Encouraging foraging 🤔

[alpacasqueak]

I notice such a difference with my two pairs when it comes to foraging and hay piles. Luigi and Aliona (who were taught very well by RB boss Jess, who was taught by RB Sheepy and Rupert as a baby) are right in the middle of the pile finding every morsel when I’ve sprinkled/hidden forage but Jasper and Cleo really haven’t got a clue!
Jasper obviously came as an adult and had never been fed hay (100% pellets and not many of those from his tiny size! ), Cleo as a baby that didn’t know what the stuff was either. So she’s relied on daddy pig Jasper to teach her, which other than ‘eat the stuff!’ isn’t much!
I’ve tried loads to encourage them but they end up missing it all and I clean it up when cage has a sweep! They’re good with munching from their little treat maze thingy but anything else gets left unless it’s blatantly obvious in front of them! (And that maze is far too easy for these tasty treats, normally it’s oats like Cleo was scoffing there!)

Like this last night I made with a little box that was stuffed with orchard grass and a few mulberry leaves, Luigi destroyed the thing and C&J had eaten the teeny bit on top and was left untouched!

After trying for many months I’ve slightly given up, so they get a sprinkle on a tiny bit of hay so they can actually find and enjoy the forage! But that’s way too easy too, just don’t want the mini pigs missing out!
It’s funny how different these piglets can be depending on their ‘upbringing’ with other piggies, I’m tempted to start getting in with them and pretending to scoff the stuff to see if they copy me as ran out of ideas!

Sorry, slightly random thread! Those boxes just amused me, I really wish Cleo would destroy these kind of things I make her rather than cushions, fleece and my flesh (on her angry days!)!

 

[VickiA]

It just goes to show how different piggies can be and also how much they learn from their peers/social groupings.

 

[alpacasqueak]

It just goes to show how different piggies can be and also how much they learn from their peers/social groupings.

Yes I find it so interesting, you can very much tell who Jess lived with and taught her little tricks, it’s lovely she still lives on a bit through her buddies They get so much from their mates (even if it’s how to make an absolute mess trashing a hay pile!)!

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs learn from each other, especially when young. It is so much more difficult to change ingrained habits in adults. All you can do is work with what they accept.

I see so many differences between my own various pairs.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Guinea pigs learn from each other, especially when young. It is so much more difficult to change ingrained habits in adults. All you can do is work with what they accept.

I see so many differences between my own various pairs.

Yes I’ve seen it so much with Jasper, I think also it doesn’t help he was a bullied boy for a long time so probably didn’t dare to attempt much either in his previous home. Has been very much encouraged here!

*I should’ve added to the bottom of the thread ‘what kind of differences do other people notice with their pigs’ but I’m having a dozy day as not much sleep and missed that bit!

 

[Wiebke]

Yes I’ve seen it so much with Jasper, I think also it doesn’t help he was a bullied boy for a long time so probably didn’t dare to attempt much either in his previous home. Has been very much encouraged here!

*I should’ve added to the bottom of the thread ‘what kind of differences do other people notice with their pigs’ but I’m having a dozy day as not much sleep and missed that bit!

Same here - having to bury yet another piggy today has not made for much in the way of sleep over the weekend.

Some adults will accept some things from their younger companions when their competitive instinct kicks in but especially in the food stakes it can be extremely difficult to make changes because the window where they learn what is safe to eat and what not has closed.
Getting my Dylan to eat anything else but lettuce and carrot has taken months and a couple of companions along the way... And now as an older boar he is suffering from mild bloating issues and impaction (as much as a neutered boar can have it) as late complication.

This doesn't apply to badly neglected piggies, who will simply wolf down anything that can be eaten, but that wiring will then also stay with them for all their life. You don't want to get between Teggy and food!

 

[Bill & Ted]

It’s very true they learn from each other and also what food their parents were given.

When we got Hector he would only eat quite a limited diet, loved all the thick straw type pieces of hay and carrots and lettuce , didn’t really like much else but grass. He eats anything now because Kiki has taught him it’s ok to eat other foods. I’m convinced he was fed straw rather than hay though, still prefers all that course hay the others tend to leave

 

[alpacasqueak]

Same here - having to bury yet another piggy has not made for much in the way of sleep over the weekend.

