Things You'll Need:
- Gloves
- Protective eyewear
- Measuring tape
- Soldering iron
- 14-gauge woven wire (1/2 by 1/2 inch)
- 4-by-4 foot plywood
- Wire cutters
- Wire latches
- 15 cage clips
- Towels
- Newspaper
- Salt licks
- Water dispenser
- Food bowl
- Straw or hay
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Step 1
Pick a place outside to set up your guinea pig cage. It should be on level ground that's mostly shaded. An hour or two of sunlight is okay. Make sure the cage is within view so you can check on it often, especially if you are in an area with predators.
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Step 2
Map out a 4-by-4 foot area.
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Step 3
Lay down the plywood where you are going to build the cage. Roll out 14-gauge wire that's 3 feet wide and 16 feet long. Beginning on one end of the wire, make a mark every 4 feet so you end up with four equal-sized pieces, each measuring 4 feet long.
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Step 4
Use wire cutters to cut the wire at the 4-foot marks for the sides of the cage. Position two of the wire walls at a 90-degree angle. Solder the wire pieces together with a soldering iron. Line up the wire as accurately as possible. Repeat this process to solder together all four walls.
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Step 5
Place the connected wire walls on top of the plywood board. Use cage clips to attach the bottom of the wire cage to the plywood to create a stable bottom. Use two to three clips on each side.
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Step 6
Cover the bottom of the cage with sheets of newspaper. Fill a large corner of the cage with straw, hay, shredded newspaper or other bedding. Add towels for more padding, along with small cardboard boxes with openings that the guinea pigs can hide in.
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Step 7
Place water dispensers and food bowls in one corner. Hang salt licks from the sides of the cage. Scatter treats on the floor, such as carrots, peppers and romaine lettuce.
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Step 8
Create the top for the guinea pig cage. Set a 4-by-4 foot piece of 14-gauge wire on top of the cage. Clip the top corners of the cage walls to the top piece with cage clips.
