Floor Time: What do you use?

[GuineaPigMum]

1. What do you use for your Piggys floor time?
2. Do you put toys down for them?
3. What toys do you put down for them?
4. How big of an area are they playing in?
5. Any extra information you want to tell me?

Well, I was just wondering how your Piggys enviorment was when it is floor time.

[angiekay]

I had 11-12 grids left over from building our c & c cage, and ziptied those together loosely. I put that "fencing" up, in front of their cage, (my cage has 2 grids in the front, it's on the floor, that open like doors), and extend their cage with the fence for floor time. I do put a hidey and some tubes out for them to run through. They really seem to enjoy it better than placing the fencing playpen in another room they aren't used to, as they have their "comfort zone" right there and run in and out and around and love it.

Then the playpen fence can be folded up accordian style for storage in my closet.

[auburnmare5]

I use a set of 4 children's foam play mats for cage time and floor time. Just make sure they are covered with a towel, so the pigs don't ingest the foam.
For toys, I use a wiffle ball and put grass or hay (I don't recommend veggies because they take alot of work to get out, the pig gives up, then you are stuck getting them out or throwing the ball out.) I use tennis balls. I sometimes even create an obstacle course type thing. For example, I take a bent grid, and put a towel at the end to cover it, with veggies. The pigs look like they enjoy things that will keep them occupied for a while, not just things to have fun.

[GuineaPigMum]

Thank you both for answering. I love reading what other people have to say and their storys!

[Tessa Bea]

I love the whiffle ball idea! I'm going to try to find one and do that myself.

I also use my leftover grids from building my C&C that I've twist-tied together, and block off a section of the house.

I put out a pigloo, a tunnel, hay, and another cardboard hidey. I'm still trying to figure out ideas for other toys.

[blackarrow]

I have a ziptied grid pen too, and a 5x8 tarp. I put down a large box with hay in it, a tunnel or two, a small stepstool (they use it as a idey), an expandable shelf with legs (it's about 7" high, 6" deep and 18" long - I toss a piece o f fleece over it and it's their instant buddy cave) and for big fun, a paper bag or two. I usually scatter their veggies hither and thither around the playpen so that they have to go searching, and I put their favorite bits in the hardest spots (like behind the hay box) to encourage them to run all over. I sometimes use a wiffle ball too - the holes are just the right size to hold a baby carrot per pig, and it's fun to see them try to roll it into their own favorite snack spot with the other pig in hot pursuit, play carrot tug-o'-war, etc.

[heartpiggies]

I just open the door to Gary's enclosure and let him run around my bedroom. I don't really set out any toys, he keeps pretty busy darting around I do a quick vacuum afterwards even though he doesn't usually go to the bathroom outside of the kitchen/bathroom area in his enclosure.

[wheekypigs]

I put the ramp down and they come wander around the apartment looking for a morsel, trying to get under the bed, and sniffing out secret hiding places. Sometimes we rearrange our furniture for them to run around. They usually come dashing home when I call dinner time, but sometimes Bebe falls asleep for hours on end when she finds a new secret spot, then we have to turn the apartment inside out to find her.

[Duffinvt]

I am lucky that I have a very large slate floor (16 x 20 ft.). I use grids zip-tied together to keep them out of the wood floor part of the room, that has couches and lots of electrical cords. I also have a grid fence around the wood stove, just in case they decided to stand and touch it (unlikely.. but it could happen). I have another two grid high fence to put in the doorway to the rest of the house to keep the cat out. All the fences can be folded up quickly.

I put out tunnels, cardboard boxes, a ramp made of sand paper to help file their nails, oatmeal boxes, etc. Draping a towel over two boxes can create a different play area. They like change. Their latest favorite is a rolled up rug which gives them a "tunnel" of four ft.

I also have a tray in a corner with newspaper and a cardboard box "hidey" . They usually pee in that. I very seldom need to clean up pee. After they have played for an hour or so, I put them in their c&c and vacuum the whole space. I have one of those steam vacs and will often use that, too, just to make sure it is really clean.

