How To Train Pigs To Go In And Out Of Hutch When They Like?

[RingoandOlly]

Hi, my pigs are kept in a double hutch with a large run at the moment but they won't go outside on their own unless I put them in the run (and even then they just want to go back inside after a little nibble of grass). I have tried leaving the hutch door open into the run all day and putting some veggies in the run but they just stay in the hutch. Has anyone got any tips for training them to go out and back in when they like? Thank you! x

 

[flowerfairy]

Are there plenty of hiding places in the run? Guinea pigs are prey animals and like to feel safe. Add tunnels, cardboard boxes upside down with a couple of entrances, igloos and perhaps a towel or similar draped over part of the run for extra cosiness.

 

[RingoandOlly]

Are there plenty of hiding places in the run? Guinea pigs are prey animals and like to feel safe. Add tunnels, cardboard boxes upside down with a couple of entrances, igloos and perhaps a towel or similar draped over part of the run for extra cosiness.

They have a tunnel but I will add the towel and some boxes and see if that draws them out!

 

[RingoandOlly]

Update! After covering up a quarter of the run with towels, adding some shoe boxes with parts cut off to form hides/tunnels, adding their plastic tunnel and putting a big pile of hay with veggies hidden in in the middle; the guinea pigs go in and out as they please. They were popcorning all over the place! Thanks for the advice x

 

[flowerfairy]

Brilliant. Glad you found something that worked for them.

I love seeing guinea pigs popcorning.

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Yay....

 

[RingoandOlly]

Thanks everyone