Don’t want to play out of their cage

[VanessaC]

I wasn’t really sure where to post this or how to title it so if I’ve put this in the wrong area just let me know as I really don’t post very often.
I have 2 boys, Zeb will be 3 years in July and Jasper is about 7-8 months. They live in a 5x2 C&C cage. They’re indoor pigs as I live in a flat. Whenever I take them out of the cage for a roam they just stand there and don’t move, it was the same before I had Jasper (Zeb’s brother Jed was put to sleep 6 months ago). Picking them up is no problem and they both enjoy lap time which I do almost daily and always separately. I just don’t know how to encourage them to run around. I’ve tried sitting a little bit away from them with a test to at least try to get them to move a bit. Jasper loves running and popcorning around the cage.
They’re not overweight so it’s not like they’re so fat they can’t move! They’re both well and healthy. I just feel guilty as I know other guinea pigs love running around so was wondering if anyone has any ideas if there’s anything I could try to do to encourage them to move. I think if Zeb starts walking around Jasper will follow him

 

[Siikibam]

Do you put out hides etc for them? In general, guinea pigs don’t like open spaces - a prey’s worst nightmare. Perhaps you could set up a play pen and put in lots of hides and cover the top so they feel more comfortable. That way they can explore at their own pace.

 

[Merab]

Mine don’t really like coming out either.
I bought a huge playpen and a carpet remnant for the wooden floor. My plan was to open the cage and let them go in or out as they wanted.
There were tunnels scattered around.
They came out occasionally but rarely stayed out.
I was getting more exercise having to climb over the pen to get from one room to another!
They have a very large cage so I don’t worry too much.

So long as yours have plenty of space to run they’ll be fine.