In Or Out?

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Rainah

Rainah

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Hello everyone, I know this is an ongoing discussion and I guess it all depends on what people feel comfortable with.

I got two 5 month old male piggys 3 months ago from the adoption center at pets at home. One of the piggys was abandoned at the vets at pets at home because of an eye infection and they added one of the piggys from the pet shop as he was the only one he got along with.

They have been indoors in my bedroom due to limited space in the house and my mum not wanting them anywhere else in the house, they are extremely shy, timid and terrified. If they were not in my bedroom I would never ever see them, that's how terrified they are. When I move around my room or make a noise or even a noise far away as downstairs they will bolt to the point that sawdust goes flying out the cage lol

I hold them everyday and hand feed them everyday in hopes they would get used to me but they are still so terrified, I spoil them with toys and treats and it makes me feel so terrible that they are so scared and seem to hate being held as they always pee and poo all over me, they talk to each other but barely talk to me as they are so scared, I am constantly talking to them so they get used to my voice but they still run.

I have had indoor piggys in the past and they have NEVER been as scared as these two.

I'm tempted to get a massive hutch and customize it so its fox and cat proof as well as a plastic cover and blanket to hide them from view of predators, I'm wondering if they might be happier outside to be free to do what they want to rather than inside where they are terrified, I plan on bringing them back indoors in the evening for a while until I don't feel so anxious and panic with them being outside.

I'm on a routine with my pets for feeding, cleaning, handling time, as well as I am home all the time so they will defiantly not be out of sight out of mind.

I just want them to feel happy and comfortable, I have given them 3 - 4 months to get used to me and their surroundings and they are still so terrified.
 
I'm not sure I can offer much advice, but I have outdoor pigs ( in a shed ) I got them when they were approx 4 months old and there were kinda used to being handled but not at all interested in it! But one got a hay poke about a month later and she definitley went backwards with the human confidence and handling, as every time I handled her it was to put eye drops in.
Your dumped pig is probably only used to pain/ discomfort at human interaction and I don't know how handled the pigs at these kinda shops are - he may be a naturally more nervous pig anyway.
I hope someone with more nervous-pig knowledge comes forward with something better!
 
They will settle down.Piggies have to be inside or out, they can't tolerate changes in temperature, it makes them ill.Keep persevering, you are doing everything right.They may never be super cuddly but they will settle down.I have one that lived in a shed with a rabbit and was terrified.She now take food from my hand and wander up to me.The fact that you have two will help as well.Jeep going, you will get there
 
My boys live in my room with me in the Midwest cage and I'm super happy they do. I get to witness all their zoomies and silly behaviours as well as know right away if anything is wrong. Sometimes they flip their hideys and get a little stuck so I have to fix it. At first I babied my pig trying to be extra quiet in my room but slowly I went more and more back to using my normal voice and not being scared to move about freely. My boys adjusted to this and now don't really care what I do! Unless I sneeze, that sends them running for cover every time. It just takes time for them to learn that the noises you make aren't signs of harm coming to them. In fact I'm now at the point where when I walk in the room and call my younger pigs name he starts wheeking back at me as if trying to have a conversation. They'll settle in their own time.
 
I've had my 2 piggies for 6.5 months now. I adopted them from a friend and they were well cared for, but it still took them a while to get to know us and trust us. They are indoors in an upstairs mezzanine room which is a kind of (quiet) kids playroom/office. Over time, I have got to know what they do and don't like. This has helped me to adjust my expectations of them.

For example, they only like being picked up inside a cosy nest/vet box (I have to entice them in with a bit of fresh grass/clover etc.) I think they will never let me just reach in and pick them up. Once I have managed to pick them up (within the nest), they also protest every time when I scoop them out to have a cuddle. However, they really calm down and George will even climb up my chest and sniff me once actually on my lap. Lily just likes to lie down and be brushed or stroked. Within the last month or so, George has allowed me to reach in and stroke his forehead, but only when he is in the cosy nest. Lily always runs away if I reach in and try to stroke her in the cage - I think maybe this will never change. Within the last month or so, I have also noticed George stop and listen when I say "hello George" and even come up to the bars. None of this is as intimate or exciting as some other piggie behaviour I see on the forum, but for us it feels like huge progress!

I think the hand feeding and you talking to them will really help - it helped us. Also the routines help - are they starting to wheek when they anticipate food? Don't worry about being peed and pooped on, mine do this all the time, I just put a hand towel on my lap, I don't think it's a sign of fear or dislike of you. I honestly don't know if moving them outside would help. My tip would be to keep observing them to figure out what they do and don't like and just work with that. It does take time.
 
Am I the only one with piggies who are fine about being picked up by hand and held in my arms as well as being stroked inside and out of the cage? Lol seems like such an unusual thing based on this forum
 
My first piggy pair took 6 months to be brave enough to venture up their ramp and after 3 years still startle easily if I cough too loudly or laugh a little too near them
 
I think they will definately be better indoors, they will get more interaction, in my opinion.

I've had Hettie for 2 years and she still runs away from us. She is fine once you have her in your arms but will run off still if something startles her, I think she just has a timid personality.
 
Mine will come for food and run round us when we are in the pen but won't let us pick them up except one of them.I don't mind, the cuddles are for me not them.I just enjoy watching them.A couple will put their feet on my knees and go nose to nose if I bend down.
 
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