Sensible Piggies 🙄

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

I have two sows that I adopted about 6 weeks ago, they were used for breeding.
One of them (Betty) has started to gain confidence and is happy to eat from my hand and is quite inquisitive. The other, Peggy, prefers to hide away. I don’t think they had the best starts in life but they have everything then need now.
But they don’t seem to play or do anything they shouldn’t I give them floor time about 3/4 times a week. Always plenty of hideys and in a sheltered area that’s sectioned off as I’ve found that they prefer this rather than open space.
They have fabric tubes, cardboard tubes, paper bags, boxes, hay cookies, willow balls, those logs you fill, stuffed toilet rolls, egg cups with treats in them... you name it, I’ve given it them during floor time or in their cage. They just don’t seem to know how to play or amuse themselves! I’ve never had a guinea pig who hasn’t chomped on a plastic igloo, devoured a cardboard box etc...
I’ve covered their cage with a small blanket, set them up with little things to keep them amused before I leave for work but they just sit there and stare at me Why aren’t my girls destructive and chomping everything

 

[Alisa3114]

Perhaps they weren't given anything in their previous home to amuse themselves with and they just need more time to get used to being spoilt and loved. My oldest girl was the same she came from a bad situation where she was constantly bred until she was saved by the rescue I adopted her from. I don't think she had ever seen a carrot house before and didn't know what to do with it. She's been with us 7 months now and she's the first one there demolishing any treats I put in for them now lol. It just takes time for them to feel comfortable and come out of their shells.

 

[Swissgreys]

It sounds like you are doing a great job, but 6 weeks isn't very long in the life of a piggy.
Just give them time and eventually they will work out what they like and how to interact more with their surroundings.
Sadly breeder animals often lead quite a limited life, so they just need a little longer to adapt to new things.

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

They do, they need Lots of time and they’ve already made progress and shown me their personalities! No pressure for them here! Although It has made me wonder with the whole nature/nurture thing. I find myself wondering if they desperately want to go a little crazy and play but they’re still too scared or if they don’t know what to do. If they don’t know what to do then how do they ever learn?! If that makes sense!
Late night over thinking!

 

[sport_billy]

You sound to be a wonderful owner! Giving them so much in their run to feel secure is great. You may find they do not play but you have two very contented piggies there I think. You may find as they settle they get more confidence. I think they are going to blossom in your care. Could we see some photos of them?

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

Peggy and Betty
The first two pics were when we first brought them home. They have grown and their fur is full and shiny now.
They were in a box in a pet shop! The owner took them off a breeder, that had no use for them, to sell but he couldn’t. I snatched them up!
I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing!
Cute aren’t they?

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

I had an idea to attach the top cage part to the base for floor time so they felt more secure and they love it! I can leave them like that all the time now and just secured them in either end when I’m out of the house! They obviously need the boundaries! Strange little piggies! They’ve been exploring all morning and popcorning and chatting away!

 

[Bill & Ted]

It sounds like your girlies are settling in and becoming more inquisitive and confident. You are doing great, they’ll have a well earned wonderful life with you x

 

[VickiA]

Aww, what lovely photos. I bet they can’t believe their luck. Well done.

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

Re-opening this thread as I’m worried they aren’t getting any exercise. Within a few days of having their cage set up like this, they went back to being their sensible old (and dare I say lazy) selves and no matter what I do, they just sit in their beds and wee and poo
I’ve changed the set up again during the holidays, extended their cage slightly and placed their beds outside of the cage. They have a hay cottage and an igloo in the extension and a bridge to get from the security of their beds into their main cage which I’ve tried to leave empty-ish with a hay tray, forage food etc to encourage them to learn to use all the space. But they just find a corner and sit in it all day! I’m currently spot cleaning these corners about 3 times a day and changing the bath mats sometimes twice a day because they get so dirty! They don’t like floor time of any kind, they rarely explore or popcorn or zoom either anymore! I’ve used big boxes filled with hay and forage treats but they just sit in a corner happily weeing and pooing allllllll day! I’m washing every day with two piggies and spending all day trying to think of solutions to make them a bit more active as I don’t know if they’re bored, lazy or scared! No matter how much secure space they have, they come out to eat and go back to bed. Is this normal? I can’t remember it being like this when I had piggies in the past! Sorry for long post!

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

Maybe I’ve been watching too many you tube videos of active, happy guinea pigs and I feel like I’m doing something wrong!

 

[Piggies&buns]

How old are they? (Sorry if ive missed it elsewhere in the post). Piggies do lose their energetic tendencies as they age.

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

I was told, when I took them, they were about 10 months as that is when the breeder stopped breeding them. I’m assuming they’re around 1 year old The vet seemed to agree.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Just thinking back to when my boys were that age (they’re almost two), there weren’t so many crazy popcorning zoomies just for the sheer fun of it like when they were younger (they were four months old when I took them on). They did it, but the frequency wasn’t as much. Now, they do the odd popcorn when they’ve got fresh bedding in or when I put them out on the lawn in the summer, but it’s not constant.

Are they confident to be around you, take food from your hands etc? I'm just wondering if they are nervous still.
Do they have constant access to this larger space - if so, perhaps they’re out and about when you aren’t watching!

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

They’re still a bit timid, no way I can hold them without screaming chaos they will take food from our hands if they know we have veggies and sometimes will come out for a nosey. If I talk to them in my piggie voice, they know it’s me and don’t panic and run off. They’re very settled and relaxed in their beds. Had a few scary moments with them flat out on their sides only for them to jump up when I dive in to poke them
It’s like they don’t need or want the extra space I’m trying to give them. I don’t think they ever had it before which is such a shame! I just want to know I’m doing all I can for them, I hope they’re not bored!

 

[Piggies&buns]

It sounds like you are doing a great job, so don’t worry about that.
My boys have the whole shed floor to themselves (while I balance their stuff in a tiny space ) and I'm pretty sure they don’t appreciate it! The only thing that gets them out towards the edges of the shed is scattering food and forage around (although I note you have tried that) but once they’ve found it, they go back to their ‘safe’ areas.

 

[PeggyAndBettysMum]

I should stop worrying so much then maybe

 

[Merab]

I think those girls are very lucky that you found them and are giving them such a great home.