I'm a massive witch....

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kat04kt

kat04kt

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Hey,

I seriously need more help with handling my piggies. People have said to try cosies, boxes, etc - but it just frightens my two boys to death, whether in a cosy, box anything they just desperately claw to get out and will jump out and run out of anything I try to put them in. They don't seem to want to be handled in any way. I tried again yesterday following people's advice, now they hate me and have spent all day hiding in their pigloo :( they havent ventured out at all. I feel like a monster.

Someone said wrap them up in a towel, is that meant to be literal? Like swaddle them? (swaddle to me, means wrap them up like you would a baby in a blanket)?

I cant even entice them with treats, if I'm trying to pet them they don't care what juicy piece of veg is on offer.

I had to check Floyd this morning because I thought his fur appeared a little thin at the back - you should have heard the noise - anyone would think I was killing them. I held him in all the correct ways, but Mannie was at the side of me, wheeking in the loudest high pitched noise and Floyd was wheeking back to him (I'm sure Floyd was saying, 'Oh man, get me out of here, help me, help me' and Mannie was trying to communicate to me 'put down my buddy at once!! Leave us alone') - the noise was deafening.

Immediately after I was done - (I think the fur was just a lighter patch compared to the rest of him), they took off back to their igloo and have been there for the last 3 hours.

So I get that some piggies no matter what you do just don't want to be handled and I guess I will have to live with that, pretty unfortunate that I seem to have got two like that, but hey ho - it's more important that they are happy and comfortable. I'm a fully grown adult who's not being forced to live in someone else's cage so my feelings of disappointment are by and large completely irrelevant.

I can't see what else I can do, it upsets me too much thinking they are terrified, feeling unsafe in their home because of the big bad monster they live with and when they take to permamently hiding away that's even worse, because I want them to feel like this is a safe environment where they can play and run round and be happy.

So despite the fact they live with me in my lounge, apart from cleaning their home out, feeding them, should I just leave them to it for the foreseeable?

What kind of indications should I be looking for that they might be coming round to me, and I could try again?

Would wrapping them in a towel properly, work? I'm wondering how restricting their movement could make them feel more secure?

I know I've written a few posts, and I have tried all the advice so far, so I am really grateful. I just wonder whether I've got a worse situation on my hands then most other people, so the standard, 'try a cosy, put them in a box etc' isn't working for me. Whether I need to leave it a good couple of months before attempting again, or whether this is actually really normal and I'm being totally neurotic and need to just keep perservering?


Thanks
xx
 
I'm not the most experienced person on by any means but my Boar was like that and I was almost scared to handle him to begin with, its taken nearly a month for him to finally trust me (a little) but still hides from me if I go near him, I think from what Ive read on here that it takes a long time for them to adjust and be confident with you.

I hope you get some advice from people that know more than me, good luck x
 
they are a prey animal so they are very cautious in case they are going to become dinner, i am sorry i dont know how old they are, but it does take them a whil to get used to you, i would nt personally try to handle them again for a few days, but talk to them , even if they are hiding, as they will get to know your voice, them you could keep your hand very still in the cage with a very tast treat on offer in your fingers( cucumber?) it might take a few goes and a few minutes, but they will get there , i promise x
 
Actually I started to do this, talking to them, I do it a lot lol but in a soft gentle voice and certain words that they become familiar with and Lacey sure enough comes running out of her cosy cup to see me, Darcy still wont be he is starting to come up to me at floor time.
 
Aw hun, you're not a witch :)
The first piggies I had still hate being handled, chin tickles and lots of stroking they'll tolerate but if they have the slightest inclination I'm going to pick them up...we have the 'zoomies' :{
After almost 14 months of perseverance, blackmail and trying every approach known, they will not allow me to pick them up - nail cutting is the only time I have to be a witch :(
All of my other piggies are ok except these two little devils :)) Tbh, I don't worry too much as they all live in our lounge and get lots of attention 24/7 but I long to just be able to cuddle these two diva's properly :0
I thought Aby's were supposed to be laid back and loving too :(|) ;)
 
I really do think it depends on pigsonality.

My 2 were like this in the beginning, now 1 has chilled out with me quite a bit and doesn't panic when i go to pick her up and will eat veggies from my hand.

The other still runs like crazy if i put my hand anywhere near their home and will sit on my knee terrified and not interested in the tastiest veg.

Keep trying and fix a routine if you can, do the same things at the same time each day, then I think they get used to what's going to happen each day when its cuddles time.
 
ive got 9 piggies and it's taken a lot of time for them to trust me enough to pick them up and happily sit still to be stroked - although they do still try and run from time to time. A lot of their trust comes from me spending time just sitting next to their cages and talking to/stroking them - ive always wanted to give them the feeling that by me approaching the cage doesn't mean pick up time - this is why they are very comfortable with my being there - they don't expect me to pick them up, hence why they don't run away when i do pick them up.

