frightened baby piggies - weighing and exercising

[Wilbur&Otis]

Hiya, I've had my pair of baby boys over a week now and have avoided handling them so far to let them settle in and get used to all the strange noises but i'm dying for a cuddle! I've spent a lot of time just talking to them and they will take food from me although try to stroke them at the same time and they run a mile! They're in a temporary plastic indoor cage whilst we wait for their larger permanent one to be delivered but it's really too small for them and i want to make sure they get some exercise.

I've dug out the digital kitchen scales and filled a big mixing bowl with hay as I was thinking of attempting to weigh them today and put them in a fenced off part of the room for some exercise but I'm nervous about picking them up and frightening them!

How did you first handle your piggies? My guys are shop bought and so haven't experienced any really friendly handling up to now - as a new piggie owner i find it helpful to know how other people got their new piggies used to being picked up?

 

[Julesie]

My first pair of piggies, Luddy seemed to trust me pretty quickly and as long as I stroked his nose/head he didn't mind me touching him. He'd wiggle away if I tried to touch his body though.
His cage mate Gilbert though had a terrible time with nerves. It took months to get him to trust me and stop running at everything/hiding. I don't reccomend this way but Gilbert gave me 100% trust the day he hurt his foot. The toenail had ripped off and he was limping, licking it. I started crying from fear as I was home alone and can't drive. I begged my father to rush home and took hmi to the vet. After that day Gilbert would let me do anything with him. hold him, hug him, stroke him, pick him up, anything. He'd just relax, legs sticking out all calmly. I gained his trust by showing him I only wanted him safe and okay.

My other two piggies, one from the worst petshop I've ever seen and the other from a woman on here whose piggie had given birth are a lot more skittish. They are worse but what I do is wait for them to be in a cosy or something I can pick them up in. They look a bit surprised but they let me, or I get them near a corner and gently scoop under their belly and lift them to me securely.

Sorry for the long reply, it probably doesn't help much. ^^;

 

[Wilbur&Otis]

Thanks it does help and thats amazing that he trusted you after the foot injury... lovely! I'm just interested to hear other peoples experiences of handling as I had a rabbit for 11 years that loved a fuss but wouldn't ever let me pick her up and I really want the piggies to enjoy a cuddle on the sofa in an evening!

I just went for it and picked them up for their first cuddle! Otis is the braver one so I cornered him first and although I know he was scared i got hold of him quickly and he even nibbled at some celery whilst in my arm so couldn't be that traumatised. Wilbur took longer to catch... he seemed to slip through my grasp like a bar of soap for a few attempts but got him in the end and I do think he's going to be the cuddly one once he gets over the being picked up part. He came back to my leg for more cuddles once i put him on the floor for a run! Saying that, they're both now hiding in a mountain of hay! :{

They're so cute I'm totally in love x)

 

[Julesie]

Thanks it does help and thats amazing that he trusted you after the foot injury... lovely! I'm just interested to hear other peoples experiences of handling as I had a rabbit for 11 years that loved a fuss but wouldn't ever let me pick her up and I really want the piggies to enjoy a cuddle on the sofa in an evening!

I just went for it and picked them up for their first cuddle! Otis is the braver one so I cornered him first and although I know he was scared i got hold of him quickly and he even nibbled at some celery whilst in my arm so couldn't be that traumatised. Wilbur took longer to catch... he seemed to slip through my grasp like a bar of soap for a few attempts but got him in the end and I do think he's going to be the cuddly one once he gets over the being picked up part. He came back to my leg for more cuddles once i put him on the floor for a run! Saying that, they're both now hiding in a mountain of hay! :{

They're so cute I'm totally in love x)

Aww. I think if you keep up at it they will both be fine! ^_^ Mine still wiggle and can be hard to grab, some days more than others. Today Gilbert decided to wiggle away. I think he read my post. He usually just lets me haha. He then was being naughty so I put him back, he started crying and I took him out, no troubles grabbing him again. I think it just depends on how they feel sometimes.