Some adults will accept some things from their younger companions when their competitive instinct kicks in but especially in the food stakes, it can be extremely difficult to make changes because the window where they learn what is safe to eat and what not has closed.
Getting my Dylan to eat anything else but lettuce and carrot has taken months... And now as an older boar he is suffering from mild bloating issues and impaction (as much as a neutered boar can have it) as late complication.

This doesn't apply to badly neglected piggies, who will simply wolf down anything that can be eaten, but that wiring will then also stay with them for all their life. You don't want to get between Teggy and food!

Oh no, so sorry to hear you’ve lost another member of your gorgeous Tribe Sending huge hugs and hope you’re able to get some rest

Yes I hoped Jasper would learn from Cleo (who’s around 14months now) but as she wasn’t from the best background either it’s definitely impacted the way they are, well compared to the other pair who demolish everything! And sleep out in the open etc, so much more confident as my RB Jess was!
Poor Dylan bless him, hope it doesn’t cause him (or you) too much trouble. I do have a worry of future bladder stones or teeth problems with Jasper but at C&R yesterday and he looks good, but you never know with these piglets and their surprises!

Teggy the beautiful wolf-pig! Sounds like she could compete with my fatty Luigi (who is just an utter pig rather than a bad background!)!

 

[alpacasqueak]

It’s very true they learn from each other and also what food their parents were given.

When we got Hector he would only eat quite a limited diet, loved all the thick straw type pieces of hay and carrots and lettuce , didn’t really like much else but grass. He eats anything now because Kiki has taught him it’s ok to eat other foods. I’m convinced he was fed straw rather than hay though, still prefers all that course hay the others tend to leave

So lovely they munch everything together now, and it’s so sweet it’s youngster Kiki that’s taught him too

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you have lost another piggy @Wiebke .

 

[Merab]

I find it fascinating as my herd has changed how tastes have changed.
Mine all hated coriander because Merab had taught them it was poison!
Micah didn’t know this so when he stayed with Aunty @PigglePuggle while we moved house and was fed coriander he wolfed it down and suddenly it became a herd favourite.

 

[Engel]

It is interesting isn't it? How different each piggy is and how they teach each other.

My original 2 pigs, Jupiter and Eileithyia-Eris, hadn't been fed much variety at all. They were on muesli, had some fousty brown hay and had only ever eaten apples. It took them 2 days to take to the pellets. The nice hay I bought was quickly tucked into, but it took me months to get them to eat a variety of veggies and herbs. Thankfully now they'll eat anything I give them (except courgette. They'll take one bite and leave it every time).

It took them a while to get the hang of foraging. I had to hand-feed it them and put it in a bowl first then slowly start mixing with some hay (in the bowl) before moving onto putting forage straight into the hay pile.

The 'babies' Po and Mia (who aren't babies anymore) quickly learnt this from Eris and Jupi as I started reintroducing forage about a week after they were born.

My newbies Basil and Cyril had no idea either when they first came. Pellet and hay changeover was easy and certain veg was quickly snapped up. Forage however, not so much. It wasn't until Po and Jupi came in and moved nextdoor that they realised what to do. Just like they didn't realise correx could be chewed

Sorry to hear about the passing of one of the tribe @Wiebke ((hugs))

 

[alpacasqueak]

I find it fascinating as my herd has changed how tastes have changed.
Mine all hated coriander because Merab had taught them it was poison!
Micah didn’t know this so when he stayed with Aunty @PigglePuggle while we moved house and was fed coriander he wolfed it down and suddenly it became a herd favourite.

So funny it’s now loved! Always been a firm favourite here
It’s the same in L&A’s cage with the strawberries now Jess isn’t here, they’d run for the hills if they smelt one 18months ago following the teeny boss! So maybe they learnt from J&C across the room (or just felt like they were missing out! )!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Same here - having to bury yet another piggy today has not made for much in the way of sleep over the weekend.

Some adults will accept some things from their younger companions when their competitive instinct kicks in but especially in the food stakes it can be extremely difficult to make changes because the window where they learn what is safe to eat and what not has closed.
Getting my Dylan to eat anything else but lettuce and carrot has taken months and a couple of companions along the way... And now as an older boar he is suffering from mild bloating issues and impaction (as much as a neutered boar can have it) as late complication.

This doesn't apply to badly neglected piggies, who will simply wolf down anything that can be eaten, but that wiring will then also stay with them for all their life. You don't want to get between Teggy and food!

