How much 'run time' do you give your guinea pigs?

[Sawdust]

Obviously the best answer is as much as you can! I have three indoor guinea pigs and floor time tends to be about an hour every day. Is that enough? Ive tried googling and going through past threads here, so apologies if this has already been done and I've missed it - interested in your thoughts!

My indoor boys go outside in their run whenever I'm in and it's dry/warm enough and they stay there all day if possible. On wet days they are in their cage for most of the day but get cuddle time and some floor time as well. Last winter I got an indoor run for them so they'll use that daily when it's cold.

Ours go out every day when the weather is warm enough.

Thanks for the replies!

I used to have a permanent run attached to the pigs' cage, which was on the floor so they could hop in and out at will, but other two-legged members of the family complained about the amount of space this took up and the amount of hay that seemed to travel all over the house .

As a result I now give the the run of the room(which is bigger) but only for part of the day. I have two babies and an older pig, and they are so much more active when they are out. The babies hurtle around the pace like things possessed! I just feel it's unkind to keep them locked up so much.

Fernie - when you talk of an indoor run, do you mean one that you made or one that you can buy?

Anyone used one of these..?

www.amazon.co.uk/Extra-Large-Folding-Playpen-Guinea/sim/B00261XBY8/2

That's what I have for my boys, although they do also get the run of the kitchen sometimes. It's very good and easy to clean.

Thank you! I will try this, and as you say combine with more 'free range' running now and then.

I tried the kitchen but they skidded about all over the place. Very funny to watch but probably not the best exercise for them!

Well it's arrived and been christened by the piggies!!

Just wanted to say thank you for the advice, Fernie - it's very well designed (I love the bit for the water bottle!). Just wondering whether I can save my pennies and buy another one - perhaps I can join them up to give hem extra space..!

Our GP1 doesn't do indoor floor time. If DD puts him on the laminate he sits there. Bambi on ice style with his legs splayed and a judgey look.She can go to the loo, come back, and he hasn't moved (I'm watching him)

We haven't risked GP3 on the floor, he's be away .

We got the paddling pool (first for GP1/GP2 then a brand new one when we introduced GP3 to GP1) .We pop a towel and a fleece in an they explore.

LOL at the judgey look - mine give me that if I offer them carrot instead of parsley!

Glad they're enjoying the run. Mine love it. They do get the run of a room sometimes but the pen is great to contain them so I can leave the room. The only issue I have is that Current Bun will sometimes leap in to surprise them - they never seem bothered though as they luvs him

@ CurrentBun's flying leap (he watches too many Jean Claude Van Damme films I reckon).

I could just imagine my boys lazily chomping on parsley and a huge hairy bunny rabbit landing by them.
Poor little red eyed Dill would be "Dad, Dad, what's that" but GP1 would have scarpered.

My GPs love his visits and run wheeking to him to tell him all their news. He's like their big fluffy uncle. He tries to escape

Wow! That's some leap!! Current Bun must be quite athletic! (Though to be fair I know nothing of rabbits!)

He's a large bunny and can leap over a metre high when he's in the mood. Mostly he does smaller binkies of around 1-2 feet high. Puts the GPs popcorning to shame, although they are really funny when they jump.