Betsy's Guinea Pigs

Betsy said:
Thanks Ruth they are still very skittish. They are getting braver though as they sniff my hands when I put them in the hutch to get the cold snuggle safes out and put the warm ones back in. They aren't too sure of the dustpan and brush when I poop pick but they will come up for treats. Lexi (the most skittish) has let me stroke her cheek a couple of times and Thea loves a cheek rub and an ear rub but only very quick ones. It's going to take a while ....
Click to expand...
That sounds like very good progress in the time you've had them. I find the haypigs circus tent hidey (and cheaper ones from ebay similar shape) are easier for catching than cuddle cups. Your other piggies sounded very good, going into a tunnel without a fuss.
 
Black piggies said:
I find the haypigs circus tent hidey
Click to expand...
I have a couple of those (£5 for 2 at a car boot sale years ago) I'm avoiding all hideys with only one entrance atm until Friday as they are still re-establishing dominance in a new place. After Friday I'll put them in and then attempt a weigh in. On Saturday Lexi and Thea will be in the run for the first time after their 2 week quarantine.
 
Betsy said:
I have a couple of those (£5 for 2 at a car boot sale years ago) I'm avoiding all hideys with only one entrance atm until Friday as they are still re-establishing dominance in a new place. After Friday I'll put them in and then attempt a weigh in. On Saturday Lexi and Thea will be in the run for the first time after their 2 week quarantine.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, have to think about that with new piggies. They'll love the run and will get as well trained as your herd 😊
 
Well Thea and Lexi have successfully managed to pass their 2 weeks in quarantine so it was time to let them loose in the run for the first time. It may be fun trying to get them back in the hutch tonight, but I'll worry about it later.

Here they are enjoying freedom for the first time since they arrived here.

Lexi Thea 1st run time 1.webpLexi Thea 1st run time 2.webp

 
Well getting Lexi and Thea back in the hutch wasn't nearly as much fun (hassle) as I thought. I have a cardboard tunnel in the run and Lexi went in there first and I'd already put the carrier on one side, put my hand in the other side and as she is still not really a people piggy she turned round and went in the carrier, I then put Lexi in the hutch and repeated the same thing with Thea.:)
 
Hello fellow piggies and slaves.

We just wanted to let you all know what fun we had today out in the run. We loved hiding in the hay pile and have made a big run through tunnel in it. Lexi fell asleep under the mountain of hay and Thea couldn't stop eating it. We also had a good go at the remains of the Carrot Cottage. I don't think we've had one before but we really loved it. It made a nice change from the hutch which is plenty big enough for both of us at 12 sq ft but the run is 16 sq ft so there is more space to run around and explore.

Wheeks
Lexi and Thea.
 
Awww glad you are settling in girls and had a fun day out in the run!
 
I had a bit of success in the trust building with Lexi this morning. Lovely Lexi is very much the jumpier of the two. I popped into the garage to check how all 4 girls were (I do this a lot during the day). Lexi and Thea were having a duvet day and Betsy and Meg were having a run day tomorrow it'll be the other way around. Thea was in a snuggle tube on a snuggle safe. I couldn't see Lexi. Then I guessed she would be hiding in the hay tray (her newest trick - she loves it in there). I moved a bit of hay off the top of the hay tray and instead of a white and grey frightened streak of guinea pig running as fast as her little legs would carry her to the other side of the hutch, she just stayed there. And tonight I added yet more hay in the hutch and also in the hay tray. This time both Thea and Lexi were lording it up in the hay tray, Lexi stayed put and Thea only moved out of the hay tray, turned round and went back in under all the new hay that I had put on top of them.:)
 
Thea has discovered the delights of a snuggle sack:wub:

Thea Snuggle sack.webp

And also a Carrot Cottage (or what's left of it!)
Thea Carrot Cottage 5.webpThea Carrot Cottage 6.webp

Lexi wanted a go at the Carrot Cottage too but I don't quite think she's got the idea yet!

Lexi Carrot Cottage.webp

While all this activity was going on Betsy and Meg carried on sleeping off their hay coma.
Betsy & Meg asleep in Hay Tray .webp
 
VickiA said:
The girls are looking great there @Betsy :luv::wub::luv:
Click to expand...
Thanks Vicki, I've been working with Lexi and Thea trying to see me as "top pig" and that I want them in "my gang". I've been handfeeding their veg every night since they came to live in the garage 3 weeks ago. They have the choice of whether to help themselves out of the bowl or take it from me, they chose to take their veg from me. Thea will now let me stroke her side before running off and Lexi will now let me stroke her cheek. This is huge progress as 3 weeks ago if I went anywhere near Lexi she would turn into a panicked streak of white and grey piggy. Thea has always been the less jumpy of the two and I could stroke her cheek and ears straight away. They may never like being cuddled but I'd like them to at least tolerate being held for health checks and weigh ins. It's weigh in day tomorrow. Both of them will now go in a Circus Tent to be moved from the hutch to the run and back again. So I'll see if I can weigh them in the run so that if they jump off the scales, at least I know they'll be in a safe environment. I think I'll just have to leave the weekly checks for now as they are both so very jumpy and I don't want to frighten them any more than I have to. They haven't refused a thing I've given them to eat yet and are certainly pooping well, they look healthy enough and their eyes are nice and bright.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top