Exercise
How Often?
Floor time should preferably be done as often as possible (ideally once a day), and the longer they are out, the better!
Guinea pigs which are housed in smaller cages will need regular exercise time outside their cage to ensure they remain fit and healthy, as they won't be as active with their regular cage space. See more on ideal cage sizes for your piggy clan here.
INDOOR FLOOR TIME
📍 Floor Time Location
Choosing the correct location for floor time is just as important as choosing the correct cage location.
✔️ Floor-time areas should:
- Provide adequate space and be considerably larger than their normal cage area
- Allow supervision and interaction
- Provide sufficient lighting
- Be well ventilated
❌ Floor time areas should NOT:
- Be humid/hot or in constant direct sunlight
- Have constant fluctuations in temperature (like laundries)
- Be drafty
- Be isolated from family activity and adequate supervision
- Be near stairs, balconies or verandahs where piggies could fall and injure themselves.
- Be situated near dangerous chemicals and fumes (like a garage with a stored car)
(Image credit: HayPigs)
Floor time Guidelines
Once a suitable location has been allocated for floor time, there are some important guidelines which must be followed to protect your piggies and your household. It is vitally important that you always make any area where you let your piggies have floor time is completely safe, secure and free of any hazards.
Some guinea pigs can be litter trained, which can help in minimise accidents during floor time (we do recommend a backup plan though as this isn't always a reliable method!).
🔌 Power Cords
Phone cords, loose wires and cables must all be tied up and secured, covered, or completely blocked off from your piggies. Guinea pigs will tend to chew and nibble on cords and this can pose the risk of electrocution. They can also swallow the plastic coating the covers these cords/wires which could cause internal blockages and injuries.
You can either completely remove the cable from the area, block it off using wire grids, or a wall like structure that cannot be accessed by your guinea pigs or tie it up out of reach and place in a high area until floor time is over.
🤏 Small spaces
Spaces behind and under cupboards, fridges, freezers and bookshelves are all fair game for what your guinea pig can and will squeeze into!
Guinea pigs have the ability to contract their rib cages, enabling access to tight small spaces. Even if you presume your piggy cannot possibly fit into such a small space, they have the ability to do so! It is better to completely block off such areas as a precaution to avoid potential injuries, or in some cases, where the cavy may not want to come back out - which is stressful for both the owner and the guinea pig!
You can block these areas off with a cardboard box with a couple of heavy books or bricks inside to prevent movement, wire grids/cubes, or a wall-like structure. Whichever material you use, they should be solid, not be easily moved, and above all, prevent access to the space it blocks!
Also make sure your guinea pig won't escape their enclosure to other off-limit areas of the house or out any open doors!
📰 Protecting Flooring
Floors should be protected with a material that is easily disposable or washable, easy to set up, and provides adequate protection.
Newspaper is a perfect floor time tool and should be placed on top of any flooring. Shower curtains, bath mats and old towels can also be used in conjunction with newspaper, by placing on top of existing flooring. The key to having a daily floor time routine is an easy set up.
👀 Supervision
Supervision is a must during floor time. You must always keep an eye on your piggies during floor time, even with the above safety measures in place. Regular checks must always be done, especially if your guinea pig has had floor time for a few hours. Food and water levels should be monitored, as well as the general well-being of your guinea pigs.
👉 FLOOR TIME SETUP EXAMPLE
Below is a example for setting up floor time:
The location is in the living room, with shower curtains and newspaper being used as materials to protect the flooring.
1) Assess and remove any potential hazards such as power cords, whilst blocking off any areas or tight spaces with wire grid walls.
2) Place shower curtains on the carpet and hold down using bricks.
3) Place newspaper on top of the shower curtains, using double layers.
4) Remove cage accessories from the guinea pigs' cage and place in the floor time space. This will provide them with familiar items that smell like their normal environment, making them more comfortable. Always provide hiding places such as igloos, tunnels or boxes.
5) Place water and hay supply in the living room. Cavies must have access to water and food at all times.
6) Remove piggies form their cage and place them in their floor time environment.
7) Once floor time is complete, remove pigs and accessories and place back in the cage.
8) Roll up newspaper and dispose of.
9) Wipe down shower curtains, fold up and place in an area that will provide easy access for next time.
OUTDOOR RUN TIME
Regular and supervised outdoor time is highly recommended for piggies that are normally housed indoors.
Allowing your guinea pigs some time outdoors can be a very enriching and exciting experience for them, with a change of scenery, fresh grass to nibble on and soaking up natural vitamin D!
⚠️ In Australia, outdoor time is recommended for the cooler seasons of the year only. Our summer days can reach scorching temperatures of up to 40°C, which is deadly for guinea pigs (or any animal) to be left outside in. Piggies can die from heat stress in as quickly as ten minutes if left outside in hot weather, so we urge you to be mindful of when and how long your piggies have outdoor time.
Remember, if it's too hot or cold for you, it's too hot or cold for your guinea pig!
📍 Outdoor Run Location
Choosing the correct location for outdoor time for your piggies is very important, as it can be a risk to their health and life to have a run in the wrong location!
First and foremost, outdoor runs should only be used during the day. Night time poses a lot more predator threats and is unsafe for your piggies as you won't be monitoring them constantly.
Please note, if the weather is hot (particularly in Australia), do NOT leave your guinea pig outside all day, as they will suffer and potentially die from heat stress!
✔️ Outdoor runs should:
- Provide adequate space and be roughly the same, if not larger than their normal cage area
- Be contained and secure (a playpen or outdoor piggy run is ideal)
- Allow supervision and interaction with hoomans
- Has areas of shade and sun. If it's summer, limit outdoor exposure completely, or at the very least, make sure it's in 100% shade and only for a short period!)
- Is protected from predators (wire netting or mesh over the entire area apart from the floor is recommended)
- Still have access to hay and water at all times
- Contain hideys, tunnels and boxes with good air flow to avoid overheating
❌ Outdoor run areas should NOT:
- Have wired bottoms. A lot of guinea pig outdoor 'runs' on the market have wired bottoms, which can lead to foot injuries and conditions like bumblefoot. For the sake of your pets comfort and health do not buy these enclosures!
- Be humid/hot or in constant direct sunlight - at least 50% natural shade or 100% shade if the weather is warm.
- Be easily upturned for guinea pigs to escape or predators to get into
- Be open-topped to then be left unsupervised. If you have an open playpen, always stay nearby while your pets are out, as birds and cats can easily get in if left unmonitored.
It's important, regardless of the run/pen you use, to constantly supervise your guinea pigs while they are outdoors, to ensure they are comfortable, happy and safe.
