Unhappy piggies?

[RobynP]

In January I got two female abyssinian piggies. The place I got them from was a farm, where they breed piggies and rabbits as well. When the lady was getting them out for me to have a look at, she was quite rough with them I they were shaking with their teeth chattering, so obviously quite scared.

I was hoping that they would calm and get used to me, but they haven't changed that much. When I take them out for a run and also to clean them out, as soon as I go anywhere near them they start shaking with their teeth chattering again.

The only change is that they've realised we're a source of food. As soon as I open the cage they run in to their hide, but when they realise I'm putting food out for them they sheepishly come out and sometimes try to start eating as I'm still putting food out. But if I continue to put food/hay out then they run off again.

I can feed them fresh vegetables through the bars and then they come to me, but other than that they always seen very scared of me.

They're difficult to handle, and even bit my mum when she stroked one of them. They now need their claws clipping, but I know I'm not going to be able to do it. They struggle so much, and I'm concerned about their paws if I can't clip the nails. I have tried handling them a lot, and just sitting wtih and talking to them, but I feel like giving up because nothing is changing.

I had guinea pigs growing up, and never had any problems like this, my old piggies were always very friendly and loved attention.

Does anyone have any suggestions how to make them happier with me, or the best way to clip their nails if they struggle?

 

[skrikopanik]

For the nail clipping - have someone hold the piggy for you, wearing gloves. It's important they don't drop the piggy if it bites, hence the gloves. If you have a rescue close to you they will usually clip piggy nails for a small donation (this is what I do )

Where are they living? Do you spend a lot of time by their cage?

I also thought that they would get comfortable with me within a week or two and want to sleep on my shoulder... Heh, no such luck yet The one who will let me pick him up gets bored with laptiime after a minute, he's too busy with the ladies and hay...

Piggies are prey animals, they are only behaving naturally. Time might help, but I've come to understand that some piggies won't ever be snuggly. My scaredy cat pig who screams blue murder if I try pick her up is the one who is most fun to watch in the cage though She popcorns and run laps They all have theri qualities...

 

[Wiebke]

For the nail clipping, you will probably need two people, anyway! One to hold the piggy If you are very worried, you could take them to the vets - they take around £5 for nail clipping. I have added tips on how to wrap up guinea pigs.

How to wrap up guinea pigs:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

As to the other - you piggies have obviously had a tough start to life and are afraid of people; that is harder to overcome than if they haven't had any contact at all.

You could try and take them out in a cuddle cup or a little pigloo with a lid in which you have placed a soft rag at the bottom. Get them in with a treat at the back and let them be comfy with it first for a couple of days before you move anything! Piggies often feel more relaxed in small spaces. Give them lots of praise, like you would with a little dog - for anything tiny they are doing right.

With new and very shy piggies, I keep up a constant flow of words. A predator who makes his presence known is not hunting. You can also try to make them come to you for food - it will take some time and a lot of patience, but they will learn to take food of your hand!

Here are tips for cheap toys; that can also help to make their life more fun and relax them further even if they do not use them at first. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43520

Try to find out at which distance from you they will come out and then slowly, slowly over the days, inch forward, closer to them, talking gently all the time. Step back whenever you have encroached too far. That has always worked with me.

With my Llewelyn I had to leave the room completely at first for him to come out and have his dinner, but after a few weeks, he would come and take a leaf of lettuce out of my hand and then run away with it! Now, after two years, he is a normal pet, even though he still doesn't love to be picked up and petted much!

Try to turn as much as you can into a ritual where you use the same phrases and melodies (guinea pigs react more to the tone than to the words themselves), so they know what to expect.