Does anybody else feel mean making their pigs "work" for treats?

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Wheeky

Wheeky

Teenage Guinea Pig
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As a boredom breaker I sometimes take a thin, empty cardboard box (such as a pantyliner box), stuff it with Readigrass, then close it up and leave the pigs to work out how to get it open.
When I watching them I find it incredibly difficult not to step in and help them out, because I feel sorry for them when they want the grass so much. I have to keep reminding myself that it would be boring if I just served it up on a plate.

:(|)
 
Wheeky said:
As a boredom breaker I sometimes take a thin, empty cardboard box (such as a pantyliner box), stuff it with Readigrass, then close it up and leave the pigs to work out how to get it open.
When I watching them I find it incredibly difficult not to step in and help them out, because I feel sorry for them when they want the grass so much. I have to keep reminding myself that it would be boring if I just served it up on a plate.

:(|)
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I once got a brown paper bag, filled it with dried herbs and readigrass, screwed the end up and put it in with them. They couldn't work out how to get to the yummy stuff and I felt so bad I emptied it into their hay tray! :red
 
I feel guilty if I give them big bits of veg as it looks like they are struggling to eat it. This is the reason why I have to chop everything in to small pieces for them :red
 
I chop things up to, my other half thinks I'm crackers! He keeps telling me that noone chops things up for them in the wild....but I cant resist!
 
Try this, get a toilet roll (or kitchen roll) place your pigs fav food in the middle stuff it with spring greens and cap off each end with a slice of cucumber. Its fun to watch them figure it out although my pigs are pro's at it now and its destroyed in minutes! :))
 
neuroticmum said:
I chop things up to, my other half thinks I'm crackers! He keeps telling me that noone chops things up for them in the wild....but I cant resist!
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Me too! I also deseed tomatoes and peppers, to which everyone finds amusing and silly!

I once stuffed a toilet roll with hay, food and vegetables. My little lot grabbed what was available at the ends and the holes I cut, tentatively nibbled the toilet roll and then ignored it. It went untouched for 1-2 days and they would just glare at it! Patches used to sniff it during that time and even teeth chattered at it!

I felt so guilty!

Choccy loves his cardboard boxes, which he uses as a platform to access the hayrack instead of having to stand on his hind legs! Lazy piggy!
 
I gave mine a brown paper bag stuffed with hay last night then a layer of chopped up veggie treats then another layer of hay. But they cheated and just chewed a hole through the side and nommed away! :p It did keep them entertained for a good hour or so though :(|)
 
I draw the line when they (to be fair it's mostly Floyd) starts teeth chattering. If they're getting that frustrated because they can't work out how to get to the food etc then I'll intervene and either make it easier or abandon it altogether and just hand it over.

I don't always chop their veg up though! They love getting big pieces of Romaine lettuce! They will run over take it from me and then run off to find a corner to munch away, makes me laugh so much when they drop it or get their feet caught trying to drag it with them! haha. They're like trying to drag it off but also stepping on it so it won't move! So so funny.
 
I occasionally put a extra food over the dish that has dinner. Patches will try to go under it and knock it off.

I also hang food from the top of the cage for her to yank at.
 
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