Frustrated Sleeping with pigs in the room.

[pocketmonster]

Hey guys, I could really use some advice.

So I live in an apartment with two other girls. We have our own bedrooms but share a living room and kitchen. Because of this, I keep my three piggies in my bedroom..

Guys, this is becoming too much to handle. I am starting to preform poorly in class and I am becoming run-down. I am not sure who, or why, but I cannot sleep more than three hours without one of my boars screaming their heads off. They live in a 3x3 cage with a 1x1 apartment loft. Harper is 3 months old and Scout is 3 years old. I imagine Harper is going through puberty now.

Do you have any suggestions? Should I move them to the living area for the night, or could that be inconsiderate to my other roommates? Should I move to the living room at night and just forget about my bed all together?
Can you provide me with THE best earplugs on the market? I have very small ears and most foam ear plugs just pop out while I'm sleeping.

Please, can help me with some tips on how to be a heavier sleeper, or how to deal with loud, loud, LOUD pigs? My health will suffer if my sleep continues to do so. I love my pigs, and know that ownership is for life, but at this point I would not be opposed to finding them a home where their owner would not learn to resist them because of the association to them and absolute, utter exhaustion.
There's a reason I dont' want kids for 10 years, so I can SLEEP!

(I apologize if this comes off as whiney, but I have been up for two hours because of my boys and it isn't even 7 am yet…)

 

[Petlovr]

Sleep on the couch

 

[pocketmonster]

Sleep on the couch

@Petlovr - Every single night?
If that's what you would suggest, I would rather purchase an air mattress.
Any other tips?


Edit to add: The situation isn't as drastic as rehoming my boys… After a half hour of more sleep I realize that is a bit drastic and a bit immature to immediately resort to that.
Rehoming won't happen, I'm sorry for whining and threatening that…

 

[GuineaQueen]

I have 2 males in my room and they make noise, sure - and if my husband complains i make him sleep downstairs (next to my noisy girls hehe) i don't keep any pig in less than 20sqft but thats because i personally don't agree with it. I think that is not enough room. When they have more room, they run around and play. That is all i can suggest. That an maybe ear plugs?

 

[GuineaQueen]

Oh just re-read and saw earplugs bit, apologies!

 

[pocketmonster]

I have 2 males in my room and they make noise, sure - and if my husband complains i make him sleep downstairs (next to my noisy girls hehe) i don't keep any pig in less than 20sqft but thats because i personally don't agree with it. I think that is not enough room. When they have more room, they run around and play. That is all i can suggest. That an maybe ear plugs?

Well, I am currently trying to figure out how to rearrange my room so my boys and my girls can have a bigger cage. The 3x3 was fine when Harper was a baby but now, you're right. It's too small. I am definitely trying to see if I can clear up more room in here
Anyone know of a great pair of earplugs for small ears?
I wish I could just sleep through this.. but I am the world's lightest sleeper. I even need earplugs to block out the pretty songbirds singing outside in the morning.. Sheesh, what is wrong with me?

 

[Zuidy]

SafeSound SlimFit Earplugs from Macks at Snorestore

 

[msmonih]

O would say rehome them if you have more than twp yrs left. You must be able to function in your classess. I am sure your parents will be angry if you start failimg. Then think long and hard before you get another pet. Or sleep on the couch until the screaming passes. Or try and exercise your piggies with free time a few hrs bore your bedtime to wear them out. Good luck.

 

[GuineaQueen]

I am probably a bit less sympathetic because i have a 9 month old in my room with me, and 2 under 5's across the hall! (and yes i mean human children!) Have you asked your flat mates if they would mind them in the shared area? Maybe they would be happy to have them there.

 

[bpatters]

Mack's makes great silicone ear plugs, which block the noise better than foam ones do, and also don't fall out of your ears. I've been using them for years, because my husband snores like the sound track for a chain saw commercial.

See Earplugs, Hearing Protection, Buy Ear Plugs for Swimming & Sleeping | Mack's Ear Plugs for the different types. You can buy the silicone ones I use at most drugstores and some grocery stores.

 

[inky rose]

Hi Pocket monster, I just read your post and my heart goes out to you. I too have my boys in my room and they are very active and noisy at night. Lucky for me I'm a heavy sleeper. But having friends that are light sleepers I know how hard it can be. Without knowing your living arrangements, size of shared space etc, its hard to know what will work for you. Looking at re-gigging size of your cage sounds like a good long-term solution. But in the intrum have you actually talked to your flatmates about the pigs being in the shared space for a week or so, even a couple of days, just so you can get things moved around and sopme solid down time.

As for ear plugs a chemist/pharmacy/drugstore may be able to advise.

I think the most important thing is to work out a way to get some sleep, and don't make any permanent decisions until you have. When your tired it's very hard to make solid decisions. You being healthy and rested will help you take better care of your pigs. There is a bunch of information available about improving your sleep and establishing good sleep rotines- which can be even harder when you are studying. I can send you some links by PM if you would like.

 

[inky rose]

I had another thought, how much light is there in your room at night. I've noticed that my pigs are more noisy when i have a bedside light on or if light from the street lights comes in. If my room is really dark they settle down. Not sure if the half light simulates dusk- guinea pigs most active time.

