Boredom

[Gizmomummy]

How do you know when a guinea pig is bored? what signs to look for?

 

[chatterboxgodden]

Is he on his own? I found this on the forum and thought it might be useful

Guinea Pig Toys
Guinea pigs get bored too!​

Guinea pigs can be affected by boredom, which can be easily prevented by providing just a few interesting and stimulating accessories. Signs that a guinea may be bored include:-

- Reduced activity
- Little interest in surroundings
- Overeating and excess weight gain
- Barbering (chewing the hair of themselves or another guinea pig)
- Cage bar biting

Such behaviours can be destructive, particularly barbering and biting the cage bars, and could prove stressful for the guinea pig and any cage-mates.

 

[Gizmomummy]

Is he on his own? I found this on the forum and thought it might be useful

Guinea Pig Toys
Guinea pigs get bored too!​

Guinea pigs can be affected by boredom, which can be easily prevented by providing just a few interesting and stimulating accessories. Signs that a guinea may be bored include:-

- Reduced activity
- Little interest in surroundings
- Overeating and excess weight gain
- Barbering (chewing the hair of themselves or another guinea pig)
- Cage bar biting

Such behaviours can be destructive, particularly barbering and biting the cage bars, and could prove stressful for the guinea pig and any cage-mates.

Thank you very much yeah he is on his own and thinking of getting another one but he seems different so thought he was probably bored and the signs are similar to the ones on here youve shown me so friday ill get him a friend =) hopefully thank you

 

[Claire W]

To keep him occupied, I suggest filling empty toilet roll tubes with hay. My girls LOVE pulling the hay out and it's free

 

[Gizmomummy]

Is it ok for them to chew on toilet rolls? sorry to sound dumbb lol

 

[Bekki]

Is it ok for them to chew on toilet rolls? sorry to sound dumbb lol

Mine dont chew them they destroy them!

Id assume its fine as pet shops sell cardboard tubes for all rodents called chubes, or chew tubes something like that

 

[Gizmomummy]

Thank you ill give it a try =)

 

[Claire W]

Yes, they're fine to chew cardboard

 

[Gizmomummy]

Ive put 2 in he loves them =) thanks guys

 

[sweetdove]

I brought mine a metal ball feeder, you stuff with fruit/veg and hang it there for them...i want to get them a little bridge i saw as well.

 

[Gizmomummy]

That sounds a great idea =) I'm getting him a male friend hopefully friday =)

 

[Claire W]

Can't wait to see pics of his friend when you get him

 

[Gizmomummy]

There will be lots of photos of both of them =)

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Aw i'm glas you are getting him a friend. Where will you get him from? Have you considered tasking Gizmo to a rescue "boar dating" and letting him choose his own friend? The rescue will bond them for you this way? Otherwise you risk fighting if you just plonk a new piggy in the current cage....... Let us know if this is something you'd like to consider and we can help, advice and recommend a rescue near to you. x

 

[Gizmomummy]

I'm going to a rescue place on friday or saturday near me thank you for helping though I'm taking gizmo with me so he can chose his own friend rather then like you said dump a piggy in a cage and then they fight lol but no I'm letting him chose see what he does I'm so excited for this =) x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Thats fab news! I'm excited too, keep us updated! x

 

[Gizmomummy]

ofcourse i will =) gizmo just seeeeems so bored so thought be a nice idea =) x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I bet you will notice a huge difference in him when he gets a friend, they thrive from company of their own kind.

 

[Gizmomummy]

aww i hope i do he looks so lonely and bored its unreal sitting in corner not interested in anything so hopefully this will lively him up =)

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Try some of the things suggested in the mean time! Brown paper bags stuffed with hay, empty cardboard boxes, toilet roll tubes stuffed with hay, all of the simple things, even a page from the newspaper, mine love to rip it up and hide under it. x

 

[piggyfan]

I am so happy you are getting Gizmo a friend. In the meantime a soft toy suitable for babies can be a nice thing for him to snuggle up to and play with.

 

[Gizmomummy]

Try some of the things suggested in the mean time! Brown paper bags stuffed with hay, empty cardboard boxes, toilet roll tubes stuffed with hay, all of the simple things, even a page from the newspaper, mine love to rip it up and hide under it. x

That sounds good hun, ill try them all thank you sooo much =) means alot x