Handling/stroking a piggy

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BMFlex

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Hiya

Our two baby piggies (now 12 weeks old) seem absolutely fine with us sitting in their piggy pen. They eat from our hands and will happily jump all over us. However, we are not yet at the stage where they will be stroked...maybe they never will :-\....we live in hope.

I wondered, how long was it before your piggy could be stroked, weeks, months or even years? I'd be interested to know as I know some piggies take time to get used to it.

As these are our first, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks :)
 
Hello, welcome to the forum!

How long have you had your pigs? They sound like they're already quite used to you being around, which is a great start. Not all piggys ever like being stroked or handled, some love it - time will tell! Keep at it and hand-feeding tasty things def. helps!

Can you pick them up or are they wrigglers?

Sophie
x
 
Their first reaction is to peg it as soon as a hand comes near them so you have to be quick to grab them. Once they are being held they are a little bit wriggly but they never bite and look like they are a bit panicky only because they feel they are missing out on all of the action in the pig pen. They do tend to settle a little but are never totally relaxed.
If we weren't totally holding them though they would try and make a run for it.

Having said all this, I notice many peoples piggies seem to stand still and I have never seen either of ours stand still (unless asleep)...possibly due to their age
 
Hiya. Welcome to the forum! My 2 are now 9 months old and Daisy is a total livewire! She rarely sits still and usually runs away from me. Once I get a hold of her she's fine and loves snuggling into my neck but you have to watch when carrying her anywhere as she is a wriggler. My other girl is a bit lazy and hardly moves at all - she'll happily lie there for me to pick her up. They will get used to you in time. Just spend time with them every day and feed them treats (bits of favourite veg) so that they learn to trust you but you might find that they will always run away from you as it is in their nature to be shy/nervous animals.
 
Hello, and welcome to the forum! I'd just say keep at it, we recently got two boys and although one of them is very relaxed in your arms and will happily sit there all day, the other is a complete wriggle-bum and rarely sits still! He's getting better though, although both boys run off at first when you put your hands in the cage so I'd say just carry on hand feeding and letting them learn to trust you :)
 
Hi,

I have a piggy I have had for nearly 9 months now, and she is totally tame and laid back, I put her on a cushion and she lays flat out. I also have a very young boar, who is totally tame too, he loves a cuddle. If you are a round them all the time and subject them to your normal behavior, such as sounds they will calm, mine do not run away or hide, only if a new sound is made, and really that would have to be loud! I would put them on a cushion one at a time and pet them that way. If they wee on you, put them back, and do not pet them. If they are good for the time held, give them a little treat. In time, they will associate this as a good thing, and should not be scared of your hands for example. Also petting them in their box will help too.
 
Thanks for all of your advice :)

We seem to be doing everything right. They are so relaxed with me sitting in their pig pen and feeding them treats, even tidying up their cage while their in it. It is just that dreaded hand that upsets them....makes me wonder what trauma they may have had when first born that makes them so scared of a hand. Gizmo even licks my hand but if you move your hand...they are away ;D
 
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