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am i mean?

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ok i know with hamsters they encourage hiding bits of food to encourage their natural behavior and make it a bit fun for them, give them something to do, but is it mean of me to do it for the pigs?

I did this yesterday with bits of celery and cucumber. It took them aaaages to find it - they could obviously smell it but couldnt for the life of them figure out where it was.. duke was the dopeyest love him, it was right next to him and he still didnt get it, and in the end he got impatient and just stole francescas :))

Piggys must have that instinct - same as hamsters right? otherwise how would they find food in the wild? does anyone else hide bits off food round the cage for their piggys?
 
I ususally spread their food around a bit, I might start hiding it, it'll be the closest they get to exercise! :))
 
Guinea pigs are not THAT good at finding bits, so you can't be too clever.
But it is an enrichment and as such a good thing!

In the wild, guinea pigs graze down a certain area, before moving onto the the next bit of their territory, only to return when the grass has regrown. That is the reason why they have no firm sets and hiding places like other rodents.
 
That is so cruel lol! :))

It's good for giving piggies exercise... I think Fred would just not bother I'm going to try tomorrow and see hehe! :))
 
ah thanks for that wiebka, I have to admit I'm so soft - they didnt have to hunt for long, as I got impatient myself waiting for them to find it and in the end I got it out and gave it to them. When I first hid it, they were still waiting at the bars for it, duke as usual, with his paws on the front, poking his nose through untill they realised I was empty handed but they could still smell it. They had that "pffft!" look about them :))
 
If you want to exercise them, you could always thread a piece of cucumber on a string and let them chase it, or is that mean?! :(|)
 
If you want to exercise them, you could always thread a piece of cucumber on a string and let them chase it, or is that mean?! :(|)

We're going down the donkey and carrot route now HE HE might try this with my boys apart from Perry he is so lasy he lies on the hay and eats it lying down then without moving streches a little to his nuggets! bit like a roman emperor at a banquet!! :))
 
Haha, I had a little giggle at the thought of a piggy chasing a cucumber thinking, 'my food doesn't normally run away from me!' :(|)
 
If you want to exercise them, you could always thread a piece of cucumber on a string and let them chase it, or is that mean?! :(|)

Ha Ha, now that is mean. Although most of mine are too lazy to be bothered to chase it anyway I think. rolleyes x x
 
I recommend hanging it a bit lower, but a piece of carrot or cucumber on a string keeps them out of mischief for a while!
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Ive hidden pieces of veg and dandelions for my piggys when they are out on the floor for playtime and they ALWAYS find them, but that's probably because i put it in easy places where they always go. :))
Ive also hung a bunch of grass from their cage and they spent some time stretching up to eat it, but eventually they pulled it down.
Its so fun watching them hunting for the veg when they are out.
 
omg wiebka you actually did it! ha ha! love it! :)) Is that hung in their cage? I'm so going to do that now!

That was my Minx about five years ago when she was very bored and naughty!
 
I have kind of improvised although it isn't as funny as a carrot dangling from the roof but I have made them a kebab! I replaced their wooden veg with the real deal! :(|)

They can eat it when they come in drunk at 3am! :(|)

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Oooh! I like the idea of a veggie kebab xx>>>

I have a sneaky feeling that my girls would probably give up if I hid their veggies! :)) Willow would probably find them eventually but Pippa is likely to just nick it from her rather than finding her own! rolleyes :(|)
 
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