, for example. You’ll also be giving your guinea pigs all the space they need. In this blog, we’re going to explain how to build your own guinea pig hutch from a cabinet.
To make a guinea pig hutch, you’ll need:
- Clear PERSPEX® (thickness depends on size)
- U-profiles
- An old cupboard
The basics of making a guinea pig hutch
Before you begin making your DIY guinea pig hutch, it’s essential to know how many guinea pigs are going to live in it and how big the cabinet might be. The width and depth are particularly important. It’s also essential to consider in advance how to clean your guinea pig hutch. If you use extendable PERSPEX® edges, cleaning will be a breeze. It’s also important to match the thickness of the PERSPEX® to the measurements. The last thing you want is too thin PERSPEX® for your guinea pigs to knock over. The height of the PERSPEX® is also important, as guinea pigs can jump quite high! Go for an edge of at least 20 to 30 cm tall.
Step 1: order clear PERSPEX® for your outdoor guinea pig hutch
You can order customised clear PERSPEX® in our webshop, making it very easy to make a DIY guinea pig hutch yourself. We’ll saw the sheet material to size for you free of charge. Not sure about which thickness to order? Use our free thickness calculator to help you find the right thickness based on the dimensions.
Step 2: Attach the PERSPEX® to your guinea pig house
Once you have received your PERSPEX®, you can attach it using U-profiles, which you can purchase at your local hardware store. Make sure that the U-profiles you buy are suitable for the thickness of the PERSPEX®.
Step 3: Install lighting inside your guinea pig hutch (optional)
This step is optional but is highly recommended if you want to give your homemade guinea pig house some extra atmosphere. It also ensures that your cavies have light for a while during the winter months. For this option, install LED lighting connected to a timer, so that you can give the animals light regularly.
Extra tips for making your DIY guinea pig hutch
To enjoy your homemade guinea pig hutch for as long as possible, it’s vital to protect the hutch against the guinea pig’s urine. You can do this in different ways: with adhesive plastic, boat varnish or water-based paint. It’s also essential to seal your guinea pig house with a suitable waterproof silicone sealant. This is to prevent the urine from running through the seams. Once you’ve completed all the steps, it’s time to introduce your guinea pigs to their new home.
Want to make a guinea pig hutch yourself?
Did this blog inspire you to have a go at transforming a cabinet into a guinea pig hutch yourself? Take advantage of our tips and order your PERSPEX® directly in our webshop. We saw all the sheets cut to size for you free of charge, and ensure that you receive your order as soon as possible. To keep the PERSPEX® for your guinea pig cupboard clean, we recommend our anti-static cleaner. Discover how to clean acrylic sheet in our blog “Cleaning acrylic sheet“. If you have any questions about this job or our products, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
