Ophelia and Bianca

Bianca here, to report on tonight. Middle Slave was back again, after a long time. She started trying to wash herself. She may call herself Piggy in the Middle but she didn't wash very effectively, as she didn't use saliva. Tut. Ophelia rubbed her nose and then ran upramp to watch from more of a height and distance, while I stared from below. What was this show? Would we get treats? I rubbed my nose, but she only talked at me, cooing that I'm a good girl.
And then they tried to catch me! At one point I plopped into the water bowl as I ran away. And after being weighed, I had to WAIT for my treat until Ophelia had finally been caught as well. Mini slave wasn't so tolerant of the game of chase, so Ophelia was picked up with bare hands and made her protests clear, but at least we got courgette afterwards.
Hoomans forgot to communicate so we don't have completely fresh hay tonight, but that's ok as she did clear away our poos.
 
Slave in the middle gave me (Bianca) my morning medication today. We were both very excited (although I was more excited) and I opened my mouth wide and took the medication like a very good piggy. Then we got courgette. Ophelia hid with hers, of course.
 
I walked in to check on the piggies without checking the time. Half past three. The first thing I see behind the door is a Bianca, fluffed up and round, staring at me. Silly me. It's too close to food time. She starts wheeking, alerting Ophelia, and now I have two pairs of eyes looking up at me expectantly. They are not interested in forage food, and of course they know that I'm still here when I duck down behind the C&C grids. So, on big slave's orders, I return a few minutes later with coriander.
What happens every time is that it doesn't satisfy them. In fact, when they have finished, they beg even harder. They rub their noses. I rub mine back. They give me big eyes. Ophelia eventually gives up and walks away. Bianca stops for a second. Then she is back up on her hind legs. No luck. She gets down. Then back up. Not working. Down again. Then back up. My dear piggies, this is manipulation at its finest.
 
If you walk into mini-slave’s room where the piggies live, you can expect one of just two things to happen:
  1. You get completely ignored. This is likely because you entered during the all important midday nap and it takes quite some disturbance to coax them out.
  2. You are immediately greeted. In fact, they (or Bianca at least) are expecting you. In this case, an offering of food - good food, not silly dry stuff - is the only acceptable outcome.
So if you don’t intend to give them food, you might as well stay out, unless you are mini-slave.

Oh piggies, can’t I say hello to you without food… you eat hay most of the time anyway, but there’s no way you’d accept me handing you hay to eat from my hands.
 
Ok, piggies, I think I need to change strategy. I give you your next piece of food before you even have time to beg, and when you do beg it's because there's nothing left. Ophelia, your cautious nose-rubs almost made me and big slave cave in and give you more. Next time I will make sure that you feel heard.
 
Today they were both ready for their second breakfast, which was lovely. I gave Bianca her medicine and it took a little longer because she wasn’t extremely eager. While I was concentrating on her and she was enjoying it, Ophelia needed to see what was in my hand so she stood up with her little claws on my hand.
Then they both got pepper and ate it facing away from each other.
 
They wheeked a lot so got supper half an hour early. Supper is such a solemn business. Afterwards, I was outside the room and heard the sound of cardboard being eaten (carrot cottage). I went in and immediately they made it clear that their bowls were empty. So came some nuggets - you can't not. They ate them while still watching me intently, their paws up on the corner house (a wooden house which is a hidey in their run). Finished, they begged again.
"Only if you rub your nose," I told them, and, on cue, one of them did. (They usually only both rub their nose if I am taking too long.) Immediately I rewarded them. It's nice to be able to communicate with them so well.
Then I decided to hide, for I wanted to be with them without them expecting food. After half a minute, I checked. They were still there, waiting patiently, looking right at me. I never learn, do I...
 
I wish I had filmed what just happened. I walked in, Bianca wanted more food. Nose rubs, begging. No. Suddenly the hooman is rubbing her nose and imitating Bianca! That was not Bianca's goal. She gets down, moves along, gets back up. No luck. Down, move along, up. And so it goes. Up, beg, down, move, up, beg, down, move, up, beg, down, move. Is this the piggy version of hiding and returning?
Eventually hooman (me) feels too sorry for that innocent face and caves in. ReadiGrass. Bianca is satisfied.

I think they're winding each other up now from the squeaking that I hear. Oh, Bianca is back, happy and making her presence heard (we call her a squeaky toy when she walks around happily chuntering and making noises), but now she has ReadiGrass to eat.
 
I wish I had filmed what just happened. I walked in, Bianca wanted more food. Nose rubs, begging. No. Suddenly the hooman is rubbing her nose and imitating Bianca! That was not Bianca's goal. Maybe she's begging from the wrong angle. She gets down, moves along, gets back up. No luck. Try another place. Down, move along, up. And so it goes. Up, beg, down, move, up, beg, down, move, up, beg, down, move. Still no luck? How many more tricks do I have to invent?
Eventually hooman (me) feels too sorry for that innocent face and caves in. ReadiGrass. Bianca is satisfied.

I think they're winding each other up now from the squeaking that I hear. Oh, Bianca is back, happy and making her presence heard (we call her a squeaky toy when she walks around happily chuntering and making noises), but now she has ReadiGrass to eat.
 
Oops, the wrong post was removed. I added that she changed positions in the hope that a slightly different angle would make me feed her.
 
Big slave is so manipulated - if they beg, she cannot resist, especially because Bianca is dying. I don’t think Bianca knows, though. Ophelia isn’t interested apart from at dinner time, but we make sure that she gets the veg anyway.

I had to hoover tonight. Bianca was in the run but I expected her to run away. Was she bothered by the noise? Absolutely not! Instead, she begged more for food!
 
Things that happened while cleaning them out tonight.

I stepped on countless poos.
Bianca randomly started wheeking loudly, which excited Ophelia.
Most of the newspaper did not need replacing. This was a relief because there were only two more pieces available.
They stepped on me multiple times. It’s so nice to feel their paws on me.
I lost the brush and spent an extra 10 minutes searching for it.
They already weed on the fresh newspaper while I was still doing it.
I spilled water 😑
I left a bit of a mess in terms of hay…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top