Homing Criteria
Indoor
- Minimum 140 cm cage for a pair, see below for minimum size for larger groups
- No woodshavings or straw
- Ideally a run for the garden in summer
- Indoor run, or safe space for floor time
- No hutches indoors. We need to see an indoor set up, cage, C&C homemade style. If you chose to use a hutch for summer, that’s fine but not a necessity.
- Ramps aren’t ideal, if there is a ramp, it must have at least a 5cm side.
-
Total of 3 hideys (for a pair/trio) including a wooden house & cosie.
-
Plastic house, fleece corner forest or cardboard box are acceptable for the others.
Minimum Set Up Sizes - 'Off-the-shelf'
- 140cm cage – pair/trio
- 2×4 (or 12 grids) C&C – up to 3 piggies
- 2×5 (or 14 grids) C&C – up to 4 piggies
- 2×6 (or 16 grids) C&C – up to 5 piggies
Minimum Set Up Sizes - 'Homemade'
- To work how much space you need, each C&C grid measures 35cm
Notes about Cage Sizes
Lofts don’t count into the minimum space, as piggies are land dwellers. However, if you are adding to a group of piggies who currently use a loft, we may consider including this space in the minimum.
Herds
- Boars can only live in pairs.
- Girls can live in groups.
- Only one neutered boar can live with any number of girls.
Starter Packs
If you would like to upgrade your set up, you might want to have a look in our shop. We sell cages and everything needed for happy piggies!
Alternatively, you can buy our starter pack. We can then arrange a time for you to visit the Nest. Depending on the situation, you may be able to take your guinea pigs home at this appointment (please bring a carrier or suitable box!) or we will arrange another convenient time. If you are looking for a friend for your guinea pigs, you are welcome to bring them with you to meet our guinea pigs. We also offer a bonding service, which you may be interested in.
We do re-home further afield than Leicestershire, so do contact us if a piggie on our website steals your heart! We may also be able to help with transport.
If you have any questions or problems throughout your piggies’ lives, feel free to contact us as we will provide lifetime support.
Need to re-home your guinea pigs?
If you can no longer look after your guinea pigs, surrendering them to a rescue is the best decision. We understand this is a difficult decision to make, but you will find us to be non-judgemental. A collection may be possible, but you are welcome to come and see your guinea pigs settled into their cage in our home. In most cases, we can let you know when your guinea pigs have left us for their new home. Contact us to see if we have space if you need to surrender your guinea pigs.
When surrendering boys, we ask for a minimum donation of £10 per piggie, towards their neuter. The full cost to us is £60. This also reserves your space.
If you aren’t able to donate, we understand some people are needing to surrender piggies due to financial difficulties, this isn’t a problem, just let us know! We can still take them without a donation.