I'll be honest though, i rarely get my pigs out for lap time as i get much more enjoyment seeing them mis-behave in their cages/runs. Out of 9 pigs, only 2 of them (Wexford and his girlfriend Tulisa) will actually sit nicely and go to sleep on me -all my others 10mins max and they are fidgeting and wanting to go back where it's safe.

I don't think it's necessary for pigs to have lap time - it does them no harm at all if they don't get it - mine are more comfortable with me giving them a fuss in their cage/run.

Have you tried the 'food bribe'? Gaining a new pigs trust is a fairly easy one if you can save veg time for lap time (i always introduce veg slowly with a new pig so this is the easiest way to do it) - my latest addition was 8wks old when i got her and it took approximately 1wk for her to happily eat from my hands while having lap time - 4wks on and she will come to the cage bars for food/treats (yes she does still run if you move too fast or suddenly) but her confidence is growing everyday and this mainly from us just interacting with her where she feel most safe - in her cage with her other friends for 'backup'

How old are your pigs and how long have you had them? Some are more open to trusting than others - some don't ever fully trust - it's just all part of their personalities - each pig is different :)
 
if you can build up a trusting relationship with them just by talking and and getting them to eat from your hand, then do so.

My new piggy Ffwlbri is very nervous and doesn't like being handled and cuddled, but she has just had her first long nap on my chest under my pullover - surprisingly not even an toilet accident! However, I have now worked out how/where to pick her up best by hand without giving her too much of chance to work herself into a panic.

With extremely nervous piggies it is a matter of finding what works and very much a matter of patience and persistence. Once the piggies realise that nothing bad is going to happen, they will calm down. But until then, it's tough!
 
Oh you poor thing, at least you are trying so hard! Keep at it and DON'T GIVE UP!

It can take some piggies just ages to come around. I adopted a rescue who had been badly treated and he would shake like mad when I picked him up, would'nt run away but clearly hated being picked up. With lots of time and perseverence he gets most miffed if he does'nt get cuddled daily! It took about 14 months....

I have two young females (9 months) both from the same rescue and both born similar times and both with the same experienced piggy keeper so no outside influences that effected one more than the other. One just loves attention and will cuddle up and fall asleep. The other thinks I am the evil incarnate and she will scream for the other and then calmly walk off when put back. She is gradually coming around but will take ages. I also find around 1 year old they really start to chillout.

Sorry not read all your threads but have you also tried putting both on your lap so one does not cry out for the other? SOunds a little like separation anxiety as well. Also try not to get too stressed, guineas ( like most animals) sense your stress and then get scared because you're anxious and as you are there must be something to be scared about . They need you as a herd leader almost and not something else thats scared.

I also used to put a towel on the sofa and let them sit next to me but not on me. they could choose when to approach but it took them out of their safe environment and gave them time to adjust.

Like everyone has said, they ALL vary, some are aloof and others just love companionship. I have yet had one that did not turn the corner eventually. Just keep persevering and when they have turned the corner you will look back and wonder what you worried about!

Keep us posted....they are the most endearing creatures you just have to keep at it :))
 
Hi, I also found this very frustrating when I first got my 2. try removing the pigloo, I use small kids plastic step stool (£2.20 from tesco's) and have a wooden bridge/tunnel (from the range £9.99), this way they can still hide but also see you when your talking to them, Hand feeding takes a lot of pratice, me and my son hand feed them there veg every morning. When I say hand feeding, I don't mean the food is in my palm I hold onto the end of it and keep it still, it took a painful 15 mins the first time, my arm was killing, lol ! They will try and pull it from you and take it back to there hidy, hold the food tight, this way they have to sit with you and nibble it next to your hand. They always come straight over now if I have food in my hand :) But picking them up is always crazy, I think the best improvement I have had is that I am quicker at picking them up. And also having a c&c cage I can just step in and grab them quick! I have one that lies down and stays still the whole of lap time, and another which after 5 or 10 mins gets very bored and figity, this is normally as he needs the toilet so we pop him back in quick. Is there two of you for handling time, as I know with mine they don't like being in the cage on there own. So we always get them out together, my son has one and I have the other, If not the one left in the cage sqweeks like mad wondering where the other one is !
HTH If I think of anything else I'll add it on :)
 
