Why do Guinea Pigs Dig—Everything you Need to Know
Do you know guinea pigs can stay active for 20 hours a day? Known as gentle and loving creatures, they can roam around and make your time more enjoyable. But during their busy time, many pig parents notice that they dig and burrow in their enclosure.
Why do guinea pigs dig? Guinea pigs dig to find their shelter, food, and snuggly nest. Moreover, they also dig to overcome their boredom. There may be some other reasons behind their digging habit too.
In fact, there are several reasons for pigs digging behavior. In this article, we will talk about pigs digging behavior and the reasons behind it. So let’s get to it:
Why do Guinea Pigs Dig?
While watching your guinea pig digging, you might think, is it normal for guinea pigs to dig? Yes, it is completely normal behavior for guinea pigs. They can dig hay and burrow for numerous reasons, and below, we are discussing all of them:
To Feel Safe
Guinea pigs have a built-in propensity to hide from enemies since they are prey creatures. This implies that they feel most secure when they find themselves in a constrained, dark environment from which they can easily flee. So it is their natural instinct of hiding that leads them to dig.
Food Hunt
They might be trying to find something to eat. These munching creatures are constantly searching for delectable treats. So if they spot something that appears to be appetizing, they may begin to dig to reach it.
Even if you have just fed them, they will scavenge and use their digging prowess to locate food because it is in their instinct.
To Overcome Isolation
Guinea pigs like to stay in groups, and you often see them roaming together in groups in the wild. Whenever your guinea pig feels isolated or lonely, he might start digging to overcome boredom and loneliness.
For Comfy Nest
Guinea pigs may also dig into building a cozy nest. These animals are picky about their resting spots and frequently dig to make a nice, comfy place to cuddle up. Moreover, they also dig to have babies in a comfortable spot.
To Mark Their Territory
Although they may appear peaceful and friendly, guinea pigs can become aggressive when confronted by a newcomer. And for this reason, they often dig to mark their territory.
For Fun
Guinea pigs may also dig just for enjoyment. These animals are naturally quite inquisitive, and they frequently like to look around. They might begin digging if they come upon stuff that piques their curiosity.
What to do When Guinea Pig Starts Digging?
There are a couple of actions you may take to discourage your guinea pig from digging if they start to do so frequently.
Make Lots of Food and Water Available
Ensure they have access to lots of food and water first to prevent them from needing to dig for food. Moreover, if you offer them treats and delights, they will refrain from digging.
Get them A Friend
As said earlier, guinea pigs are sociable creatures; therefore, they may begin to dig if they experience loneliness or isolation. Find your guinea pig a playmate if you believe this to be the situation.
Arrange for Comfy Sleeping Space
To persuade them to build their nest in their allocated sleeping place rather than digging away, you could also try offering them a cozy bed or cover.
Clean the Cage
Additionally, you might try and keep their enclosure clear of clutter and tidy to discourage digging. Besides, you can also cover the area they like to dig with a plastic sheet or another medium.
Provide Toys
Last but not least, if your guinea pig appears to be digging merely out of boredom, you might try giving them some toys or other stuff. These toys will engage them and keep them from getting bored and searching for anything else to do.
Why do Guinea Pigs Dig Burrows in their Bedding?
Guinea pigs are fascinating animals with a range of activities that are entertaining to watch. Burrowing is one of these behaviors, which guinea pigs frequently engage in in the wild to make a secure area for themselves.
Guinea pigs are very conscious about their bedding and sleeping places which is why they burrow in their bedding.
So being a responsible pig parent, your responsibility is to promote their innate habit. And for that, you should provide your pet guinea pig with lots of good soft, clean bedding. Moreover, it is best to give them 3 inches of hay bedding where they can stay snuggly.
While guinea pigs often do it out of their ingrained habit, they may also bury themselves in their bedding to flee from what they view as danger. If your guinea pig is under stress or anxiety, he may start burrowing more than usual.
In this situation, it is best to look out for the changes in their surroundings to determine whether there is something that might be upsetting them.
Can Guinea Pigs Dig tunnels?
Yes, guinea pigs can dig without a doubt since it is one of their basic inclinations. Guinea pigs dwell in holes they dig for themselves in the wild. As prey animals, they have to refuge from predators and other elements, so they seek burrows and holes to stay in.
Although guinea pigs were domesticated long ago, their natural instinct still exists, and they frequently try to dig in their cages or enclosures.
You should remember that pigs’ do not have strong paws to dig through solid ground. Still, they can certainly make tunnels through soft mud or substrate or their enclosure.
In this scenario, it is best to provide guinea pigs an area to dig if you keep one as a domesticated pet. You can place a sandbox or fill a container with soft, loose dirt to satisfy the pig’s digging instinct.
Moreover, you may add hay or shredded paper in a box or container for them to dig through. Since Guinea pigs enjoy digging, they will have a great time doing it in their enclosure.
FAQs
Below we are stating some of the most frequent questions that you might be thinking about pigs digging habits:
Can Guinea Pigs Dig Out and Escape out of Cage?
Guinea pigs cannot dig through solid mud since they lack strong paws to dig and burrow through hard surfaces. Although they cannot dig through solid mud, it is important to keep an eye on them if you let them out to play in the garden.
Because they may not be able to burrow through solid ground, guinea pigs can squeeze through very small openings.
Moreover, if you plan to place the cage for your pet outside, fill it with a lot of bedding, substrate, and cage liners. These little precautions can prevent your piggies from escaping while also stopping other animals from getting into the cage.
Why do Guinea Pigs Hide?
There are various explanations of why a guinea pig can choose to hide. Your animal may be lurking in a cage side, beneath some fleece or bedding, or in one of the cage’s hideaways. Usually, hiding is a characteristic that comes naturally to pigs, which suggests that all they really want is some “peaceful” leisure. Below are some of the reasons for pigs hiding:
· Your pig wants to get away from lights and noises.
· Your little piggy is stressed or scared.
· Pig is taking time to adjust to the new setting if you recently brought him home.
· If you have multiple pigs in an enclosure, they might hide because of the bullying of other pigs.
· A sick or injured pig can also hide due to pain and discomfort.
Final thoughts
Guinea pigs are active and curious creatures. And these instincts of pigs let them dig through their bedding and other substrates. Although they cannot dig through solid wood as they lack strong paws, they can tunnel in loose mud or other substances.
This article discussed the various causes of guinea pigs’ digging and how to prevent them from digging. We believe this blog was useful to you and helped you to understand guinea pig digging behavior. Moreover, we recommend you talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns regarding your piggies.
References:
- https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/behaviour