Popcorning and zooming

[Ramia]

Do pigs popcorn and zoom less when they are adults?

Stripe is going to be 2 in February and he only zooms when he knows I'm going to clean his cage.

He occasionally popcorns, but not much.

He used to do both a lot.

Is it age or is he in a rut?

 

[Janey]

In my experience, they do tend to be less exuberant as they get older. One of my girls is 4 and a half years old now and will occasionally do a short run round the pen - she used to do it much more when she was younger! I wouldn’t say 2 is old though, so how would he react to a different cage set up, or different enrichment ideas? Some piggies love a change and others prefer things to stay the same.

 

[fluffysal]

My boys at 3 1/4 and nearly 3 don't often zoom now. Master Boris was never really one for popcorning anyway but Sir George does much more subtle ones now. It's more like a little bounce with an accompanying squeak
This however is balanced by them being much more soppy and loving cuddles

 

[Piggies&buns]

Mine are just over three and they don’t zoom now. One will occasionally popcorn if something is particularly exciting but I haven’t seen the other do it in ages

 

[weepweeps]

My Pebble still popcorns when he gets a cage clean out with fresh hay. He’s 3.5.

I also think as they get a bit older (and fatter) they can’t run as fast

 

[Truffolo]

Truffle popcorns if I clean the cage with him in it and I'm messing about with his set up or moving him to get at bedding. He dashes about if he wants breakfast and MS is tardy. Polo dashes about the cage now and then just because

 

[JaseChase]

My older boys all slowed down around age 3. Tofu stopped zooming a bit earlier (around 2.5 when he got arthritis) but he would still popcorn, just less often

Now I have two young ones again, the difference is notable - they never stop running!

 

[flowerfairy]

My Pebble still popcorns when he gets a cage clean out with fresh hay. He’s 3.5.

I also think as they get a bit older (and fatter) they can’t run as fast

Know the feeling!

 

[piggieminder]

Mine have all zoomed a lot less/not at all as they have got older. They have all still popcorned although for some it has become more of a bobbed up head and not all feet leaving the ground at the same time as they have become heavier. Even the oldies with arthritis have managed excited small wobbly bobs when food is thought to be coming. I suspect they think they are still doing a full popcorn, the effort is there, a bit like elderly me thinking I'm still walking fast and am spritely until a 30 something overtakes and disappears very quickly into the distance.

 

[anyar.dris]

Bodie is around 2yrs old now. He doesn't do zoomies anymore, he just waddles. He ocassionally would popcorn but you wouldn't notice it unless he does it a few times. That's because only his head moves, like shakes his head, because he can't carry his big fatty body anymore.

 

[Ramia]

Thanks everyone, Stripe definitely does the head bob whereas Chez gets off the ground.

 

[weepweeps]

I had a piggy called Sunny years ago. He was a special piggy. The loudest wheeker ever. Drank odd from the water bottle and popcorned by wiggling his head from side to side but not actually leaving the ground