Piggies won’t use playpen separately

SquiglyPiggy

SquiglyPiggy

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hey. We bought a playpen (picture below) a couple of months ago. Before we were using some extra c&c grids that made a 2x6 with a large cushy towel under it. When our piggies were together, they would run around and around for the whole time they were in there. After a while and many washes the towel got too disgusting to use. We decided that getting a playpen with a waterproof-Ish bottom would be the best and easiest solution (the one mentioned in the beginning) We put them in there a few times before they had to get separated and it was like how they were before in the other one. But once they were apart, we still tried to put them in by themselves at least 5 times a week. They didn’t and still don’t run around though. I’m wondering if it’s because of the playpen or because of them being alone with nobody to chase/play with. Pumpkin got very comfortable running around our living room but it’s not piggy safe so we have to watch him very closely which we can’t do for hours at a time, and my parents don’t like when he pees all over the floor lol. That’s obviously not a good solution. Peanut we don’t take out anymore besides the weekly health checks because he absolutely hates it. This turned into sort of a ramble but the question is do they no longer run around because they are alone or because this new playpen isn’t suitable? image.webp(It’s a little bit dirty, apologies)
 
What do you put into the playpen as enrichment and entertainment?
A piggy on their own won't automatically run around so will need lots of items to encourage them to explore and venture out.
 
We have one of these that we sometime use when we are cleaning them out, I always put come bath mats of fleece at the bottom as the hard floor is lava according to our boys!
 
Swissgreys said:
What do you put into the playpen as enrichment and entertainment?
A piggy on their own won't automatically run around so will need lots of items to encourage them to explore and venture out.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah we always put plenty of tunnels, hides, and 2+ piles of hay.
 
rp1993 said:
We have one of these that we sometime use when we are cleaning them out, I always put come bath mats of fleece at the bottom as the hard floor is lava according to our boys!
Click to expand...
We do usually cover the bottom with pee pads and a circle fleece we have.
 
A lot of pig are not that motivated to run around or exercise on their own. They're more cautious when they're alone because, in the wild, that's when they would be very susceptible to predators and they know this instinctively.

I have a pair but they are on the older side now (6.5 years and 4 years respectively) and they are pretty lazy... I scatter food around the area so that they have some motivation to wander around searching for things and foraging. Otherwise, they just stay in the cage and don't want to come out! LOL!
 
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