5'SiVl 



United States Dopartmont of the Inte|r^r\ \:i 

 Tish and 'tlldiife Service 



Wildlife LcafXct 219 



ishington, D. C, 



•■;.., ■■■ BAISIIT& GrJJimk PI&S 



Prepared in SeQtio.n of I\ir Resources, Division of Wildlife Eesearch 



Goiinea pigs are raised as pet and fancy stock and for scientific 

 puiT)Oses. This limited outlet naturally restricts the possihility of 

 large profits from quantity pro du.ction. The institutions that require 

 guinea pigs purchase animals that have never heen used for experiments 

 and are known to te suitable for the purpose. Fanciers producing 

 guinea pigs are now organized in a national association known as the 

 Ajiierican Eahhit- and Ca-'/y Breeders Association. !Ehe Secretary has offices 

 at 7408 Normal Avenue, Chicago, 111., and persons desiring to raise 

 purehred guinea' pigs, or cavies, as they are technically known, should 

 write to that office for information regarding registration, shows, and 

 disposal of stock. 



Guinea pigs may he entirely hlack, "brown, white, or tawny, or a 

 mixture of these colors. They may he long-haired, or short, smooth- 

 coated or rough. The short-haired, smooth-coated varieties are in great- 

 est demand, and from the sanitary standpoint are the :nost satisfactory 

 to raise. A full-grown cavy in good flosh should v/eigh nearly 2 pounds 

 at 18 months of age, 



, . HOUSING 



To reduce the cost of equipment and the lahor in feeding and care, 

 some producers have adopted the colon:/ system of raising guinea pigs. 

 Under that system 30 to 50 mature animals are kept in one group, and 

 sufficient pen space is provided to allow the animals anrple freedom of 

 exercise. The compound-tier hutch, however, proves more satisfactory 

 under average conditions. The numher of such hutches, or even of tiers 

 to the hutch, depends entirely upon the numher of guinea pigs to he 

 kept. 



With .each compartment 30 inches deep by 36 inches long and 18 

 inches high, there is sxifficient floor s-pace for 4 or 5 breeding females 

 T*ith their litters. The one large door closing all tiers should he 



NOTE: This leaflet supersedes Wildlife Research and Management 

 Leaflet BS-52' issued in April 1S35 hy the Bureau of Biological Survey 

 under the Department of Agriculture. 