So sorry you have lost another piggie @Wiebike

 

[Bill & Ted]

So lovely they munch everything together now, and it’s so sweet it’s youngster Kiki that’s taught him too

Yes, he eats absolutely anything now and so does Kiki, Posh and Ginger too

 

[piggieminder]

Caspy would only eat carrots and horrid cheap pellets when he came here. Housed next to Bracken and Rusty while we waited to find him a friend he soon started to eat everything he was given. None of mine are much use at foraging, they prefer their treats sprinkled on top of the hay. If I burry forage they give me the look and go back to bed! Funny really as they pick over and under the hay to find the best bits.

 

[teddymouse]

I started growing my own greens for my herds several weeks ago,and watching the 1st piggies into it, those that had been used to the forage l was giving them, were on to it right away, while others hung back, no-one hangs back now! , cus if they hang back ,they miss out. Its gone in no time, its like watching a swarm of locust go over it.

 

[Engel]

I started growing my own greens for my herds several weeks ago,and watching the 1st piggies into it, those that had been used to the forage l was giving them, were on to it right away, while others hung back, no-one hangs back now! , cus if they hang back ,they miss out. Its gone in no time, its like watching a swarm of locust go over it.

I started growing grass for my pigs and now there's black flies and black bugs all over it. Tbh I'm supposed anythings still growing after Po trampled all over it

 

[teddymouse]

I started growing grass for my pigs and now there's black flies and black bugs all over it. Tbh I'm supposed anythings still growing after Po trampled all over it

The trick to growing this, ,is to wash and drain with clean water twice a day, because the seed heat up as they start to grow, so you need to keep them cool, and to stop the seeds fermenting, ( like they do for beer) if not you will get fugus knats, alot of them.

 

[piggieminder]

@Engel I wonder if the flies/bugs were eggs/dormant in the soil and have hatched? I did hear someone say recently they had had a batch of potting compost that had this problem and their house was full of bugs.
I found when I grew grass in my greenhouse it went moldy in the winter. I now grow it in pots against the south facing house wall and it grows fairly well all winter. I also grow wheat grass on the window ledges indoors but find with 5 piggies it's hard to keep up! I'm lucky that the winters are pretty mild (usually!) here and the lawn grows slowly right through the winter. Between my garden and my lovely neighbours next door I manage to keep up grass feeding most days.

 

[Engel]

@Engel I wonder if the flies/bugs were eggs/dormant in the soil and have hatched? I did hear someone say recently they had had a batch of potting compost that had this problem and their house was full of bugs.
I found when I grew grass in my greenhouse it went moldy in the winter. I now grow it in pots against the south facing house wall and it grows fairly well all winter. I also grow wheat grass on the window ledges indoors but find with 5 piggies it's hard to keep up! I'm lucky that the winters are pretty mild (usually!) here and the lawn grows slowly right through the winter. Between my garden and my lovely neighbours next door I manage to keep up grass feeding most days.

I bet. The bugs look like black aphids. TBh I'm thinking of just using grass from the edge of the garden where the dogs don't go. I can't use my neighbor's while she definitely wouldn't mind, she uses slug and ant powder :/

 

[alpacasqueak]

It is interesting isn't it? How different each piggy is and how they teach each other.

My original 2 pigs, Jupiter and Eileithyia-Eris, hadn't been fed much variety at all. They were on muesli, had some fousty brown hay and had only ever eaten apples. It took them 2 days to take to the pellets. The nice hay I bought was quickly tucked into, but it took me months to get them to eat a variety of veggies and herbs. Thankfully now they'll eat anything I give them (except courgette. They'll take one bite and leave it every time).

It took them a while to get the hang of foraging. I had to hand-feed it them and put it in a bowl first then slowly start mixing with some hay (in the bowl) before moving onto putting forage straight into the hay pile.

The 'babies' Po and Mia (who aren't babies anymore) quickly learnt this from Eris and Jupi as I started reintroducing forage about a week after they were born.

My newbies Basil and Cyril had no idea either when they first came. Pellet and hay changeover was easy and certain veg was quickly snapped up. Forage however, not so much. It wasn't until Po and Jupi came in and moved nextdoor that they realised what to do. Just like they didn't realise correx could be chewed

Sorry to hear about the passing of one of the tribe @Wiebke ((hugs))

Definitely, how much is their personality and their ways, and how much have they learnt/adapted things they’ve learnt. I love having such different pairs but do feel like J&C are missing out sometimes seeing how much fun the other two have diving in!
They’re both great with hand feeding, but you put it on the floor near/on some hay and it’s like it’s has no smell and is invisible! I’ve tried loads of different ways over the last year with them, like in paper bags, egg boxes, loo roll tubes etc but it’s something that never seems to happen!
Wish I could give them more contact with the other pair to maybe pick up a few more piggy skills but unfortunately Aliona despises Jasper with a passion and will lunge at the bars then turn on Luigi so they are blocked off at floortime etc!

