Guinea pigs don't need hides...?

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I've read a few times that you shouldn't put hides (tunnels, buffets, upturned boxes etc) other than hay in guinea pig cages (especially with skittish or new guinea pigs) as it just encourages hiding behaviour, so you will never see them.

I just wanted to see what others thought, as at the moment the boys have no hidey holes in with them other than a huuuge lump of hay...and I think pigs benefit from having a variety of hides in with them :{

Thanks!
 
I think it is very important for guinea pigs to have hidey places so they have a place to hide when they are afraid. It helps them to feel safe and secure. They do not tend to sleep in the open either so without any where to hide I do not see how they will feel comfortable to sleep.
 
Guinea pigs are largely afraid of open spaces, so even the most confident piggy will still look shelter on occasion, particularly to sleep.
 
i cover my girls toilet areas as they like to wee n poo where they cant be seen It would really stress them out if they had nowhere to hide Mine have had a hidey each since i got them and are taming down nicely
 
I think having some sort of a hidey is good, the ones where they are a little bit hidden but they can still see you, you them, if you know what I mean, this way they feel safe but they still can get used to the surroundings. some piggies do get used to open spaces, one of my piggies often sleeps in an open space by choice (they are in the lounge tho, so they are very used to noise and people and don't seem to be scared or nervous :)
 
My two new piggies have a few hideys, they're very skittish and nervous and I think the hideys help them to feel safe. I'm playing the long game with them and letting them get used to me without trying to force them too much. Having the hideys means they can edge out to me in their own time as they develop the feeling of safety with me. The only difficulty is trying to explain this to very impatient friends who just want a cuddle!
 
Always have hides and cosey and tunnels :) They are a pigs favourite places. Though I've had a few occasions where I have found pigs are braver and more inquisitive when they are not given the chance to 'hole up' and shut themselves away.. I think this is a little unfair. Pigs are prey speaking evolutionarily, and need comfort!
 
I don't have hides for mine. In their big run they have cat lit trays with newspaper then Fitch bedding covered in a mound of hay. They make their own hides & I just keep topping up the hay as required. In the winter I'll probably go back to their wooden houses.
 
Ben and Jerry have a pigloo each, a soft tunnel, a cuddle cup, two large cardboard tubes, a rainbow stick bridge and a plastic step stool plus the inevitable mountain of hay and the odd cardboard box. They don't have all these available at the same time as I like to change them around at cleaning time and offer them a change. Although they do like to hide they also like to sleep where they flop and if that's in the middle of the open so be it. I think as prey animals they need somewhere to hide if they choose to. When they feel confident they may sleep in the open as mine do. They are in my living room with the usual living room noises of the tv and people coming and going they don't seem in the least bothered. The only time they look up and wheek is when someone crinkles a crisp packet or they hear the fridge door followed by chopping sounds. If I call their names from my chair they may grace me with a look of acknowledgment or they may not, cheeky things. They always come to see what I've got if I call ''breakfast'' no matter what time of day!

If you offer them cover they will use it and as they feel more confident they will choose when they want to hide and when they don't. I think it should be available. It doesn't mean they will hide all the time, they need handling and interaction and over time they will grow in confidence and will be out of it more than in. At least this has been my experience.
 
Piggies are a prey species and as such will naturally look for cover to protect themselves from potential threats and predators. Providing no cover (either hay or hideys) is likely to lead to stressed, uncomfortable piggies who could potentially be very skittish.

It is true they get more inquisitive and explore more where no hideys or piles of hay are available but it is asking a lot of them to go against their natural instincts to live like this all the time.

I would always give them somewhere to go for peace and quiet, my lads love fleecy tunnels and log tunnels which are open enough to avoid fights and so I can check on them but give enough cover to feel secure if they feel threatened. In saying that at least two of the boys love to sleep flat out in the open so it doesn't always bother them not to use the houses!
 
Ben and Jerry said:
They always come to see what I've got if I call ''breakfast'' no matter what time of day!
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:) I love that. Cookie & Treacy used to come running over at the yell of 'girls,girls,girls'
 
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piggyfan said:
I think it is very important for guinea pigs to have hidey places so they have a place to hide when they are afraid. It helps them to feel safe and secure. They do not tend to sleep in the open either so without any where to hide I do not see how they will feel comfortable to sleep.
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Mine always slept in the open and never went to asleep in his house but only to run into when scared
 
Thanks everyone, good to know I'm not alone in thinking piggies need hideys! Off out to buy them some new ones today, and the girls too, very excited!

Haha ours do the same, when they hear any type of rustling the wheeking begins! :)p
 
Piggies are happier with a covered place to hide in! It hasn't stopped mine from becoming freindly, I think they associate me with food :)
 
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