Need Ideas on Floor Time.

[endzie]

Well, my room is pretty small.. and I have already used a large portion to make space dedicated just for my cage.. But I want to give Turbo some Floor Time each day. I dont know where I should make this space since my place is pretty small?

Any suggestions or ideas?

I have just been giving him lap time, and petting him for a while.

[phantac]

same here. I live in an apartment and I am going to build a 2x5 c&c cage in my bedroom for my 2 piggies. This leaves no room for me. Forget about free exercise space. Their cage will have to do for that. I also take them out for about 1hr. each evening for lap time. Anyway, when I clean their cage out and I put them on the floor with some grids around them they make enough of a mess in 15 minutes, the thought of giving them a larger space for a longer period of time does not move me. Their larger cage will have to do.

[endzie]

I guess thats good enough then.. Because he still gets attention by having lap time, and the cage is large enough for him to exercise.. He usually takes laps at 5 min spurts then calms down.

Any one have any suggestions?

[Piglet]

Its not just about exercise, its about stimulation as well. Its nice for them to have a change and not just stay in the same cage everyday. Could you let him run around in your bathroom? I sometimes do that, and becuase we have lino floors the mess is easy to clean up.

[o0Ms Jenny0o]

Yes Piglet is right. I have a small room too and I have a 3x3 cage for my two girls. I have a bunch of extra grids and I tied them all together and i fold them up when I'm not using them and slide them under the bed. It's easy and hardly takes up any space. Give mr. turbo some floortime, he'll enjoy it!

[endzie]

Originally Posted by Piglet

Its not just about exercise, its about stimulation as well. Its nice for them to have a change and not just stay in the same cage everyday. Could you let him run around in your bathroom? I sometimes do that, and becuase we have lino floors the mess is easy to clean up.

I can do that.. but my bathrooms too small? I was thinking of something bigger.. I mean his cage space is bigger than the bathroom.

[dagwellismypigy]

just cable tie the cables and stuff in your room or push it behind furniture use extra grids to block of where you dont want pigs to get at

[endzie]

What about pooping and peeing on the carpet?

[phantac]

When some of us say we dont have the extra room, we mean we dont have the extra room. The cage is larger than any extra space we have. So for me to take my piggies from their 2x5 cage which is large to begin with (2 piggies here) and let them run around in a smaller or equal amount of space for stimulation is silly. Just change the things in their cage every few days and it will seem like new space to them. Will keep them from getting bored. It's the same thing. I have different kind of tubes and toys and cuddles that I change every 2 to 3 days, and to them its something new. They get plenty stimulation and exercise in their cage. If you have that extra room to donate to your piggies well have a blast. I have to roll my cage away from my bed to walk out of my room -).

[o0Ms Jenny0o]

Their cage and floortime is not the same. You being in your room with your bed on the opposite wall and then just being in a completely different room is hardly the same. Even if the floortime area is smaller it's better than nothing.

[o0Ms Jenny0o]

Oh, and the carpet mess stuff. I don't usually cover my carpet because it's not that messy and I just soak anything up with a paper towel and vacuum up the poo (I have this hand carpet cleaner/vac thing so it's easy to clean up any spots or smell) but you can also get a large blanket of fleece or something to cover up the carpet and throw it in the wash when it needs it. It's no big deal.

[phantac]

Well you must be very lucky. My piggies urine stains and leaves a discoloration and does smell over a long period of time just like any other urine. And yes Im sure you can use vinegar or whatever to clean it all up. I am not one of those people who will go to that length for their guinea pig so they can run around on the small floor space of my room doing the same thing as they would be doing in their cage. Whatever makes the owner happy. As far as I'm concerned their being loved by their owner, not stuck in some petshop or shelter is good enough.

[dagwellismypigy]

phantac if you dont want any ideas you dont have to take the suggestions, I understand what you are saying but you dont have to put down everybodies suggestions, its kinda mean.
I also find the pee doesn;t stain or smell If you find out where they pee you could but a towel down just there instead of the whole space

[phantac]

Sorry, my remarks were not intended to put anybody down. Suggest to your hearts content. -)

[endzie]

Well.. what I think I am going to do is get more grids and create a little run around area for Turbo.

[Ly&Pigs]

What about letting him run around in the kitchen. That's where my girls get most of their floortime. If they pee or poop it's easy to sweep/mop up after and they love having all that room to run around in. I just block off the entrances to the kitchen and let em have at it.

[90katrina90]

My guinea pigs get floor-time every two days. I use cardboard tubes.. never anything plastic!.. toilet rolls with grass or apple leaves/twigs in.. lots of places to hide, under chairs etc.. (as mine have the floor-time in the shed) They're not really too fussy I find, think they just like the space to stretch their legs over all ) I use the kitchen/shed/my bedroom hehehe

[mncavylover]

I agree, the kitchen is great. And as for the stains, use a cheap plastic shower curtain with some paper towels on it. Phantac, (and I don't mean to be harsh) but it's not what makes the -owner- happy. It's what's best for the pigs. Of course, some people don't see it that way, and I can't change that. At least I can try.