A New Routine

Lots of things have changed around here since the piglet came into our lives.  He is the first critter we have had that we couldn't leave with the rest of the gang unattended.  It has resulted in a new routine which seems to be working fairly well.

At about 7 am Winston wakes up and starts to raise a ruckus.  He gets his vitamin - a children's chewable with iron and then he goes back to bed.  Closer to 8 he really raises a ruckus because he wants his breakfast.  We are working on potty training as well - so sometimes between 7 and 8 we have a long debate about whether he should pee in his box.  He is a very vocal pig.

During this time he is in his pen in our room so its open and the rest of the house is free range for the rest of the gang.  Winston likes to have his breakfast and go back to bed for a bit.  Around 9 am we close the bedroom door and make sure no ferrets are present and open up the pen.  Winston investigates the bedroom and plays until around 11 am.

Around 11 am we move downstairs.  Ferrets move freely and are allowed to interface until things get too rough - then they go up into the bedroom for the afternoon nap time.  The pig, dog and cats are downstairs.  Winston has access to the bulk of the downstairs - the exceptions being the dining room, hall and bathroom - which has the dog food and cat food which he is not allowed to eat.  We also had a make a major litter box change from clay litter to a combination of pine and paper pellets.  Pigs will eat the clay litter which will expand in their gut and cause all sorts of issues.  We did a slow transition of half pine and half clay and then this week we switched over fully and let Winston have access to the boxes.  We are working on potty training downstairs as well.

During the day Winston gets two "cookies" - they are small dog bones and he loves them.  They get broken into 3 pieces each and we work on sit, up, around in a circle.  We also work on going outside on the deck - it takes some coaxing to get him to use the step down.  We are also working on harness training which is very slow going.

Around 5:30 we do the switch - ferrets come downstairs after napping and Winston goes upstairs.  He plays in our room until dinner which is around 7.  Ferrets get lots of love and attention downstairs where we wrestle and play and do treats.  After piglet eats we close up the pen and open the door and everyone heads to bed.  Then we start the whole thing all over again.  So far it seems to be working pretty well.

Winston and the girl ferrets play fairly well together.  I am hoping as he gets older that the boys and he will be able to interface without biting and head butting as well....baby steps.