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Exercise

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 147427
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Deleted member 147427

Hi I’m wanting to try and give my piggies some exercise rather then being stuck in there cage. I have tried giving them some floor time but they just sat inside there gnawing log the whole time. What else can I do to give them some exercise as I don’t have a play pen
 
My own personal experience is that guinea pigs will exercise when they want to.
If their cage is big enough most piggies will have active bursts, followed by a sleep, and long periods sitting around munching hay.
Floor time is great, but a decent sized cage with lots of enrichment is just as important.
 
The time your piggies take to get used to their new environment will differ. My boys did not start doing zoomies or even running around the cage until at least 2 to 3 weeks of me having them.
Even still the one pig just started recently doing zoomies while the other one started after about three weeks after rescuing.

I’m sure other members will tell you that their pigs never really zoom. I think it really depends on their health their age and their personality.

Cage space is important though. I have a 6x2 C&C. Excuse the mess. Was cage cleanout day. Just showing you mine as a reference.84B79D20-3AD3-4663-AB77-13785EDEAB0B.webp
 
Ensuring they have plenty of hiding places when out for floor time is important - piggies are scared of new and open spaces so being able to run from one hidey house to another while out for floor time will help them. It will take time for them to feel safe though.
 
I do floor time either on the floor of their room or in the hallway. My 17 month old will ‘sometimes’ do zoomies where as my 2 and a half year old, 3 year old and 6 year old just prefer to lay in their hides. I have them out on the settee more than I do floor time as they prefer to lay down and chill out rather than run around
 
It’s okay if they’re not comfortable with floor time yet. My girlies were a bit hesitant the first time they had floor time.
 
Guinea lover 1982 said:
Hi I’m wanting to try and give my piggies some exercise rather then being stuck in there cage. I have tried giving them some floor time but they just sat inside there gnawing log the whole time. What else can I do to give them some exercise as I don’t have a play pen
Click to expand...
Have you tried scattering veggie bits/treats around floor time area to promote interest?
 
Some piggies really don’t “do” exercise. Others are naturals. But as they are still settling in, make sure they have plenty of cover, tunnels, hideys etc. Remember that they are prey animals so running in the open is against their natural instincts.
 
Mine don’t like coming out of their cage at all, despite having the option.
They’ve been like this since we moved house.
They have space to do zoomies, play chase in and out of tunnels and hideys.
Mine behave very much as @Swissgreys described.
 
My two girls love floor time, but my neutered male Oscar is not a fan. I make sure there are lots of hides and I leave the carrier open so he feels safe while the girls cause havoc 😆
 
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