• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Exercise - mine just don't want to!

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KookyK

Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Surrey
Ok so I know piggies need to exercise but how can I *make* them exercise when they choose not to?! My boys are new still and I'm new to piggies...

Timmy and Tony are in a 5ft hutch with 2 levels but they have chosen not to use the ramp (which I had been warned about but didn't realise when I bought the hutch). I worry about them having enough space as when you factor in the bedroom and the space where the ramp is, the 5 feet becomes a bit less for running up and down in.

Y'day the grass was barely damp and sun was out so I put the run out with a picnic blanket on. I have an open run (plan to upgrade in Spring) so I couldn't leave them unsupervised. They just stayed in their little hidey houses (though Timmy briefly stuck his head out to nibble grass). they did not run!

Today I moved them to the lower level of the hutch where they can run the full 5 ft length. But they didn't come out except to find food and go back into their hidey houses.

What can I do to encourage them?! I have a hutch hugger (home made - bubblewrap/foil insulation, and plastic clear tarp over sides and back), but I keep the front of it up unless raining so they get some daylight. Could they be too cold to want to run about? Or maybe still shy as they are pretty new still.

My ideas are to have them inside to run about (but maybe not too long in case they get too used ot the warm and can't readjust outside), or move them to the outhouse at the end of the garden (but it's v dark and miserable and cramped so I was going to only use that for Nov or Dec-Feb when it gets REALLY cold) - I don't want them depressed in there! Or, wait as they are new still!

Sorry! That was long. Any ideas?
 
how long have you had them for? when i got two of mine it took weeks for the to come out of the bedroom when i was out with them. lots of hideys and/or tunnels may help they can dart from one to another. my guess is there just not sure, mine also wouldnt use the ramp to start with so i put them downstairs during the day and back up the top at night, they were soon going up and down on their own.

good luck :)
 
Thanks Laura I've only had them 3 days so I guess they're pretty scared and confused still. It's really useful to know what you did, and that they didn't come out a lot at 1st (I've seen through the window that they creep out for food when they don't think I can see!).

Both have let me have alittle stroke at moments when I've opened the hutch to put food it. They wheeked when I put in some parsley! So I think they're getting happier. I guess exercise will come!
 
thats ok, the thing is if they're outside unless you spend all day watching them you dont know that their not running around.

it may help if you talk to them so they learn your not going to hurt them and build a routine they will soon come out of their shells :)

didnt take long for mine to learn when dinner was coming and they would wheek from the bedroom run out hide in the tunnel wait for me to go then come out and eat! now they come running up take food from my hand and stand still for chin rubs to.

it just takes time and patience :))
 
Thanks, Lauralucy. Good point - I do need to give them more of a routine. What with arriving mid-morning on my day off, then weekend, I've been feeding them fairly randomly, albeit regularly. Once I'm back at work for my Mon-Wed stint I guess that'll set the times more.

I'm pleased that both have let me have a little stroke whilst I've put food in. I think they've been handled a bit in the past before being rehomed so I don't want them to lose the knack!
 
Don't worry. I have two hyperactive piggies who will run around and hide in things. They like to play hide and seek with romaine lettuce.

I have one piggy who will run around for five mins and then just find a cosy spot and go to sleep.

I also have one piggy that will just loaf and drolleyeso nothing, but is quite happy.
 
When I first moved mine outside it took them a few days to discover the upstairs and the run that was attached. Once they got use to it they was running about everywhere and eat all my grass to nothing! Give them time, they'll get nosey;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top