Could My Boys Get Bored?

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hzlhrst

hzlhrst

Junior Guinea Pig
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I read somewhere that guinea pigs enjoy the stimulation they recieve from their home being in a busyish living room. My two have an interesting and spacious cage so no worries there, but their cage is in my bedroom which is quiet and empty for 1/2 the day at times. Will this be boring for them?

Friends and family are allowed in and out of my room freely to stim the boys, and when I am in there I play music which they seem to enjoy. I am just worrie that the quiet and lack of constant stim could be leaving them unhappy.
 
If you're worried about them being bored you can always buy them some boredom breakers from a pet store or online shop. Or some safe sticks for them to chew on. Or if you can, let them run around in a room for a while or in the garden. They should get tired and not be so bored!
 
Sounds like you have the environment sorted, as you say, they have a spacious and interesting set-up. I think it's worth noting that many people, and no doubt several people here, are out at work for several to most days of the week, and the pigs, no matter where they are kept, are devoid of human company for hours at a time. Quite often this will be in the middle of the day when the piggies are not at their most active anyhow. Mine are living-room piggies, and I work part time, and have noticed that they go quiet for several hours in the afternoon, and are only interested in me at that time of the day if it looks like I may be getting some tasty treats for them!
Perhaps the chances are you are interacting with them at the time when they most appreciative of it - the evenings :) The mornings and evenings are when they most enjoy being tickled behind the ears, and given treats on my lap etc. When I put the run out they love it n the mornings, and take themselves back to their cages, usually, for most of the afternoon, then come out again in the evenings, or they'll just fall asleep in the run. They will interact with me if I initiate it, or like I say they think food may be on offer, but they're most sociable mornings and evenings, so I really don't think they require human stimulation all day, just for periods of the day :), Just like yours. Hope that helps
 
@Critter thank you! I am a first time owner with new two baby boars, so far bonding and out of cage time seems to be very much two steps forward three steps back, they are so timid! is this normal or could I be doing something wrong?
 
Guinea pigs being timid is totally normal since they're prey animals, but also because they don't know you as well yet. Just give it time and continue doing the bonding and feeding them and they'll eventually warm up to you.
 
@5littlepigs Thanks! I'm just worried that I'm making no progress :(

Also they aren't doing much running in their run so out of cage time isn't so much exercise as it is chilling out, just in a different place.

I worry so much:doh:
 
I remember seeing a vid somwere , a keeper had christmas tree lights that slowly changed colour ! They were around the cage , but well out of reach of her 5 pigs. They seemed to enjoy them :cool:
It looked quite stumulating :tu:
 
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