Bedding and Cleaning
Bedding substrates
In terms of bedding, I use a hay layer on top of a more absorbent, purpose-made substrate underneath - see below. I provide hay heaps for piggies to tunnel into. I use a mix of high quality hays, including Timothy, Meadow and Orchard hay. I use soft hay on top of paper bedding within my guinea pigs' individual houses. I provide fresh hay daily because it gets eaten or soiled. As mentioned on the Diet page, be mindful of hay poke - sharp hay can poke the eye causing injury or small hay fragments/seeds from seed heads can get into the eye and irritate/injure the eye - this needs immediate attenion.
Absorbent substrate
The purpose of this substrate layer is to absorb wee so that when urine filters through hay it will be absorbed by this substrate. There are different absorbent substrates available on the market, including paper flake bedding, wood shavings, wood or paper pellets. My preference is paper bedding under hay; I find paper flake bedding (for images see below) provides a soft, cushioned texture. Paper bedding is easy to remove when cleaning and may be helpful for guinea pigs with sore feet or osteoarthritis (OA) - cushioning under inflamed joints. Heated pads, as long as safe, may be helpful for OA in cold conditions - more on OA here. Be aware that there are good and bad quality absorbent bedding types out there. Do not use sawdust, which irritates sensitive body parts and lungs due to oils/phenols in the particles. These can be absorbed into internal organs and cause low grade liver inflammation. If choosing wood shavings, avoid poor-quality, hard or spiky wood shavings - I have even found some packets with nails and screws in! Wood shavings or wood pellets should have undergone a drying process, which should remove harmful volatile oils and phenols from the wood. Wood pellets are too uncomfortable for sensitive guinea pig feet so these must always be covered with sufficient hay. Avoid wood or paper pellets which contain plastic or similar; I have seen brands of paper/wood pellets with a coloured, plastic-like substance mixed in with the paper/wood in the pellets. Always check the composition on the bag for any chemical additives. I like to provide a deep substrate so piggies can use their nails to search in the hay to forage.
More on paper bedding
I have used all of the brands shown in these images, I currently buy paper flake bedding from 'Norfolk Industries', a small UK business - the bedding can be bought in compressed bales online in quantities that suit you (online is click and collect but delivery can be requested for an additional charge).
Below is an image just to show an example hay mix that makes a nice, fluffy hay heap, which piggies can rumage around in, play in and on, and tunnel into!
Fabric bedding
As well as a large area of natural substrate, I also use suitable fabrics such as pet fleece, to create soft areas where guinea pigs can stretch out - an example can be seen below. Be mindful to avoid materials that delicate piggy nails can get caught in, such as crocheted material.
Cleaning
A topic appropriate at this point is cleaning! A daily poo and wee pick should be performed to remove soiled areas and a full clean, with a safe, non-toxic, purpose-made cleaning product, should be done once a week. Leave some of the old bedding so that your guinea pigs' familiar scent is still present. Fabric bedding such as pet fleece also needs to be washed once soiled - if you want to keep pet stuff separate in your washing machine, wash bags are really useful. Cleaning is time-consuming when piggies are kept properly; whether you will have time for this needs real consideration before deciding to have them. People often comment that my piggies don't smell, that they are surprised because they often encounter guinea pigs that are smelly in other homes. Guinea pigs should not smell (only of nice hay smells) unless their home is not being cleaned properly or they have an infection - if there is a smell around your piggies’ home then your cleaning regime/method might need addressing, or you may well need to check your guinea pigs' body condition to make sure all is well.