Enrichment Ideas?

Eryan

Eryan

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
70
Reaction score
29
Points
220
Location
New York
Hi guys,

Lately, I feel like all my girls do is sleep and it's really bumming me out. I think they're bored but I don't know what to do to help. They aren't interested in toilet paper tubes, their tunnel, or balls anymore. During floor time they just sit at the hay tower, they don't explore at all. Pixie will sometimes pick up a tube or her ball and throw it around for a short while but that's it, she's in her house practically all day just stretched out and sleeping. And when she is out on the floor, she'll often go back and bite the bars of her cage to be let back in. Clover is up and talking a good amount of time but she still seems to be bored. How can I get them excited and running about?

Thank you!
 
How old are they?
When in the day do you let them out for floor time? They are most active early morning and evening so picking floor time around then (if you don’t already) can get them motivated
 
Siikibam said:
How old are they? Otherwise have a look at the guide I’ve linked below for ideas. You could also rearrange their cage when you do a full clean. Or even swap out some items.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Click to expand...
They're both 4 years old, I know it's to be expected with age that they'll slow down but Pixie really doesn't do anything besides sleep most of the day. I took them to the vet today to make sure their lack of energy wasn't due to some issue - but the vet said they're fine.

I'll check out that guide you linked now though, thank you!
 
Piggies&buns said:
How old are they?
When in the day do you let them out for floor time? They are most active early morning and evening so picking floor time around then (if you don’t already) can get them motivated
Click to expand...
Floor time happens at around 7:30 or 8 pm each night. Maybe I should start doing it in the mornings as well?
 
MVIMG_20201213_140355.webpMVIMG_20201212_180242.webp

Hi these are a few ideas that my pigs enjoy, they've had the willow ball I think stuffed with hay for a week now and they all seem to really enjoy it and all gather round and pull it biting into the wood like they would do a vegetable. Everytime I go into the room there's atleast one Piggy playing with it/eating it. The rosewood dandelion and Meadow hay nibble and naw is a new toy and they all seem to be enjoying it. Got these from my local garden centre the cherry tree barn. I think they were cheaper from there than they were other places. They also really enjoy hay cookies which were firm herb/hay ball things. But these did make a mess of the fleece.
These were all Christmas presents which I haven't been able to keep from them. Their favourite toy is the rosewood boredom breaker ferret/guinea pig tunnel and you can attach multiple tunnels together. Best of luck! :)
 
Tara95 said:
View attachment 160428View attachment 160429

Hi these are a few ideas that my pigs enjoy, they've had the willow ball I think stuffed with hay for a week now and they all seem to really enjoy it and all gather round and pull it biting into the wood like they would do a vegetable. Everytime I go into the room there's atleast one Piggy playing with it/eating it. The rosewood dandelion and Meadow hay nibble and naw is a new toy and they all seem to be enjoying it. Got these from my local garden centre the cherry tree barn. I think they were cheaper from there than they were other places. They also really enjoy hay cookies which were firm herb/hay ball things. But these did make a mess of the fleece.
These were all Christmas presents which I haven't been able to keep from them. Their favourite toy is the rosewood boredom breaker ferret/guinea pig tunnel and you can attach multiple tunnels together. Best of luck! :)
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for so many ideas! I'll have to try them out!
 
Also do you have them forage for their food? Our piggies are new but we love hiding food all over the cage and that's when they are the most active! We do on top of hayracks and inside hideys - and they find them eventually, and reach up & run etc
 
NoblePanda said:
Also do you have them forage for their food? Our piggies are new but we love hiding food all over the cage and that's when they are the most active! We do on top of hayracks and inside hideys - and they find them eventually, and reach up & run etc
Click to expand...
Usually we do a foraging activity every night during floor time/cage cleaning. Unfortunately since this was question was posted, my little girl Clover has passed away and it's just us and Pixie now. Pixie has always been the more timid so she is sometimes reluctant to forage out in the open, but maybe putting her veggies in her cage to look for will help her get a pep in her step! Thank you for the idea!
 
Eryan said:
Usually we do a foraging activity every night during floor time/cage cleaning. Unfortunately since this was question was posted, my little girl Clover has passed away and it's just us and Pixie now. Pixie has always been the more timid so she is sometimes reluctant to forage out in the open, but maybe putting her veggies in her cage to look for will help her get a pep in her step! Thank you for the idea!
Click to expand...
I'm sorry for your loss 💜 I hope pixie (and you) are ok! Give pixie lots of cuddles and even more attention so she isn't lonely. Are you planning on getting her a new friend or not?
 
Sophia_Oreo108 said:
I'm sorry for your loss 💜 I hope pixie (and you) are ok! Give pixie lots of cuddles and even more attention so she isn't lonely. Are you planning on getting her a new friend or not?
Click to expand...
We're looking for a friend but right now we have bigger fish to fry. Pixie is dealing with some bad bloat, which is exactly what took her sister Clover from us. We want to make sure she's in tip top shape before even thinking of a new friend being introduced. You can read about what we're going through on my other active thread, it's been hectic and I just want to poor girl better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top