CALIFORNIA POTBELLIED PIG ASSOCIATION, Inc.
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Enrichment- Part II
Enrichment can be divided into categories based on ease and simplicity of implementation. Below are some of the enrichment concepts that have worked well for my own pigs. This list is in no way conclusive… new enrichment ideas from readers are welcome! The more reader input, the more it will benefit our pigs… If you have any suggestions, modifications or new enrichment items to add to this list, please contact us!
Enrichment I (under 5 minutes)-
Cardboard box
Stuff box with shredded or crumpled newspaper and a few treats (Make sure there are no staples or tape on the box).
Cardboard tubes
Stuff paper towel tubes, wrapping paper tubes or toilet paper tubes with shredded newspaper and a few treats.
Paper grocery bags
Stuff with shredded newspaper or straw; add a few treats. If the bag has handles, it can be hung from a branch.
Browse holder
Stuff a braided rope dog toy with clippings of rose bushes or other favorite edible plants; hang from a branch.
Using a large bowl, fill halfway with water; add a few pieces of fruit or veggies. To make an ice ring, place a glass in the center (to create the hole). Place in the freezer overnight. Once frozen, run under warm water to loosen the ice from the mold. Ice ring can be hung from a branch; ice blocks can be placed on the ground or in a kiddy pool.
Food hide
Hide bits of food around the yard or under rocks or stones (paving stones and flagstones work well).
Scents
Spice pastes (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg mixed with water) can be smeared around the yard. Fragrant and essential oils (lavender, spearmint, musk, peach rose, patchouli, etc) can be placed around yard or on toys. Perfume can also be used. Make sure to place these on objects that are too large for the pig to ingest (large rocks, concrete, fence posts). Also make sure to only use a very SMALL amount so that your pig doesn’t try to lick or eat the pastes or oils.
Plush toys/squeaky toys
Shaker cans
Fill cans or plastic containers with bells, coins or pebbles (make sure lid is very secure so pig cannot open container and ingest small objects).
Phone books
Place treats between the pages of old phone books.
Enrichment II (5 to 15 minutes)-
Treat jugs/barrels
Using any large, sturdy jugs (water jugs, old juice containers, etc), cut several holes large enough for treats to easily fall through. Place treats in container and let pigs roll until treats fall out.
PVC tube roller/ Suspended PVC treat dispenser
Cut a 1 to 2 foot section of PVC pipe (4-inch PVC works well), cap ends. Drill large (3/4- 1” holes throughout PVC. Fill with small treats; let pigs roll PVC around until treats fall out. Alternatively, the PVC can be mounted on a board with brackets (see photos). Make sure that the PVC is still able to rotate freely in brackets. Pigs will have to turn the PVC to allow the treats to fall out.
Hanging rope pull
Attach 3 strings to the outside rim of a large plastic flowerpot saucer and tie together (to allow saucer to hang from a branch). Cut a large 5” hole out of the center. Using thin rope with a knot tied at the end, string firm fruit or veggies onto the rope. Place the treats in the saucer with the ropes dangling down. Hang saucer from a branch so that your pig cannot reach the saucer, but instead has to pull the ropes with the fruit attached to get the fruit to drop to the ground. In the beginning, you may need to tie a few treats about halfway down the ropes so your pig will learn to pull on the ropes. As your pig gets the hang of this, you can raise the height of the saucer and increase the length of the ropes.
Hanging Mop
Using a cotton mop head, string cheerios, or clip small pieces of veggies throughout the mop. Hang the mop from a branch, 6-10” off the ground.
Flooding
During hot weather, flood parts of your yard several inches with the hose. It will provide your pig with a nice alternative to his or her kiddy pool!
Plastic crates
Using plastic milk crates or other crates with holes already in them, tie two together, to create a closed box and place a few treats inside. Nice alternative to traditional treat balls.
Enrichment III (greater than 15 minutes)-
Barrel rope pull
Using a 3” circular saw bit, drill a hole near the bottom of half of a wine barrel (available at nurseries as planters). String bits of firm veggies onto a 1’ length of rope. Place veggies inside barrel with rope sticking out of the hole. Pigs will have to pull rope to get veggies out of the barrel.
Sisal rope scratching post
Using any already existing in-ground post or old tree stump, wrap securely with thick sisal rope.
Brush scratching board
Buy 5 or 6 stiff bristled scrub brushes, and attach securely to a board.
Hanging coconut puzzle feeder
Saw an empty coconut shell in half. String both pieces onto a 3’ rope (so the shells close normally). Place treats inside shell, hang from branch.
Rooting pile
Hide treats in a large pile of straw or dirt.
Newspaper frame
Cut a piece of plywood to match the size of a sheet of newspaper. Cut four (1x2”) boards to create a frame on the plywood. Drill a hole in each piece of the frame, in order to attach the frame to the plywood backing with large lag bolts. Layer newspaper onto the plywood, with a few pieces of pig food in between the layers. Attach frame, to hold the newspapers firmly in place against the plywood backing. The pig will have to tear through newspapers to get to the treats. Make sure plywood is sanded thoroughly to prevent splinters!
Part I- Enrichment Overview
