Floor Time during the winter

[jewels1273]

Do the cooler weather is just now hitting us and while it is still warm enough in the house that I haven't had to turn the furnace on (thank goodness), I am nervous for the GP when I have them out for playtime. In the summer, I put them in the kitchen since it is the faux hardwood floor and I just put newspaper down. They usually don't run around at all and just hide in their tunnels (I had to put two in there since they tend to fight over just one and two pigs in a tunnel built for one is not a pretty sight).

Anyway, now that it is cooler, the warmth from the sun is now getting into the kitchen as often so I may have to put it in the living room that they are in their regular C&C cage now. However, it is carpeted and not as roomy for floor time. I know that I can put a shower curtain and towels and fleece down (which means that I would have to purchase more fleece and wash more often) but I do worry about them being comfortable enough for floor time. I do have a small space heater that I use in the bathroom, but I worry about them getting too warm.

Any suggestions? Also, any suggestions to them playing more during floor time? I feel like I am torturing them by putting them outside of their cage.

Thanks.

[starshine123102]

I set up floor time in the living room and made a pen out of grids. I put down a round vinyl table cloth so that the carpet doesn't get wet. Once I put her back I sweep up the poos, mop up the pee and wipe it down with a 50% water 50% vinegar solution.

Some pigs aren't huge with floor time and just tend to hide. Put some veggies around so that they can go hunt for them once they smell them. Leave some hay that they play in or eat. I put about 3 hideys in her floor time so that she can go from one to the other. I put them close together so that she doesn't have to cross the whole pen, but now that she is more used to it I have spread them out a little more.

You can also stuff socks with hay, as well as toilet paper rolls, cut length wise so they don't get stuck in them. you can also add some cat balls that have bells and such and see if they take a shining to them. Most pigs don't really play though, like a cat or dog will.