Am I doing this right?

Status
Not open for further replies.
PiggiePooh

PiggiePooh

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 10, 2009
Messages
1,386
Reaction score
26
Points
445
Location
Pickering, North Yorkshire
My piggies havent nipped me yet but they run and run when I try to pick them up and I'm worried about distressing them. I put my hand in the cage today and fed Treacle some spinach leaves and grass which she took from me no problem but Truffles just stays away completely so I think building the trust up with her is going to take longer. Am I doing right in not chasing them round and round to pick them up? I have been spending time just sitting beside cage with my hands inside it giving them their fav treats
 
I've been doing this for months, and I finally seem to be getting somewhere. Rocket can finally sit in the same part of the hutch as my hand now, so I suppose not chasing them round helps :D
 
Thank you, I just dont want to push them too quickly and would rather they took a while to trust me than for me to force them to be handled when they really dont want to be :)
 
Hey hun,

My pigs do this aswell, Ill take your advice and see if I can work on the picking up bit. They just run away from me when I try.

Hope it works for you xx
 
A guinea pigs natural instinct is for flight, so do not be to disheartened when they run, it is in their nature. One of mine just allows herself to be picked up whilst the other (Phoebe) runs around the cage like a mad thing, BUT it is Phoebe who once on my lap will cuddle down and even fall alsleep sometimes making lovely purring noises.
 
Thank you for the replies. I didnt find it too hard picking them up earlier. Truffles sits nicely and lets me stroke her whereas Treacle tries to get away. I nearly dropped Treacle earlier from her jumping around in my hands, scared me to death :...
 
I'm not sure if your pigs are indoor or outdoor but if they are indoor, I'd recommend putting the cage next to you on the floor or sofa and lifting them out onto your lap, that way the pig wont feel suspended in the air for too long! Try sitting on the sofa or floor with them nect to you to let them get used to your sound and smell, they'll gradually realise that you are not a threat and start approaching you rather than you having to approach them. Hope this helps.
 
I'm afraid I cant move the cage from the kitchen as its a really big C&C so to get pigs out I have to lift them from it. They are indoor piggies
 
Do sympathise, when I brought mine home they were very skittish. I picked up one without too much trouble and tried to pick up the second at the same time with the other hand.....big mistake! The first tried to scrabble up me and over my shoulder and I had to shriek for help!

Only thing I would say is that the more you lift them out of the cage the more they will get used to it and struggle less, when they realise that nothing bad has happened so far so perhaps there is no reason to struggle!

I find that mine are happiest when I have one hand underneath across their belly and the other hand over the top of them...good luck and let us know how you get on with them
 
Had great progress this morning. Truffles moved out of the way of my hand once then just let me pick her up. I sat on settee with her on my tummy and gave her some grass and she just sat there eating and being stroked. Treacle however refused to be picked up so I just sat her on my lap in her snuggle so she didnt feel that she had to come out if she didnt want to. She came out for a bit of grass and went back in but thats fine with me. The more she realises that its nice to come out the more likely she will venture further. Have put pics on photo bit. I'm so pleased today, I just love my piggies x)x)
 
Good! Just take your time - patience is the key. She's coming along really well. Show her that you are pleased when she's coming out, give her lots of praise, and she'll be out in no time!

Most importantly: Have fun and enjoy every little bit of success!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top