 

[doganddisc]

The light suggestion was a really good one.

My guys typically settle down better at night if I give them time to run around and exhaust themselves for an hour or two right before bed. If you can get them popcorning around the room for awhile they should sleep like babies

Granted, I'm a pretty adaptable sleeper and get used to noise pretty easily. I have eight mice in my room as well and THEY are the ones who are more inclined to keep me up at night.

 

[pocketmonster]

I had another thought, how much light is there in your room at night. I've noticed that my pigs are more noisy when i have a bedside light on or if light from the street lights comes in. If my room is really dark they settle down. Not sure if the half light simulates dusk- guinea pigs most active time.

@inky rose - You are my savior!! This is an ingenious thought! The cage is right under the window which faces the east. I get a lot of light around six AM when they both wake up and beg for attention. Blackout curtains would be THE best idea ever! I could use a hook to hold them back during the day and let them down at night, that way the boys circadian rhythm gets adjusted to the presence and absence of light as an indicator of what time of day it is. I can't believe I never thought of this! Radley is on the other side of the room, away from the window and I never hear her make a peep.
I seriously cannot thank you enough. I will be purchasing blackout curtains today and hope for a great night's sleep!

I do not want to keep them in the shared area because we really don't spend any time out there. My computer and my TV are in my room so I feel as though they wouldn't get enough attention.. However, I have figured out a way to rearrange the furniture to make a super-huge playpen in the living room! They can stay there the majority of the day.
Anyone have suggestions on how to keep the carpet clean? Would uHaul pads work best? The area will be massive and oblong and since this is a rented apartment, I don't want their pee to ruin the carpet.
Would a tarp work?

 

[CROBELO9]

@inky rose - You are my savior!! This is an ingenious thought! The cage is right under the window which faces the east. I get a lot of light around six AM when they both wake up and beg for attention. Blackout curtains would be THE best idea ever! I could use a hook to hold them back during the day and let them down at night, that way the boys circadian rhythm gets adjusted to the presence and absence of light as an indicator of what time of day it is. I can't believe I never thought of this! Radley is on the other side of the room, away from the window and I never hear her make a peep.
I seriously cannot thank you enough. I will be purchasing blackout curtains today and hope for a great night's sleep!

I do not want to keep them in the shared area because we really don't spend any time out there. My computer and my TV are in my room so I feel as though they wouldn't get enough attention.. However, I have figured out a way to rearrange the furniture to make a super-huge playpen in the living room! They can stay there the majority of the day.
Anyone have suggestions on how to keep the carpet clean? Would uHaul pads work best? The area will be massive and oblong and since this is a rented apartment, I don't want their pee to ruin the carpet.
Would a tarp work?

I would put something plastic under the Uhaul pads so that way there is no chance the pee will reach the carpet. I would suggest a couple of shower curtains (or however many it takes to cover the area) They're easy to pick up and fold after the pigs are done playing. A tarp would work, too.

 

[lemonham]

I personally use these every night.

Amazon.com: Apothecary Products Flents Quiet Please Foam Ear Plugs 50-Pair: Health & Personal Care

I'm a horrible sleeper and have to use the earplugs plus an eyemask to fall asleep. I personally feel that these earplugs are the most comfortable.

 

[ThisLittlePig]

I want to second the poster who suggested blackout curtains. My girls are VERY active at first light in the morning. You might also consider partially covering their cage. Make sure there's ventilation, but a blanket on the side facing you may block some noise and keep the cage darker.

 

[pocketmonster]

I am probably a bit less sympathetic because i have a 9 month old in my room with me, and 2 under 5's across the hall! (and yes i mean human children!) Have you asked your flat mates if they would mind them in the shared area? Maybe they would be happy to have them there.

My mom is also unsympathetic after raising 4 children close in age, especially my brother and I who are twins! Drew also had asthma as a baby and was a horror to sleep through the night. I am going to have children one day and this will seem so silly!
I guess I'm trying to enjoy the sleep while I can, and this is good baby practice :crazy:

 

[Petlovr]

I've been reading "Boars Behaving Badly", nad laughing like a loon, at times! I just happened to switch over to read some more (it's, like, 50 pages long, and that doesn't include "Boars Behaving Badly II) and this was at the top of the page

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]I am a hard-hearted slave. As a child I had a guinea pig living in my bedroom who would gnaw the cage in the middle of the night for food. Because I'd given in initially to get peace, it escalated to twice a night, every night for years. I remember the misery too well. He even woke my parents in the next room. Once or twice, my current boys have tried the grid-gnawing thing out of excitement when I'm chopping their veggies and I have had to not look at them and not feed them until the gnawing stops for a good few minutes.[/FONT]

I think all of the ideas mentioned are great, but I also think training is the most important. If the boys have hay and water, they are just begging for attention or treats, and a good Momma sometimes has to be tough. I do wish you good luck, I know how awful it is to be constantly sleep deprived, and how much it affects your happiness, health, and concentration...

 

[Inle_Rabbit]

Black out curtains worked wonders for my toddlers. They sleep until 8 now! If you can trick a kid into sleeping late (and going to bed before the sun) you can probably trick a piggy into doing the same. lol