Enrichment for single piggies

[Sarah1515]

Good Morning.

I have 5 piggies, all boys, and all now live solo.

I did have 3 pairs.
- One pair were separated due to bickering that led to a nip, that led to an abscess
- One pair was separated due to the younger piggy becoming a teenager! Fighting started because the younger one wanted to be more dominant and the older one wouldn’t allow it!
- One pair become a solo piggy due to my older boy of the two passing away.

The piggies that were pairs live side by side, and the solo piggy who lost his buddy is able to see the two piggies at the bottom level of the enclosure.

I have come on here to ask about enrichment ideas for them, and ways to make their days happier and a bit more exciting.

I welcome all ideas - I just want what is best for my boys to keep them all happy.

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

Being able to see each other and still interact between the bars is a huge amount of stimulation for that - so you have that covered!

Otherwise it’s about keeping them mentally stimulated and recreating their natural behaviours - they spend a lot of time foraging, so large piles of loose hay so they can be right in it. Another big one is making them work for their food - don’t use any food bowls and instead hide their daily portion of veg and pellets around the cage and in the hay.

Lots of tunnels and hides, cardboard boxes with holes cut in.

This guide may also help

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

The other thing to consider is whether you can actually look to rebond, obviously dont put two dominants together but you may be able to pair up a dominant with a submissive or two submissives together, even if it does only make a pair or two and you still are left with some singles