Can Popcorning Be Out Of Agitation?

MichelleM

MichelleM

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
113
Reaction score
144
Points
275
Location
United States - East Coast
Ganon doesn't like to leave his cage a lot. I can usually get him after a few minutes (he's not thrilled with being picked up and moved or elevatored), but if I'm not doing a full cage clean out or changing the fleece, I try to clean around him.

He's started zooming around wanting to sniff, chew the mini dust brush, and he popcorns all around me while I clean. But I can't tell if he's popcorning because he thinks it's a game, or if he's agitated by it. I took a quick video while cleaning:

Sorry for the background voice. Fiance was playing a video game and talking to friends online.
https://youtu.be/xnVbidLCuRY
What do you guys think? Any advice is much appreciated!
 
MichelleM said:
Ganon doesn't like to leave his cage a lot. I can usually get him after a few minutes (he's not thrilled with being picked up and moved or elevatored), but if I'm not doing a full cage clean out or changing the fleece, I try to clean around him.

He's started zooming around wanting to sniff, chew the mini dust brush, and he popcorns all around me while I clean. But I can't tell if he's popcorning because he thinks it's a game, or if he's agitated by it. I took a quick video while cleaning:

Sorry for the background voice. Fiance was playing a video game and talking to friends online.
What do you guys think? Any advice is much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Haha looks like he thinks it's a game! My piggies are exactly the same with the dustpan an brush, they're fascinated by it!

I'm also sure they're astounded by the weird 2 legged skinny pig collecting their poops. My pigs always have a bemused look of wonder on their faces when I gather their brown nuggets! :))

He's a real cutie btw!
 
My pigs also popcorn when I spot clean, and it looks like your piggy is having fun popcorning :)
And to be honest, I would jump out of joy, too, if someone just came and cleaned out my flat for me! :))
 
Aww, you can tell he thinks the cage cleaning is Just So Much Fun! If he was at all upset by it, he'd be hiding away.
 
I have piggies that popcorn every time I give more hay or when I spot clean. They enjoy the excitement. For some it is an interactive game.

Have you considered getting a friend for Gaston as he seems to really enjoy interaction but seems to lack social enticement and stimulation to lure him out?
Companionship
Guinea Pig Toys
 
Yep, my youngest, Eileen, loves the chase my hand around while I spot clean and brush up poops. She seems to love it. They get their morning veggies after so I also think that she has got used to that routine and is excited for food. My older 2 don't chase me but they do whistle and squeak while I clean, again, they know food is on the way!
 
Same my piggy Mo absolutely loves it when I clean him out and will popcorn all around my hand and chase it while rumbling lol. If I stop he'll run up to my hand and sniff me as if asking why I've stopped.
 
One of mine thinks it's fun to bite the bristles as I try to sweep! I wonder if they are fascinated that we want their poos.
 
Wiebke said:
I have piggies that popcorn every time I give more hay or when I spot clean. They enjoy the excitement. For some it is an interactive game.

Have you considered getting a friend for Gaston as he seems to really enjoy interaction but seems to lack social enticement and stimulation to lure him out?
Companionship
Guinea Pig Toys
Click to expand...

Ganon has a cagemate (picture in avatar). Dibbler was already out of the cage and in the playpen by this point. Ganon sometimes just wants some alone time from his brother, I guess.
 
MichelleM said:
Ganon has a cagemate (picture in avatar). Dibbler was already out of the cage and in the playpen by this point. Ganon sometimes just wants some alone time from his brother, I guess.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Please accept that I am jumping between lots of threads.

Some piggies are also very interested and excited what is happening to their cage during a clean. I have may fair share of "cleaning inspectors" and "underfoot piggies"... and then there are those that have a great time playing in and on a heap of their soiled bedding!
 
I think it's a game for them. My two go nuts (more nuts than usual since they are nuts to start with lol) when I do the bed time spot clean/hay routine as they get so excited over the scoop and pan and love nothing more than getting into the pan full of soiled hay and poo's and popcorning all through it and scattering it all over their cage for me to clean up again and again and again until they are sick of it or have exhausted themselves and then sit down next to a huge pile of their night time hay and gorge themselves silly while making a lovely hay mess for me to clean up in the morning. For some reason they are not interested in playing during the morning spot clean. They don't mornings well those two lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top