Why Such A Mess?

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Sazzy

Sazzy

Junior Guinea Pig
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I'm noticing a habit that I don't really understand.

On the top level of their house, I have a little metal ball that hangs down from the roof with a bell on the bottom of it which I stuff their hay into so they are not eating off the floor. If you look at the pic I've attached, you'll notice that there's a good amount of hay all over the floor anyway after they've had their fill of what's in the ball. They won't ever eat it once they've pulled it out and left it on the floor (and who can blame them), and it just seems like a cryin waste of food. Any ideas on how to change this behavior, perhaps use a different style of trough or something?

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Yes, but they also have a dish that I fill with peppers and greens. I would like to add perhaps another trough on the lower level and elevate it off the ground somehow so they don't go to the bathroom in it.
 
Personally I am not a fan of those metal balls after hearing horror stories of guinea pigs becoming stuck in them but that's just me.

I have two litter trays in my cage which I use for hay. I fill both trays with hay and my two girls just love to rummage round and eat the hay.

I must admit, they do wee on the hay but when having the hay where the piggies can rummage, I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent this other than change the hay regular.

I just think the majority of guinea pigs enjoy rummaging around in hay and it's so cute to watch.
 
Whoa...thanks for the heads up about the piggies getting stuck, that's something I DON'T want.

I'm going to see about getting some litter pans today once the store opens this morning.
 
how about a hay bag if you like the idea of keeping hay for eating off the ground? you could get some in funky matching colours to any fleeces if you use them :tu:

mine have theirs in a rack & in a big pile to rummage in too, availability of unlimited hay is a must to help keep their teeth worn down & keep the digestive system ticking along nicely :D ,
i'm guessing as they eat their own poops they are not going to worry too much if they have some extra poops on the hay on the floor :vom:
i have read some piggies stuck stories about the balls too :(
xx
 
Those hay-balls scare the hell out of me... my boys sleep, pee and poop on their hay so it's understandable why they always want fresh.
 
I also removed all hay balls and racks when I heard about them last year.

I put large piles of hay in their living area all fluffed up and they burrow, nest, sleep and eat, it's much more natural for them. I also mix dried herbs into the hay so that they have hours of fun foraging.
 
I use a bog standard cat litter tray, lined with newspaper then a layer of cat litter then handfulls of hay.. they poo in there mostly... x
 
I use meadow hay in their cages and two of my girls do a flying leap into it.Expensive hay goes in hay rack
 
I put my piggies hay on top of their houses they seem less inclined to wee on it this way but makes them slightly work for it a bit more if they do a few trips jumping up! With the exception of one piggy who will lie under it for hours before munching it all up!
 
I have 2 cat litter trays too, newspaper and meadow hay goes in there. I have a hay rack for Timothy hay over one of them (they prefer to eat that) so when they drop hay (just because they don't like that bit... Sigh!) it just adds to their tray. They like to burrow and it also keeps the rest of the cage clean as 80% of the time they pee and poo in the trays!

I've thought about the hay bags before but I think my Bella will probably just eat it as well lol. She's a chewer!

I have the P@H springy hay/food ball that they love when I put some curly kale in it, is that bad too?
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