Hahaha but yes quite pleased C&J haven’t picked up Luigi’s ‘munch on everything you find, especially plastic stuff you shouldn’t’ skill that he’s perfected over the years! Or they’d be for correx too I can imagine!

 

[alpacasqueak]

I started growing my own greens for my herds several weeks ago,and watching the 1st piggies into it, those that had been used to the forage l was giving them, were on to it right away, while others hung back, no-one hangs back now! , cus if they hang back ,they miss out. Its gone in no time, its like watching a swarm of locust go over it.

Haha love that, piggy locusts, so them!
Lucky piglets with all that grass! My gang want to move to your house, the sun’s disappeared here and my little indoor pots of grass have barely grown for a fortnight!

 

[teddymouse]

@Engel I wonder if the flies/bugs were eggs/dormant in the soil and have hatched? I did hear someone say recently they had had a batch of potting compost that had this problem and their house was full of bugs.
I found when I grew grass in my greenhouse it went moldy in the winter. I now grow it in pots against the south facing house wall and it grows fairly well all winter. I also grow wheat grass on the window ledges indoors but find with 5 piggies it's hard to keep up! I'm lucky that the winters are pretty mild (usually!) here and the lawn grows slowly right through the winter. Between my garden and my lovely neighbours next door I manage to keep up grass feeding most days.

I do not use soil, just soak and rinse seeds in a bucket for 3 days, then when shoots appear lay out on big trays. I have 16 trays grow at once, at different stages.

 

[piggieminder]

I do not use soil, just soak and rinse seeds in a bucket for 3 days, then when shoots appear lay out on big trays. I have 16 trays grow at once, at different stages.

I love that method I've been watching people do it on youtube. Unfortunately I don't have room to do it here, this house is like a dolls house! I recyle plastic packaging, the trays that don't have holes in they just fit on window sills. Do you think it would work if I used wet kitchen paper on the bottom of the trays and just sprinkled the seed on it like you do for mustard and cress seeds?
Sorry @alpacasqueak we are taking over your thread for gardening issues!

 

[alpacasqueak]

I love that method I've been watching people do it on youtube. Unfortunately I don't have room to do it here, this house is like a dolls house! I recyle plastic packaging, the trays that don't have holes in they just fit on window sills. Do you think it would work if I used wet kitchen paper on the bottom of the trays and just sprinkled the seed on it like you do for mustard and cress seeds?
Sorry @alpacasqueak we are taking over your thread for gardening issues!

Carry on! I’m thinking of doing it with the rest of my rye grass seeds in the cupboard but I’ve got the problem of fitting it in somewhere here too!

 

[alpacasqueak]

I’ve been wondering about a little artificial light indoors to help grow stuff as the grass was growing really well next to the fish tank with the LED lights @piggieminder But now the floating water sprite has grown loads and is blocking off the light more it’s pretty useless for piggy homegrown greenery here atm (especially with no sun too)! Fishies are loving it in there though!

 

[piggieminder]

Could you trim the tank plants back a bit to let a little more light out? Grass doesn't need a lot of light it's pretty hardy in most conditions. I find it grows in winter even on north facing window ledges, my biggest problem is most of my ledges have radiators under them so can't be used.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Could you trim the tank plants back a bit to let a little more light out? Grass doesn't need a lot of light it's pretty hardy in most conditions. I find it grows in winter even on north facing window ledges, my biggest problem is most of my ledges have radiators under them so can't be used.

I got the water sprite to cover the plants a bit so they don’t all melt like the last ones I had to chuck! So a bit annoying, don’t want to kill all those too when we’re doing well in there (touch wood!)!
Did have a sudden thought last night though, I’ve got RB Arnie’s old tank which I’d bought an LED light (like that one) to upgrade before I decided to just have the one tank Wondering if I could use that, just with the pots in the tank and the lights on for a few hours etc?!

 

[piggieminder]

It's worth a try, let us know how you get on.