Too big a cage?

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skrikopanik

skrikopanik

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I've been thinking... You know people always say that there's no such thing as a cage that's too big? I'm thinking maybe there is.

I have two skittish girls who are slowly coming around (and a neutered Bo-boar who is ok with being picked up). I've had them for five months now, and Mette-Marit accepts veggies from my hand (but flies off if I make any sudden moves) and Martha lets me stroke her in the cage if she is eating something truly delicious.

I only handle them (the girls) once a week or so, for weighing and health check, while I clean their cage. It's because getting them is a bit of a chase and I don't want to stress them out. I've tried using a "piggy bus", but once they recognise a hidey as something I've picked them up in before they won't go in... I know that they need to be handled several times a day, to get used to it, but the stress of getting hold of them in the 2x1 metre pen is just horrible, both for me and them.

Does being skittish hurt a piggy? I mean, can they be allowed to stay the way they are? If I put them in a smaller cage to facilitate picking them up they would only be able to do the crazy lap running at floortime, and maybe they are not in the mood right them?
 
I am facing a similar dilemma to yours with my roaming piggies - with a big cage like mine, picking up can easily lead to a chase and stress out the piggies.

I am trying to train them to go to pick up point (usually on the top floor), where it is easier for me to get hold of them or I wait until they happen to be there.

Maybe you can establish a comfortable corner (box?) that is a bit more confined with an exit that can be closed, from where it is easier to pick up your piggies. You have to turn it into a ritual, though, so yopur piggies know what's up and that the more they cooperate, the easier it is on them!
 
I don't think it does any harm for skittish pigs to stay skittish. My Fred was very skittish, you never saw him for dust he now sleeps in the open but he does still run at sudden movement. I don't he'll be less skittish some day but I don't see it, I handle my pigs daily, even the girls run, I think it's just a pig thing!

They will all come for veggies, and Fred has even started waiting for me, he would normally run when I go near the cage, but because he knows it's food time he sits and waits, too get first dibs.

I try and get them in a corner, or the hayloft... once Fred is in the hayloft he is caught and he generally freezes anyway which is good :).
 
Mine run, I have redone the entire front of the C&C cage so the front panels lift up and it is easier to clean and easier to catch them.
When I'm cleaning, I put them in a smaller temp quarters where I put something yummy so they know after they are caught they get to eat something nice.
I am thinking that piggies are 'prey' in the outside world and they respond to a lot of situations by running, and in the outside world that probably saves them from predators, so I don't think being skittish is any reflection of care given.
 
Yes... a confined area, like a hay loft or the like would be good... The eating yummy stuff after catching is also good. Mette-Marit doesn't really eat when I hold her (it's only happened once) but I always put her back with whatever goodie I was tempting her with on my lap.

They all come out for veggies (counting my victories here!) but Mette-Marit usually bolts when I get close to the pen and then comes back when I've sat down still. I think she would really benefit from a cage at at least waist level to me, but I would need to build that, and imagine a bed-sized table at waist height? Not an ideal piece of furniture...

I'll keep thinking... I want to build a new pen for them so I will think it through and try to adapt it for my piggies needs. I would like it to be off the floor... I think they would like me better if I didn't always come from above! (and crawling is hard on the knees...)
I think that eventually she will allow me to touch her in the cage, like I sometimes can with Martha, but it may be another year or so.

Thanks for the reassurance that skittish pigs aren't necessarily unhappy pigs... I need it sometimes :)
 
Can you sit in the cage with them? and then put the veggies down and then just sit quietly and wait for them while they eat them hunger and greed will get the better of them. When they are happy for you to sit with them start chatting to them and gradually move the bowl closer to you over a few day. I think the only way to stop a skittish pig beinig skittish is to densensitise them. Best of luck! :)
 
skrikopanik said:
imagine a bed-sized table at waist height? Not an ideal piece of furniture...
Click to expand...

My cage is not that big, only 2 grids x 4 grids. But I bought a used sofa table (long, thin table) and had a large piece of plywood cut to fit over, (painted it white)and the cage is now about 2 1/2 feet off the ground and it is much easier to clean, feed, and catch the piggies.
 
lovelygirl said:
Can you sit in the cage with them? and then put the veggies down and then just sit quietly and wait for them while they eat them hunger and greed will get the better of them. When they are happy for you to sit with them start chatting to them and gradually move the bowl closer to you over a few day. I think the only way to stop a skittish pig beinig skittish is to densensitise them. Best of luck! :)
Click to expand...

I spend a lot of time by their pen, and since two months or so Mette-Marit is fine with eating from my hand. So now I'm working on moving closer to her. No success so far, no matter how slowly I move my hand she bolts! If my hand is still she accepts food out of it, but I'm not allowed to touch her.

The sewing machine is in the piggy room too, and it's by the kitchen so I pass through it a lot. I try to make them hear that I'm coming by talking, but she usually bolts anyway... She is getting better, though, she really is, but it's taking FOREVER and I'm thinking she might not ever be "tame". But I'm ok with that too.
 
Lucille said:
My cage is not that big, only 2 grids x 4 grids. But I bought a used sofa table (long, thin table) and had a large piece of plywood cut to fit over, (painted it white)and the cage is now about 2 1/2 feet off the ground and it is much easier to clean, feed, and catch the piggies.
Click to expand...

Yes... I've thought about getting them a smaller cage so that I can keep it on a table for all sorts of good reasons, but they love their big space and I think it's good for them... Pros and cons, as always.
 
Ive got silly pigs too :(|) i sit on the floor with them at floor time i save their 2nd lot of veggies of the day for then and the podgy little pigs are forced to come to me if they want their food lol its taken about 8 WHEEKS (lol) but now Meggie (whos a little fattie bless her) will come up and clamber on my ankels to get to her food bowl ( i sit cross legged on the floor with food bowl in my lap) the first couple of bits she grabs and runs ( a take away as my 9 year old calls it lol) but she soon gets fed up of trotting back and forward and just stays put to scoff. Mog is a bit shyer and we are still working on her but she will sit next to me and eat from my hand. I started off by enticing them in with something yummy which they followed as i drew it nearer until they where standing on my ankles. I never have much luck catching mine (2x4 c&c with 2x1 upstairs) and realy dont want to stress them out with the chase so when getting them out they take the pigloo for floor time and the same to go home again :)
they still run when i try and stroke them althou starting to except a movement to tickle under chin so i am ever hopeful! mind you mine are aby x so i think its harder for them to except snuggles i just think they dont like their fur being messed with due to it going in all directions but maybe thats just my girls?
 
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