In the wild, guinea pigs live in caves and burrows and spend most of their time foraging for food. Living in a hutch allows your guinea pig to still live outside and get plenty of sunshine and fresh air.

Hutches can be bought ready made - the floor, roof and sides will be made of wood and weatherproofed. Guinea Pigs will naturally tend to chew wood so make sure that any products used to treat it are not toxic. A good hutch will have at least two compartments - one about a third of its overall size is enclosed to form cosy sleeping quarters to nest and hide in at night, and the other for the day. The front of this compartment will have smooth wire netting, and be large enough for the guinea pig to see out. You can keep two Guinea Pigs in the same size hutch as one Rabbit (The minimum recommended size for your hutch is 120cm x 60cm x 60cm). If you have more than two guinea pigs you will need a much bigger hutch with room for them to have their own individual nesting areas.

Place the hutch in a sheltered position, out of direct sunlight; raise it off the ground on bricks or legs to avoid damp; and make sure it is draught-free. Ensure there is a supply of fresh air, if your guinea pig is kept in an outbuilding. You should also provide your guinea pig with an outdoor run to make sure he gets plenty of exercise, but ensure that it is escape proof and put in playthings such as drainpipes, boxes, logs or flowerpots.