Taming and Bonding

[CMaz13]

Hi All

Apologies for the essay.

I have had my 2 boys (Tyrion and Jon Snow) for about 3 and a half weeks now. They are about 12weeks now. I am a new owner and I think they are settling in. Just taking it day by day and getting into the routine.

1) They still squabble but I think its getting better. They are brothers. They don't really get too close without nose squaring and nips...mainly half hearted and 'air nips'. No biting/blood drawn/bullying and they share food fine so no-one is going hungry. The think Jon Snow is the dominant one and now that has been established. Will they stop the squabbling at some point?I know it'll peak again at 6months. I moved them from a pet shop cage to a 5x2 C&C. They have only been in there a few days but hopefully that'll help right?

2) Tyrion Squeaks for food and will run towards me and happily eat from my hand. He will let me stroke him in his cage. I have only picked them both up once and it didn't go great. Tbh - I think I am a little nervous now because they are so nervous it makes me nervous. I hate seeing them struggle and they move so quick! I am now using hideys/tunnels to pick them up. When I take Tyrion for lap time. I will keep him in his cosy hidey and stroke him lots until he gets a lil movey and irritated. When I put him on the couch (pillows to block and me on the floor to make sure he can't jump off) he will eat and explore. All good right? But the minute I even think about picking him up - he'll move and struggle. When should I start thinking about picking him up? Can you take it too slow and 'miss the boat'?

3) Jon Snow has only started to let me stroke him when in his hidey or on the couch. In all fairness - he is not really letting me - he's just very still and scared. Not completely frozen but not happy. Shall I keep doing it? He doesn't explore the couch much - if he does move - he is uncomfortable and is trying to find an escape route. Do I just keep as I am? Obviously I won't move as fast with him as with Tyrion and that's fine.

4) Getting used to the daily veggies. When plp give veggie treats - should I be taking this into there daily allowance or are the extra treats fine?

I have read all the tips on taming. Giving veggies - talking to them lots. When they say talk to them lots? They are in the living room/kitchen so I am with them lots saying hello throughout the day. Do I need to be talking more and at the cage? Like are we talking an hour/or two or more?

Please let me know if you think I should be doing anything else. I feel like it will take another few months before I can comfortably stroke/handle them. Is that ok? How long did it take you?

Thanks so much
Claire

 

[Piggies&buns]

Point 1 - they will be teenagers from 4-14 months of age experiencing raising hormones with spikes at 6 and 10 months of age. You will see their dominance throughout this entire time. However, even once out of the other side of their teens, they will likely still do it. My own two boars are two years old. They are experiencing spring time craziness at the moment and their dominance, mounting, etc is reaching levels I haven’t seen since they were teenagers. So, basically it will calm but won’t ever completely stop.
Changing their cage to a 5x2 - brilliant! That is a lovely cage for them, but now they have had a change in environment, that will cause them to reestablish themselves and their territories.

Point 2 and 3 - as prey animals, most piggies will never like being picked up. To them being picked up equals being eaten. Hopefully he will settle in time but little and often can be the way to go. Follow their lead.

To be honest they sound very much like my two. I have one who is outgoing, doesn’t mind being stroked on his head, takes food from my hand. The other one has taken two years to take food from my hand and has only started doing it consistently in the last few months despite having been with me since they were 4 months old. He is just a much more nervous piggy, and while there has been huge improvements, he is never going to be as confident as my other piggy.

Point 4 - id take it out of their daily veg I think given they are little.

 

[CMaz13]

Thanks so much Piggies&buns

Some really good points there. I have no-one to turn too for advice really so I really appreciate your advice and hearing your own experiences

Regards
Claire