Two pigs, two things I'd like advice on please :)

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Piggylet

Piggylet

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My pigs are very nervy, however the least nervy of them I often have her out on my lap. I haven't had her out for a few days, I was trying to leave them be for a while as they seemed pretty upset by their vets visit last week.

Anyway, I had Suzy on my lap today. Usually she just sits there and will put up with whatever I do to her. Today when I got her out she was a little more inquisitive and she ate the treats I gave her within a couple of seconds of me getting them. However everytime I touched her she vibrated/shiverred. Or if I was talking through to my other half who was in the kitchen she would vibrate.

Is this a good sign? Like I said she's more inquisitive now she's sitting on me and in other ways seems to improve (when I go out to their hutch she comes to greet me). Pigs I've kept in the past did the little contented mini-wheeks when happy, but I haven't come across this noise/feeling before! And I've read that some purrs/vibrating type noises are a bad sign.

Also, my other pig, Emily is exceptionally shy. I don't want to spook her, but if there's any sound that isn't normal she goes completely crazy. She's cottoned on to if I put a box in their and she goes in then I will pick up the box to take her to the run etc - so now she won't go in the box! I struggle to pick her up because she's so wriggly, squeals terribly like I'm killing her and attempts suicide from my arms. I am fine with if she's not a 'cuddle' pig then I won't keep pestering her and will leave her to enjoy her life in peace but practicalities say that I do need to pick her up sometimes! When she's been on my lap before she hasn't minded too much, having a good look round and taking food off me - it's just the catching her!

The pair of them are coming indoors for the winter at the weekend so perhaps I can work on Emily's shyness over the coming months by just sitting by their cage and talking to them.

Will moving indoors set them back to be really terrified again?

Any opinions on the above two points/pig worries? I just want them to be happy and do the best I can for them!

Oh, and the mites seemed to have improved loads (for Suzy at least, I can't get to Emily to check her over) even after the first dose of the spot on. Suzy is a bit dandruff-y but I couldn't see any new wounds, so I'm really relieved about that!

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can offer :)
 
I would say with my guinea pigs having them in full view in the living room and spending a lot of time doing day to day stuff around them brought them out of themselves because they have got used to the sounds, sights etc of the house and the sound of my voice. I have noticed this happen more since being in my new flat as in the house they were behind one of the settee's so had more shelter from us humans
 
The vibrating she is showing is fear. She is unsure of you and not yet familiar with your voice. In time she will get used to you and this will stop. You not holding them for a few days will mean she has to get used to you all over again. You have to hold them everyday for them to get used to you.

Emily will soon get used to you. You have to carry on picking her up. Try covering her eyes when you have her so she does not try to jump out of your arms.

Having them indoors is a great idea. They will get more used to you. They will learn the sounds of your home and your voice. You will be able to spend more time with them and get to know them even more.
 
I would second Lady Kelly's advice, having them in a busy part of the house where people are always coming and going, chatting etc. is a great way to get them used to people. You can keep popping little treats in as you pass and they will soon learn to come looking for what you have!
 
Thanks guys.

I do admit to shying away from Emily at present. She won't come out of her hidey, so to pick her up I have to disturb her and she gets so stressed if I move it. I have sat near them, chatting to them both but Emily just isn't interested. When they're indoors I am hoping my own confidence with her will improve. I've never met such a wriggly pig - and I hate it when she squeals :( I'm also hoping that assuming her mites are clearing up like Suzy's that she may like being touched more, as I did wonder if perhaps I was touching a sore spot sometimes.

They are beautiful though and I love it when I'm out in my garden doing something else and I can see them just going about their munching and chattering. And both of them get excited in the mornings and evenings when it's food time and anytime I go out to them, so that's lovely to hear as well!
 
Our two nine week old sows live in the dining room which is just off our lounge via glass double doors so they hear the tv and us in the lounge all the time.
They seem to be very confident for babies and Lottie especially is very social when we go in there-she wheeks very loudly if we walk back out as if to say 'come back!'

Since our two boars have been living in the lean-to which is under our kitchen window they hear and see lots of activity, and this has made them much more friendly than when they lived in the shed during the winter.

I think the more noise and activity aroind them the more friendly they become so I'm sure that once they live indoors in time they will be less nervous.
 
When I first got my girls, one of them, Apple, was very fidgety and wouldn't sit still, but the other, Apricot, once caught, would sit happily for ages. One day I had them both on my lap together. Apple was trying to hide under my arm, running about as usual when Apricot made a coo coo noise to her and quite suddenly Apple settled down and sat with her. Apricot seemed to be telling her to calm down and chill!
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, that it may be worth trying to have both on your lap at the same time, particularly if they're used to being together, as they may feel safer like that.
I'm sure having them indoors will help too:)
 
I always feel having them together might be too much if they both wriggle, but you could be right, it could have a nice calming affect!
 
Your not alone, neither of mine will be held. They will let me stroke them but if I try to pick them up it's the exact same thing, manic wriggling, squeeling and I've been biten three times!

I'm not holding them badly I've followed all the rules on guinea pig handling to the letter - but nope my boys they won't have any of it.

Could be because they also have a skin condition at the moment. They are in my lounge. Keep me posted on how you get on. Would love to hear any hints and tips that may work for you!

xx
 
I do think that having them inside will help them to get used to you and get less intimidated by the normal 'human noises' that may be spooking them now. Our pigs are in our family room and I have three kids under ten... they are pretty unphased by noises from the kids and the tv and my husband and I. It's actually quite funny when we take them outside in the summer because they will startle if a bird chirps in a tree or if a car goes by on the road, but the three screaming kids running past don't even warrant a second look!

I would keep handling the shyer pig, even if it's only for short times. My experience is that if they consistantly get pats, treats, and a positive experience being held, they will adapt to it. One of my pigs, Sundae, started out extremely shy (we barely saw her the first week we had her- she was hiding in the pigloo the whole time!) However, it really did not take her long to warm up to us and she is really far from shy as an adult (in fact, she's quite social now- always squeaking at us for food and peeking at us through the baby gate during free play time!)
 
My current method does seem to be the towel method. I know a month isn't long in guinea-pig time for pigs to be friendly, but it is very sad to see their complete fear of me. Suzy will take food from me, but Emily would rather starve than come near me. And trying to catch them to handle them when they squeal is so heartbreaking.

I'm hoping they'll calm a little once their treatment is done and they stop itching so much.
 
piggyfan said:
The vibrating she is showing is fear. She is unsure of you and not yet familiar with your voice. In time she will get used to you and this will stop.
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i always thought of this as good because my very tame 2 year old piggy does little vibrates as i stroke him almost all the time and hes fine with me?
 
Crackle & Pop said:
i always thought of this as good because my very tame 2 year old piggy does little vibrates as i stroke him almost all the time and hes fine with me?
Click to expand...

i asked the same question a few months ago when I first got my boys and was told it was a good sign! my boys do it when they are happy.....they snuggle down and vibrate when I stroke them too.......what complicated little creatures piggies are! xx :)) perhaps it depends on the piggies....perhaps some do it in fear and others when they are happy....perhaps its different piggie personalities showing peferences xx
 
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