I have a bored guinea pig and need some ideas!

**KmKrazy9** · #1 07-19-04, 11:40 am

I think that my poor guinea pig is very bored! I moved her into her new c&c cage about a week ago.It is about triple the size of her old cage but she still just lays there in her hidey house all day. Right now I have a pretty large wood hidey house and a towel tent in 1 corner, I also have a tissue box that I cut so I put her hay in there. I need some I ideas to put some more excitment in her day! Thanks,

**supertramp** · #2 07-19-04, 03:14 pm

My first older pig was much the same until I got her a buddy, and the change was immediate and dramatic. Maybe you could try to get her a friend, she'll certainly thank you for it.

**Piglet** · #3 07-19-04, 03:51 pm

I think thats the only real option, to get her a piggy friend.

**KmKrazy9** · #4 07-19-04, 09:39 pm

I really really want to get another. Its not money or space, I can provide those things. Its convincing my mom. She doesnt want to get another. I think my dad would be OK with it but my mom doesnt like the Idea. I havent talked to her about it in a while and I want to bring it up again soon because of Amys dull look on her face. But Im not sure exactly what to say. Also while I am working on the 2nd pig thing any other toys that I could give her?? Thanks

**Mulengro** · #5 07-20-04, 01:29 am

well if you've got the money and space, would she even really notice? "if you're gonna get wet, might as well go swimming". i got my pig a little friend and they hit it off great, i've never seen so much activity in my older boar. his friend is just tiny, about a quarter his size... they've only been together since yesterday and already he's very protective of the littler one. i got an extra hidey house for him, but he won't use it, they insist on sharing one, and the older one sits in the doorway until the little one wants in, then he'll let him in and promptly block the doorway. it's absolutely amazing, i mean... before zodiac would just loaf around, mostly inside his house, but now he's so active and so much more fun to watch! it's not only the pig that's happier, you'll be much happier with two as well. also, you notice the difference in personalities, so you can appreciate each one even more, it's really spectacular, just watching them and how they instictually interact and whatnot, absotlutely fascinating....

oh wow, sorry i just realized i sort of ranted there, sorry if i got off topic, and sorry if i didn't offer any real advice or anything... but hope i could help!

-mulengro

**beccapooka** · #6 07-20-04, 04:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by KmKrazy9

I really really want to get another. Its not money or space, I can provide those things. Its convincing my mom. She doesnt want to get another. I think my dad would be OK with it but my mom doesnt like the Idea. I havent talked to her about it in a while and I want to bring it up again soon because of Amys dull look on her face. But Im not sure exactly what to say. Also while I am working on the 2nd pig thing any other toys that I could give her?? Thanks

Well, while you're working on your mom, could you maybe give your GP extra floor time/lap time? I had read before getting mine that 2 is better, so I can't compare my girls to a single pig, but I do think that in the short time we've had them that they have come to really like lap time. They didn't get as much with me gone all weekend, and Jeff todl me on the phone Sunday night that they were both extremely affectionate when he finally got them out. When I got home yesterday they were also both very affectionate and really enjoying being held. It's a different kind of interaction than they have with each other, but it's still interaction. Maybe she'll perk up some if she gets more attention from you. (Not saying that you don't give her enough. LOL For all I know she's on your lap 10 hours a day. But maybe a little extra would help until she gets a same-species friend.)

Rebecca

**supertramp** · #7 07-20-04, 12:29 pm

Try explaining to your mum how bored and lonely your pig is, you could show her the site, especially the parts about socialising. My mum didn't really get it at first but once she realised how active guinea pigs are supposed to be, and how inactive my Nixa was she realised how lonely she was and encouraged me to get another sooner than planned. Now I have two my mum loves them both and enjoys watching them interact and chat to each other, and she finds their different characters really amusing. She loves my pigs almost as much as I do.
As for the toys, you could try a camera film pot with holes in it filled with hay, which someone else suggested on the accessories part of the board, or fresh apple tree wood (they love to gnaw off all the bark) and plenty of floor time so she can investigate her surroundings.
Good luck on convincing your mum and amusing Amy!

**Treen** · #8 07-21-04, 06:40 am

I agree that nothing will beat giving him a friend http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm.

But have a read of these pages for more ideas on how to keep him stimulated - http://www.cavycages.com/toys.htm and http://cavycages.com/accessories.htm.

**My Baby Mu** · #9 08-05-04, 11:38 am

My piggy Mu is happy and i only have one. He has pvc pipes, cat jingle ball toys, wooden bird toys, bells, critter cabobs, wooden toys and lots of playtime. Hope this helps.

**Piglet** · #10 08-05-04, 11:42 am

How do you truly know he is happy? When your at work/school doesn't he get bored?

**My Baby Mu** · #11 08-05-04, 01:53 pm

Because I see him popcorn all the time.

**ChadWPB** · #12 08-05-04, 02:47 pm

But you just don't know what he does while you're at school.

Seldom does one find the loner pig. My MIL has one. She fought with every pig she was paired with, and is indeed happy alone, as she popcorns, wheeks when MIL is at the fridge, etc.
The vast majority of pigs appreciate a buddy. Our Princess was a do-nothing piggie till she got paired up with Marilyn. Then they became the piggie equivalent of two giggly little girls. Princess herself went from do-nothing to diva as she now dominates a three-piggie cage.

**My Baby Mu** · #13 08-05-04, 06:54 pm

Mu runs around, popcorns he does everything. I bought him at a pet store and he didn't move around alot and he was with another pig and now he has his own cage and shares nothing he nore active and popcorns more. I now what he does all day cause it still summer for me.

**mncavylover** · #14 08-05-04, 08:35 pm

That's great, but you should still conside getting him a buddy. He may be even MORE ecstatic then!!! =)

oo_tweety_oo · #15 08-06-04, 04:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by KmKrazy9

I think that my poor guinea pig is very bored! I moved her into her new c&c cage about a week ago.It is about triple the size of her old cage but she still just lays there in her hidey house all day. Right now I have a pretty large wood hidey house and a towel tent in 1 corner, I also have a tissue box that I cut so I put her hay in there. I need some I ideas to put some more excitment in her day! Thanks,

If you're a creative person you can go to this website http://imageevent.com/bizylizy and scroll down to number 4. It shows you how to make cage accessories for guinea's from scratch.

**My Baby Mu** · #16 08-06-04, 09:22 am

I won't be able to get him a buddy beacuse my mom is allergic and my dad doesn't like the mess he makes and he doesn't like a lot of small animals even though he had the whole deal when he was a kid. Also I can't get any more until we move into our new house (no worries its not far awayonly 5-10 minuets so it cause lots of stress if any). I am trying to get Mu a buddy we have the space and money and everything its just my mom and dad.

**blink1177** · #17 08-07-04, 08:06 am

I started out with one pig. Then I found the cavycage website and starting reading about how lonely guinea pigs get. It made me sad so I went out and got another. It really isn't any more trouble having two then it was with just one!

cavylover · #18 08-08-04, 08:12 am

If you really think about what animal does like being by themselves and ot talking to another creature.Imagine if

User Name		Remember Me?
Password