[fieryone]

What do you use for your Piggys floor time? A waterproof outdoor tablecloth with an old comforter over it and zip tied grids that easily fold up

Do you put toys down for them? My pigs don't really play with toys. I've tried several things and they've always been ignored

What toys do you put down for them? I put down hideys and a tunnel and sometimes a paper bag

How big of an area are they playing in? About a 4x5 grid area

[Dichotomy83]

I have a large animal playpen that is essentially a line of grids about 3 ft high. Our living room is L shaped and I use the pen to section off a part of the L, so they get about a 144 sq ft area to run around in. I have a tiny grid setup that holds the water bottle and a little basket holding hay. Sometimes I'll give them a bit of greens too.

The area has a wicker jingley ball, 2 tubes, a 12 pack soda box, and a bridge that I set out for them. The furniture already in the area is a tall stool, a wooden desk, childs wooden rocking chair and a wooden bench and a mirror. I usually drape a sheet halfway over the bench to give them a secure hidey space. They seem to prefer hanging out under the stool and desk though.

They love to take turns playing tag in that area, but I have yet to see them become too interactive with the toys. Although they love zipping through the tunnels.

[MySpottedFrog7]

My pigs like it best when I switch up they play area. Sometimes its in the bathroom, sometimes I just let them run around my apartment, and sometimes I block off an area for them. I need more grids so for now I use the wall as a wall for them and usually trying using a large cardboard box and blocking off any extra areas. (grids are easier!) I add tunnels, they cuddle cup, toilet paper rolls filled with vegs/hay, paper wads, oateal containers, ect for toys. They also like it when I make them a pigsicle ro set up a couple of large cardboard boxes for them. They also really like having to run around and search for their veggies. My newest pig is a climber (you wouldnt believe the things he has tried climbing, its unreal!) but before I got him I used a kiddie pool for a playpen which was nice!

[SFailed186]

We set up a pen in our hallway that is roughly the size of a 2 1/2X7. The flooring is tile, so we put down two sheet for traction and warmth. They usually have cardboard hideys and tunnels in the cage/pen. : )

[Jenni_Feathers]

What do you use for your Piggys floor time?
Generally-though sometimes I switch it up, or just let them totally free roam- they are in the kitchen/breakfast room area. I use closet shelving as 'gates' to block them from going into the living room or dining room (because I don't want them on the hardwood floors) and I haphazardly spread old blankets on the floor, just to get them off of the cold stone and also to at least help to soak up any accidents. Then when they're done, I put up the gates, roll up the blankets, and then I take my diluted vinegar and spritz and wipe any wet spots on the floor.

Do you put toys down for them?
What toys do you put down for them?
I usually use whatever toys are not currently in their cage (they have too many to fit so I rotate them, haha, yeah, spoiled). That generally means a bent grid tunnel or 2 and perhaps a step stool and a box or pigloo. It might sound odd, but I'll also put random piggy safe (or at least piggy safe given they are supervised) objects in there too. Whether it be an empty soda bottle or a shoe, they have to sniff and investigate anything foreign to them. Sometimes I will take some veggies, chop them small, and put the in random places spread out through the area so as they explore they find small treats.

How big of an area are they playing in?
Well, the room itself, from wall to wall is about 15' by 30' but the cabinets and island take a lot of room out of that.

Any extra information you want to tell me?
Nothing in particular I can think of, just have fun with it. There is really no right or wrong way to do floor-time (granted they are in a safe area). Its really just what your pigs will like and what will work best for you.

[distancel]

I use a grid made playpen using the left over grids and connectors from making the piggy cage. I corner off about a 9x2 grid space. It's on tiles and I put some towels down with fleece over the top as I would for their cage. I leave the 'kitchen' end of the pen fleece free and just put down some newspaper to put all their food and hay on etc.

They have their hideys and a snuggle cup in there, and I have a few tunnels made from boxes and things and a 'ferret tunnel' that I set up for them. (it's one of the ones you can hang up for a ferret, but I have it on the ground) the other day I made them a treasure hunt, hiding little bits of lettuce in all the tunnels. They seemed to like finding the lettuce although Avril got a little frustrated at one point as I had hid a piece of lettuce a little too well, and started wheeking at the tunnel. "I can smell it but I can't eat it?!! Why is this happening!!!?"

[Ibbet]

My pig has our living room and hallway to explore with a play pen blocking access to the kitchen. Sometimes I don't put any toys down but usually I put boxes spread out everywhere. He also really seems to like the dog toys, so he plays with a few of those. Mostly though he runs around like he's a crazy pig, it's quite amusing actually.