Don't worry some piggies just take much longer than other to come round to realising your actually ok.
How long have you had them? (sorry I think I've missed earlier posts)
I adopted 4 piggies at the same time and while 3 of them were all quite quick to get used to me Hector took a lot longer, probably a good 6 months before he was settled. The break through is worth it!
I found that a routine that they can get used to is a good way of intergrating a new piggy so may be a good thing to try with yours. I always do the same thing each morning, open the curtains, say good morning, open the lounge door then the fridge. They soon got used to the sequence of events and know that food is coming. If you always have a little piece of food to start with when you go up to them they'll learn to associate you with nice things. Even if they won't take it from you to start with they'll be learning. Don't try stroking them until they'll confidently come and take some food of you. When they're more confident you can try a little head rub. Keep it short and build it up each time. It can take time but you'll get there. You need to do this regularly, a couple of times a day really.
Picking them up is harder. I don't know what set up you've got but I have a C&C and I put their carry box in (with some hay and veggies in) and they jump straight in. They've learnt to associate the box with nice things. It saves a lot of chasing! Hector can still get quite wriggly when I try and get him out of the box but he soon settles down after his initial tantrum. I found they got into this routine much quicker when they were hungry i.e. breakfast time!
Bribery is the key!
Good luck with them. I know it's upsetting when they're not confident round you but they will get there.
 
Hello,

Oh thank you so much for your responses. I think I needed a good old dose of guinea-pig-slave pick-me-up and reading through all your advice and support I certainly feel a lot better!

I managed to coax them out the igloo by putting a few dried nuggets in there (they'd been in there for so long I thought they must be getting hungry) and then right outside I put lots of hay.

I lined their big pet carrier with a towel and a lovely fleecy cosy and placed that just a few inches away from the igloo. I'd taken their pet carrier away because I thought it impacted on their floor space - bad decision! I left them to it, but could hear them munching on the nuggets and it didn't take Floyd long to come out for a nosy and then dive into his cosy in the pet carrier. I also reboxed up their hay tub. So they went for a jump about in that. Urgh the relief was amazing.

For dinner, I sat outside their cage and held some cabbage and to my even bigger relief they came over and ate it from my hands. They seem very pleased their pet carrier is back and seemed to enjoy cabbage time as they both took to popcorning round the cage before shyly coming back for a bit more and then running round again.

I've had them a couple of weeks. Mannie is almost 11 weeks (a big teddy bear guinea), and Floyd is 9 weeks (a tri-colour satin - yet to be determined whether he will be long haired or short haired? How long does hair length become apparent? His Mum was a coronet, but he doesn't have the rosette on his head).

They are in a c&c cage, 5 grids wide, 6 grids long - in an L shape.

Thank goodness they seem to have recovered from my horrible attempts at picking them up. I thought I had scared them for life!

I will do everything you've said, keep a daily routine, and I'm thinking break up the big meal times. I give them a piece of veg each in a morning and then a cup each of veg in the evening. What I might try to do, is spread that out in an evening, so I can spend more time hand-feeding. I will keep to strictly hand-feeding at the moment and won't make any attempts to pick them up or stroke them until they are totally relaxed around me.

Also must try to remember the words I'm using when talking to them!

I need to relook at my set up with the cage. I was worried about their running around time, which is why I've re-arranged all my furniture to make a massive cage - but it's not pratical long term, so will look at how I can make it so I too can sit on a chair next to them.

Thank you so much you lovely lovely piggy people. Being a first timer, having read so much heart-warming literature, and getting fully emersed in all things piggy, I feel like a first time Mum! I can't help worrying that I'm getting everything wrong and my babies will grow up hating me! I would love to be able to pick them up for a cuddle but I have a feeling these boys are going to make me work super hard for their affection and I'm not used to chasing boys :))

xx
 
You're doing all the right things. It will come good given time.

Sitting or laying on the floor next to your pigs will really help. You can read a book or watch the telly. Your pigs will soon learn that you being close does not mean that anything terrible is going to happen.
If you have them out for floor time, then lay on the floor. Piggies are very curious and they will want to check out what you're doing. You could even sit in the cage with them (when it's clean :)) ) and just let them explore around you. It will help their confidence with you. :)
 
flips said:
You're doing all the right things. It will come good given time.

Sitting or laying on the floor next to your pigs will really help. You can read a book or watch the telly. Your pigs will soon learn that you being close does not mean that anything terrible is going to happen.
If you have them out for floor time, then lay on the floor. Piggies are very curious and they will want to check out what you're doing. You could even sit in the cage with them (when it's clean :)) ) and just let them explore around you. It will help their confidence with you. :)
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did with mine :) Two are still very nervous, but I have them out for cuddles, stroking them gently & talking to them. One of them lets me pick her up & comes to me for food. I tend to feed them first before cuddles as they are then more relaxed & less fidgety rolleyes
 
flips said:
You're doing all the right things. It will come good given time.

Sitting or laying on the floor next to your pigs will really help. You can read a book or watch the telly. Your pigs will soon learn that you being close does not mean that anything terrible is going to happen.
If you have them out for floor time, then lay on the floor. Piggies are very curious and they will want to check out what you're doing. You could even sit in the cage with them (when it's clean :)) ) and just let them explore around you. It will help their confidence with you. :)
Click to expand...

Oh yes I remember sitting on the floor reading a book next to them when I had my first piggies and letting them climb on me, my book got a few nibbles! :))
 
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