Outdoor run

[Jnusbaum817]

We got a new outdoor loop for the piggies, they have not really been outside before. We put them in, but they really just kind of sat there. They didn’t explore or run in circles or really anything. How do we get the Big to engage with their enrichment activity? We tried putting some small pellets and mint leaf battered through the run, but that didn’t motivate them. They just ate it if they found it.

 

[flowerfairy]

They need places to hide. Lots of them. Cardboard boxes, tunnels, fleece hides or wooden hides. They are prey animals and live in long grass in their native land.

Lots of hay is good too both to hide in and to eat.


Here are my two back in the summer.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Going outside can feel very scary for piggies and the run looks quite open with little space to add the necessary hiding spaces. Piggies like to feel protected so a run should contain several hides or boxes for them to hide in (enough for each piggy), it’s also a good idea to put in several hay trays and importantly to have a sheet over the top of the run so they don’t feel like they could be attacked from above.
Most people just use a wooden run with mesh sides for security which is just a square/rectangle space and it is easy to fill with hides, hay trays and add a cover.

Also keep temperature in mind. I don’t know what sorts of temperatures you experience where you live but indoor piggies can’t go outside once temperatures are colder than indoor. They should be kept between 18 and 23 degrees at all times

 

[Jnusbaum817]

We are not able to have them in our grass because it gets treated. We just wanted to give them some outdoor fresh air and sunshine. We only take them out when it’s between 65 and 75°F. and only for maybe 15-20 minutes at a time. I can add hideys, I just thought they would stay in the Hiddey and not actually be in the sunshine or exploring the tunnel.

 

[Piggies&buns]

We are not able to have them in our grass because it gets treated. We just wanted to give them some outdoor fresh air and sunshine. We only take them out when it’s between 65 and 75°F. and only for maybe 15-20 minutes at a time. I can add hideys, I just thought they would stay in the Hiddey and not actually be in the sunshine or exploring the tunnel.

It’s absolutely fine if you can’t put them directly on the grass.

They might just hide but they will be scared and stressed without anywhere to hide.

It’s not uncommon for indoor piggies to not actually enjoy being outside so you will just have to see how they are with it: they may learn to enjoy it in time or you may have to decide not to bother with any outside time if they aren’t enjoying it.