Does anyone else's piggies prefer....

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Pink Jumper

Pink Jumper

Teenage Guinea Pig
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their cage to their run?

I always put my two girls in the run for an hour or two to give them a change of environment - but they prefer their cage.

I know this because they just lay and wait to go back there. Sometimes they lay near the edge of the run that is closest to their cage. Sometimes they bite the bars of the run nearest to their cage. Jewel even jumps into my hand when she thinks I going to pick her up to put her back in her cage, whereas usually she doesnt like being picked up.

Even when I open their cage and attach it to the run so they can run around but go back if they want to, they just have a wander and then go back into their cage and stay there.

Anyone else's like this?

I have recently stopped putting them in the run as I think they would prefer not to go in there. I feel cruel though, like I am supposed to be putting them in there for a change of environment.

xx
 
I have one out of four who is like this. When I clean them out I put them (one pair at a time) on the sofa or the floor, which is straight off the kitchen where they live. The whole time winston will be on his hind legs peeking over the arm of the sofa watching me wheeking like mad until i pick him up. He'll cuddle for a bit then he starts scrabbling to get back to his cage.
I swear he's agrophobic rolleyes
And it's not like he's a skittish pig, he's very very tame and laid back, maybe he just feels secure and happy in his cage?
 
I guess they do just feel happy and secure in their cage. They have a 4x2 C&C with a 2x1 hay loft. Its not amazingly big but obviously they are content in there.

In the past I have tried putting the run in a different room so they can't see their cage, but they don't move from their houses. Probs because they don't recognise the area maybe.

xx
 
My boys love their cage best of all. While it takes some coaxing to get them inside their cuddle cups to lift them out of the cage, when they're having floor time, grass time or lap time I just have to say "who wants to go home?" and they jump into their cuddle cups ready to go home!
 
Mo enjoys his time in his run but pretty much dead on 10pm he sits in one particular corner waiting to go back. I also think he knows that when its bed time he gets a nice big handfull of fresh hay, so it maybe just that.
 
I'm glad it's the same with other people's too.. There's something disheartening about setting up a massive and exciting adventure playground and sitting around waiting while our two piggies sit in their makeshift cardboard house in the corner peering out at it.. rolleyes

We've found it helps if we create a lot of cover, such as blankets over some sections and tunnels/shelters etc dotted around. Otherwise the run tends to be very open, which they're always a bit wary of.

...But yes, they love going back in their cage though. I think everyone could be right, they probably associate a new cage with a fresh flooring, hay and an exciting new furniture layout..
 
Some of my piggies are homebodies and others can't wait to be let out!
 
I'll put the steps up to my piggies hutch and that's it, they're out and wandering. Heads down on the lawn and pigging out, they only bolt for the safety of the shed if a seagull squawks as it flies overhead.
 
I let my girls run around my living room because I have a rather small house and my dogs are fine with them, but when I do Lillith will whine and complain and go back into the cage any chance she get wheres Rusty could stay out for hours on end, and she's rather not have Lillith with her which I though was a little odd.
 
Every piggie is different

My piggies live outside and have a run attached to their cage so they can come in and out as they please. My Old piggies also use to have a run attached to cage and then a further run outside that they would get to through a cat flap which then opened up on to an even bigger run. They use to love coming and going as they please.
But when i bring the new ones in for floor time one will happily sit under the bed and sleep while the other goes back in to her little carry cage to sleep after running around.

I think every pig is different. It took a while for my New ones and my old ones to adventure out, but i just left them too it and let them go at their own pace and now they will happily run out squeaking when i whistle as they know there is going to be some kind of food.
 
When i bring my piggies outside for a grooming and sometime to play and eat fresh grass, i bring them out in a cardboard box with an open bottom, as they get used to their surroundings, i take them out (my backyard is fenced and they can't escape), but one of my boys, Filbert, always runs back to the box, waiting to go back into it. He's my lazy pig and i guess he just prefers his cage.

My other pig is the exact opposite, he doesn't want to go back in the cage but he'll follow his brother anywhere.
 
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So different to my lot, they're always eager to go in the run, and hate being put back! :)) The boys do get to a point in the evening though when they've had enough of grazing and are ready for their beds, but my young girlies kick up a right fuss at bedtime! :))
 
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