How To Encourage Piggies Liking Floor Time?

[Mellowmummy]

Hi I have two boars 13 weeks old their indoor piggies. Every day I've been getting them out in a indoor pen, placing hay, food, and a tunnel in their. However all my boys want to do is grab the food as quick as they can and hide in the tunnel. I've had them just over a week and even tho they hide I've been getting them out for around two hours a day. Is their anything else I can do to encourage them or is it just a bit of time they need to get use to floor time? In their cage they chase each other round and jump around like crazy I want them to be like this on the floor as well as their is more space for them. Any tips would be great thank you xx

 

[piggyfan]

Is it possible to build a c and c large enough so they do not need floor time? It makes them so happy.

 

[Mellowmummy]

sadly no, we have a cat and I have two small children so at the moment its not something I can safely do for them.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

maybe try putting the food in half an hour later. They will want to come out of obligatory 'hide mode' if food is on the cards.

You can make a roof on a C&C as well, small cable ties in the colour of the mesh make the connection between grids hugely strong and largely unnoticeable... if you were worried about people climbing in over the top

 

[Mellowmummy]

Thanks for that I will look into that yes I am worried my old cat would jump in and join them so the top tip is great
I have no idea how to start to plan a c&c cage so I will get googling

 

[Hermes]

Although I agree with giving pigs as much permanent cage space as possible I also think they do like being given access to novel spaces. They do need time to get used to different spaces, it can help if you can attach a run to their cage so they can venture in and out of their own accord or if you're transferring them to a playpen cover it over (or half cover it) with a towel or similar so they are less exposed. Giving them plenty of hiding places and spreading the veggies throughout may also help.

 

[Briony_S]

A good tip for pig not used to floor time iz to place lots of hideys witb 2 doors in a line with slight gap in between ie cardboard boxes with door on either side or tubes they will learn to dash between and then you can move them further apart over a period of time

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Highly agree with hermes, floor time and novel environments are critical to a healthy mind. Imagine never leaving your bedroom! Though changing the layout of the cage every couple of months can also shake things up for them