2 new girls... when should I handle them ?

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khadijah

Hi everyone, please can you help.

We got 2 lovely young girl cavies yesterday. I did as told and have not tried to handle them for the first 24 hrs, so today will be the second day and I was told to start handling them today.... I'm not sure about this ? are they really ready ?

Plus, I just have one concern, one girl is fab, she has been out of the sleeping house many times, even when we were all in the room. She's was out this morning has eaten all the food Ive left. BUT the other girly has not been seen since we put them in the cage. She is hiding in the far end of the seeping house and I cannot even get a glimpse, I am soooo worried about her ! :-[

Is this normal ? and do you think she came out in the night to eat ?

Thanks in advance.
 
how I did it was not to handle them as such for the first week, I didnt pick them up or anything.

However I did try to give them fresh fruit and veg out of my hand to make them get used to me, and eventually started stroking them with a finger while they were eating out of my other hand. Once they got used to that and didnt make a runner for the house everytime, I started using my whole hand to stroke them, and then at some point picked them up.

If you do need to pick them up earlier, eg cage badly needs cleaning, try not to make it a big chase. Easier said than done, I know ::) Someone here was spot on comparing it to catching soap in a bath with wet hands..
Try putting loads of hay in one corner. Piggy is going to run for it to hide in it, and you can just pick it up because the hay slows them down ;)
 
I'd have a peek at the girl you haven't seen just to check she's ok. She probably is, just hiding. I've got two little boars and unless I peek under the house I don't see them, but I sit down quietly and as soon as they think I've gone they're out.

With babies, it just takes time, one of mine was a nightmare to catch, hid all the time and eventually after a few weeks I forced him to be picked up and now he's really cheeky, stands on top of his house and wheeks at me for food. You will get there, it's just not going to be overnight though.

Kathryn
 
If you can, remove the sleeping house. it's sounds cruel, but the sooner they get used to you the better. Talk gently to them and every time you pass put your hand in the cage. eventually curiosity will get the better of them and they will come to you. Try feeding them tasty greens by hand to tempt them and they will get used to you.
 
Thanks everyone for the great tips :)

Thankfully the second one has appeared and she is fine ... it seems all it took was some parsley ! and now they are both out and about.

I thought about removing the sleeping house, does sound like a good idea. But been as they have both emerged now I will give them another day or so and then decide wether to remove it or not.

Thanks
 
Zubin was a TERROR to catch in his cage when he was tiny, but being fat now slows him down LOL! i didnt hold him for a day but he was just so shy, when i got Harry i decided to hold him right away even before i put him in the cage so he wouldnt be as shy as Zubin and it worked he doesnt mind being caught now at all though i judge their temperment before i go grabbing them when i fist get them, you get them out when you feel ready and most of all when you feel they are ready.
 
Thanks Verity,

I appreciate your thoughts. The girl I picked is fab she is not that shy and I feel I could handle her straight away, but the other one (my husbands choice ... he just liked the colour didnt check the temperament !) she is awfully shy, I think handling her now might traumatise her more.

So maybe I could make a start with the friendly one.

Someone suggested that I remove the sleeping house so they could get used to us more quickly, I thought that was a good idea but I'm a bit apprehensive. So I thought what if I put them in a homemade run with no roof .. with some nice treats for an hour each day, there will be nowhere to hide and maybe they'll start to understand we wont hurt them ?

Any ideas on this is SOOO appreciated.

Thanks All.
 
I no what you mean, If i had gone right in and handled Zub to early he wouldnt be with me now! he was terrofied! but harry just had this hold me temperment so i did and hes dead friendly now! good luck x
 
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