One-handed handling advice

[martinnew]

Hi, just joined the forum and looking for advice on handling guinea pigs with one hand. All the advice explains how to pick them up, hold them and return them to a cage with two hands. I think it’s key to making them less skittish.

Firstly, how should you hold your pig when opening a hutch door? Secondly, how do you return them into a hutch, where it’s difficult to reach two arms inside? One of my two piggies tends to wriggle uncontrollably when I approach the hutch, and again when I go to place her inside. I’ve had a couple of close calls where she’s nearly freed herself from my grasp prematurely. And she always jumps free of my hand/s before I put her in the hutch, which is not ideal.

It’s all very well if you can lower your pigs into an open-top cage, but what about hutch owners?

For background info, I have two 6 month-old guinea pigs, which I’ve owned since February. They live in a 6-foot long hutch outside in an enclosed patio. I handle them at least once daily for 15 mins. I put them in a run on the grass when the weather is fine. Despite that, they’re still extremely skittish. Otherwise they’re eating well and springing about quite happily on their own.

 

[anyar.dris]

I think the easiest way to handle them one handed is when they are in a cuddle sack (please refer to the photo, photo is not mine btw ). You can try and bring one piggy in it before you pick her up. Of course it is best to always handle them with both hands to avoid accidents.

 

[Siikibam]

I agree with using a vessel of some sort to transport them. Be it a cuddle cup, pet carrier or box etc.

 

[martinnew]

Thanks for the advice. I have tried wrapping them loosely in one of their little fleeces to take them back to the hutch, but the particularly skittish piggy starts to wriggle free of it as soon as I’ve put it around her. Maybe I’ve got a problem piggy rather than a problem with my handling?

 

[Siikibam]

Be aware that some piggies don’t like being held and/or picked up. You just have to hold them carefully as said, preferably with two hands. Try the above suggestions and see how you get on.

 

[LMPigs]

Thanks for the advice. I have tried wrapping them loosely in one of their little fleeces to take them back to the hutch, but the particularly skittish piggy starts to wriggle free of it as soon as I’ve put it around her. Maybe I’ve got a problem piggy rather than a problem with my handling?

Wrapping them in a fleece or towel can be more reassuring for both pig and owner, but is not quite the same as having them in something that actually has closed sides though.

If you can get them to pop into something like this
Rosewood Snuggles 2-In-1 Carrot Beehive Snuggle Bed: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

(i.e. by sticking it into the run/hutch with some favourite food in when you want to pick the up)

then you could carry it with one arm and the hole facing your body while you open the hutch door. Once open, I would then probably turn the cosy thing round with my hand over the hole, put the hole right up to hutch entrance, remove hand and then hopefully pig pops out.

 

[Piggylove82]

I have an outdoor hutch. I always hold them close to me and use one hand to open the hutch door. Then I either bend as near as I can go the hutch floor with my pig still against my body. Or I squat down to the lower floor again holding the pig close. Mine often get wriggly with excitement and want to launch themselves back inside. I face mine the way they are going ie, INTO the hutch and quickly put them down. There's usually a jump from them as they push off, but it's controlled by me. They never bump down. More like they think they're jumping, but my hand is still under them so there is no landing as such, just a gentle human assisted touch down. It's generally a quick transfer!

I think you have to find what works and what doesn't work for you and your pigs. What one person or pig might feel comfortable with might not suit another person or pig. My pigs associate their hutch with food and freedom so do get excited when we near their hutch. Maybe if your piggies get wriggly when you take them near it, you could take them near it when you have them in both hands but when you're not even planning on putting them in. Just to get them used to just being near it. This is how I hold mine...

 

[PigglePuggle]

We usually move our piggies about in a container of some kind that they feel safe in and are happy to jump into but can't jump out of if we cover the entrance with our hands.
My main herd of 6 commute from their cage to the playpen in this lovely and now rather pee stained basket house:

And my separate married pair always travel by this particular fleecy tunnel:

They understand what's going to happen then, travel house in, piggies trot in, cover the doors, pick them up, a little happy song about where they are going, lower to the ground, piggies trot out... all very good and safe and predictable!

 

[CrestedPiggies]

I usually open my hutch before taking the pigs out to be put away, so I don't have to worry about doing it one handed I also always use a cuddle pouch, makes things much easier, the pigs feel safer and I don't have to worry about them jumping out

 

[Little Ones]

I always hold my piggies in one hand and then will use a second hand for support to cover the top of their bodies if needed. Like so:


I have their piggy butt and two back feet in my palm and then the rest of their body and front feet along my forearm, holding close to my body.
It’s the easiest way to transport piggies in my opinion, i know my mum struggles to hold them this way whereas for me it’s the only way I ever hold them. Most of the time, they don’t need a hand of support over them as they keep nice and still but I will if I’m carrying them somewhere from a height for safety.

 

[martinnew]

Thanks for all the tips, particularly the one about getting the piggies used to being around the hutch without actually putting them inside it.

Just ordered one of the piggy pouches.

 

[Tigermoth]

Definitely I would try to train them with treats to head into a snuggle sack or a box that you can use. I guess your circumstances dictate whether supporting with another hand or arm is feasible, but in the absence of a second hand/arm id have thought a box would most stable.

 

[Piggylove82]

When I carry mine, I tend not to have their back feet on my hand or arm. If I do, they have some leverage to launch themselves easier!
My arm supports their body, against mine, but their feet hang free