Piggy senses

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skrikopanik

skrikopanik

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I'm just wondering about piggies... Their sense of hearing is obviously ace, as they can hear me rustling anything plastic from another building, but what about their other senses?

Eyesight? I've noticed that they are rubbish at finding veggies I put around the cage, even if it's green cucumber against black fleece they can sometimes just walk over it in pursuit of the cucumber they can hear in another piggy mouth... But they (especially skittish Mette-Marit) notice if I shift my head ever so little (and run for shelter). Do they see movement more than objects?

Their sense of taste is obviously very refined, no explanation needed there...
 
Interesting thread. My girlies sometimes come out of their hutch and have a quick run around the yard before going in by themselves. They usually jump back in the living accommodation door but a few days ago, Eliza came out of the bed side and I didn't have the chance to open up the other side so Eliza jumped in to the mesh thinking it was open. I'm not sure if it is because they are used to it being open, but Eliza obviously couldn't tell that the door was closed. Very strange.
 
I'm sure i read somewhere that guinea pigs dont have very good eye site but they have a very good sense of smell and of course their hearing is excellent. :)
 
Sense of smell, sense of touch (whiskers) and hearing surpass eyesight, as you would expect from animals adapted to live in grassland.

They can see clearly only for a short distance and the sense for colours is not like ours, but they are able to spot sudden movements over wider distances - it helps them to react to predators like birds of prey.

If I want to call my piggies to where I am serving food, I wave my hand!
 
I read that pigs don't have good eyesight, but it's quite obvious that they're sensitive to sound and movement.
Whenever I make certain noises/tap the side of the cage Baxter will run over and sit in exactly the same place to wait for his food. But I have to give him the first bit by hand; if I put the food behind him in their bowl he won't notice and will still sit there waiting :)
 
I've had suggested to me that it's cruel to house pigs on colourful patterned fleece (it's not as common in Sweden), because piggies can see colour and would be disturbed by it. If the eyesight is as described by you then this is not an issue then?
 
my boys love the bright green fleece

ben didnt like the dark purple :( think its cas he's a black piggie & blended in to it & i always made him jump as couldn't see him :p
 
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Joey&Gizmo said:
I'm sure i read somewhere that guinea pigs dont have very good eye site but they have a very good sense of smell and of course their hearing is excellent. :)
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I'm no so sure I'd agree with that our two must have 20/20 vision :)) as they can see from the couch when their daddy has got their cage all cleaned out and is ready to put them back :))

also maurice this morning when trying to put his eyedrops in wore more of them that i got in his eyes rolleyes even distracting him with a carrot piece didnt help as his jaws were going so much :(|)
 
ollie said:
my boys love the bright green fleece

ben didnt like the dark purple :( think its cas he's a black piggie & blended in to it & i always made him jump as couldn't see him :p
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that made me laugh Ollie :)) our two seem to like the bright green fleece more dont know whether they think they are on grass or not but they seem to poop more when the green fleece is in :{
 
My guy does the same thing when I put food in. He can't really see it but sniffs it out. Also he'll move when you walk fast by his cage but if you move real slow he doesn't really notice. The hearing is obscenly great. He can hear me getting kale out of the fridge or opening the hay bag and will get excited. They respond more to noises, feelings and quick movements. since they are prey animals they need to see fast movements more than detail
 
Interesting topic! I was sat at my computer last Sunday morning when Jay went into the dogs food bin in the kitchen to get a mug of her food out. As the noise was created I heard one of my girls outside in the shed squeak with excitement.

Now the back door was closed, the shed is about 5 foot in front of the back door, and the shed door was closed.

The clever little thing has worked out that once the dog's been fed, its not long until she gets fed. I did think it was a one off but Monday morning we tested it out again and Tuesday, and she did it again!

Thats some powerful hearing she must have!
 
Mine got mental when I'm downstairs and they hear the bottom part of the fridge being opened. Or if I open the side of my bed where their pellets are kept.

I wouldnt say their eyesight is that bad, but their hearing is definitely better. Also their smell...if I come into the room with something they like the smell of they will wheek alot!
 
Lol aaawww bless.

Last night I had Sway on my lap and had a glass of Ribena, so dipped my finger in and let her lick (I say lick, she actually munched on my fingers..lol) it off. For the rest of the time while she was on my lap after that, she kept going after my finger to see if there was more ribena on it.
 
I am greated by the sound of squeaks as soon as I get up, they start as soon as they hear my footsteps leave the bedroom so you can imagine how berserk they've got by the time I've got downstairs and in to the kitchen. I think it's guinea pig for 'hurry up slave, feed me woman!' Anyone would think they've never been fed! lol
 
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