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Canada Floor Time: how often and what do I do?

MaggieandSeeds

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
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10
I have been doing floor time with my new guinea pigs for about a week. I usually just sit in the corner of the floor time area and hand feed them veggies. I give them one hidey hole with plenty of hay inside and on top of it. They do popcorn very often. I am not sure what to do as to maximise their exercise. Also how often and for how long?
 
I have the same question. I do the same thing, although Ginger never popcorns. (She hasn't yet)
 
Try more toys! I know a lot of guins don't like toys, but sometimes you get lucky. I found a tunnel that my younger loves to include in her laps. Also, they might not be so active because they know if they sit near you, they get food! One day, you could see what they do when you (the vending machine) are removed, and suddenly they are confronted with obstacles to climb over and through, seeking out treats and snackies like little guinea pig explorers!lol
Also reading your post again I see it's only been a week so maybe they just need more time...
 
Also, should I be there when i do floor time or should i just leave them in there for a period of time with those toys and obstacle courses of food
 
You can be there, or not. Chances we they won't go too crazy and will eat/lay down in the hidey. If you do floor time in the morning there's greater chance they'll actually run, since pigs are active then(or mine are atleast).

I do both, sit there or not. I tend to give them a full day on the weekend, and a few hours throughout the week. I've only had them full speed running once, in the am. Besides that the trot about, eat/poop and sleep. Try lining up tunnels and hideys for a race course they can zoom through, my pigs like to "scout" first, and then fly through the same way they just scouted. My cage is large for two pigs so maybe if yours is smaller you should consider more floor time, or not if it's big(mines 2x10).
 
My Piggies just kinda sit there for floor time they kinda just snuggle up to me. If anything they slowly wander they don't run. I don't know they seem too tame or maybe they dont like wood floors?? They are very active in there cage. Especially when they get crazy and run and jump all over the place. They are hilarious to watch. I can't believe how high they can jump. But anyway they do love to play in there cage but don't go to far away when put down on the floor?? Is it because they are just tame and don't want to go to far away from us?? They will walk up to u In cage . I don't know anyplace ideas???
 
Heheheh, I'm not sure where or when your floor time happens, and I'm by no means a floor time authority, but I think people usually supervise :) I was only putting out ideas, no "you shoulds". I try to stay away from those ;)
 
I always stay in the pen during floor time. It's sort of a bonding experience.
 
I cant pick up my guinea pigs. They always come to me when i have food or if I make a certain sound that represents veggie time. When I try to pick them up they run really fast (they can probably outrun me!!! lol). It is very frustrating when I want to hold them or carry them to floor time. Often I lure them into a box with hay to transport them to their floor time area! Will it just take time or am I doing something wrong? The last set of piggies that I had when I was young were extremely tame...they wouldn't move out of the way if there was a car coming!


THx for all of the quick replies :)
 
If they are young, it's probably that they just haven't gotten use to you yet. Take it slow with them, and always use a calm voice around them. Feeding them veggies from your hand is a good start. Shows them that you hands give food, and don't hurt.
I had pigs when I was younger as well, and I don't remember the taming process at all. But I guess that's because when we are kids we don't think of those types of things. We just reach in there and grab them without a thought of how it makes them feel. After so long the pig either becomes more terrified of people, or they realize "hey, I don't have a choice if this kid picks me up or not. Might as well chill." hahaha I believe that's the case. Kids just don't think about that stuff.
My best friend has a 6 year old daughter. She carts that poor pig everywhere. He even gets a ride in barbies jeep. Now of course I would freak if she did that to my pig...but that's her pig and I can't do anything about it but to remind her to be very gentle. I will tell you, that is one tame pig. He lets her do anything.
 
I think maybe our floor might be a little scary for them. They have a popcorn all the time in their cage. I just "remodeled" their home- and remade it for them gave them a new space. I had them in a holding area where they could see me doing it. It was funny. They sat watching at talking to me. And then I got IN the cage to fasten the back side. I swear they were yelling at me when I Did that. !!! It was like they were telling me "GET OUT! that's my home! " so I had my 5 year old put them in it with me and they were running around popcorning like crazy- jumping over my feet and stuff! It was really funny having them walk on my feet!
 
CrystalKate- that's funny about the barbie car. My 5 year old puts her guineas in the doll stroller and the toy picnic basket. She is very careful too. She strapsthem Into the stroller and makes sure the piggies dont get hurt in the picnic basket. She even plays UNO with them... The other day she told me "well mommie, I found out something today. --- guinea pigs aren't very good at playing UNO- and now they can't play anymore. They are in trouble! RAINBOW WAS EATING THE CARDS!!". I laughed so hard that was so funny to hear fro
Hwr little brain!
 
I have a C&C 3x4 play area where I sit with my two girls. I started this when they were 6 weeks old and they are now 10 months old. At first they would run for the hide boxes if anyone worked in the kitchen or walked by. Now they eat their evening greens every night on my lap and couldn't care less who was banging around the kitchen or walking by. I love sitting with them because they can come to you when they are ready and they know they can go and hide whenever they want. I get what I want on their terms. I use a transfer box to take them from their cage because picking them up from their cage was making them hand shy. I want their cage to be their safe place. I do pick them up from the play area but tell them "Back to your cage" first. One of my girls lies still so I can pick her up and the other one is actually climbing onto my knee herself when I say that. I found they prefer me to pick them up when they are facing me and I support their bums with my hands and their front feet rest on my forearms. I think grabbing them from behind is too much like a predator chasing them. None of this happened overnight. It was a slow, gradual process where I read their body language and adapted my methods to what worked for them. Guinea pigs are pretty clever and I find by using key words and consistently matching these with an action it prepares them for what is about to happen. The human/guinea pig bond fascinates me and I never stop learning from them.
 
CrystalKate- that's funny about the barbie car. My 5 year old puts her guineas in the doll stroller and the toy picnic basket. She is very careful too. She strapsthem Into the stroller and makes sure the piggies dont get hurt in the picnic basket. She even plays UNO with them... The other day she told me "well mommie, I found out something today. --- guinea pigs aren't very good at playing UNO- and now they can't play anymore. They are in trouble! RAINBOW WAS EATING THE CARDS!!". I laughed so hard that was so funny to hear fro
Hwr little brain!

That is too funny! My five year old loves UNO and I could see her doing this! :p
 
I have 20 grids together with cable ties. That means I can make it 7x3 to 5x5. That is his play pen and I sit in there almost the whole time he is in there. We spend a good hour when I do it, and he gets some good runs in.
 
Thank you for the stories about children and their guinea pigs. It has brought back so many memories of my childhood guinea pigs. I remember mixing pellets with water and baking them into cakes and then feeding them to my guinea pigs in a high chair with a bib around their neck. They hated my cakes but seemed to really enjoy the attention and the time we spent together. I don't know how I would have lived without my best friends.
 
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