advice for a new piggy owner, please

[lindsecm]

Okay, I researched and I know it is perfectly normal for a new piggy to hide and not be very social because they are getting used to their surroundings, so I am not overly concerned about that.

I got Pola on Monday and of course she has been hiding. Up until Tuesday night she was not eating when I put a carrot piece IN the hut with her. I also did the same thing with the hay. Now I place her veggies in a small dish right outside her hut and she seems to be doing okay with that, but she will not touch the pellets I have sitting out as far as I can tell. I have left her alone but frequently check in on her and talk to her. I am getting her a sister within the next week or so because I know 2 is better than 1.

What I want to know is when should I try to attempt to pick her up? do I need to wait a few more days and keep talking to her? or even try tonight?

My second question is...I would like to know the best way to actually pick her up. I know all about one hand under the tummy and one under the rump and keep her close to my chest...however I guess my question is more, how do I catch her in the pin? Do I need to corner her? Is she going to sense if I am timid about picking her up?

I do apologize for all of the questions and the length. I am trying to learn as much as I possibly can because the last thing I want to do is hurt her.

 

[Glynis]

Hi and welcome it's a lovely forum here and we have a few from the US on here too i'm from Australia.
a little trick i do is to put a small hand towel in the pen and put them on that and wrap them up before taking them out, they're pretty nervous creatures so can wriggle around heaps rolleyes
As for catching her...just gently chat to her and tell her what you're doing, be firm but not squeeze and then scoop her up onto the towel and then cuddle her x) Some piggies will always run away from you, so don't be concerned by that, it's their nature.
I'd start cuddling now, the more she gets used to you the better, she'll learn to that your voice is associated with food and she'll come running out to see what you've got!
As for the pellets, do you know what previous foods she was bought up on? she may not have ventured out yet to see whatelse is in her new house.

 

[lindsecm]

well I got her from a pet store (believe me, if there were rescue centers located in my proximity, I would have gone that way, but I live in a small town) and the guy at the pet store sold me the pellets that she had been eating, so as far as that goes....

I forgot to mention that I walked into the room this morning at about 1am and caught her out of the hut, and she has been using the restroom on the opposite side of the cage as her hut is.

Thank you! I am going to go and attempt to cuddle with her in the next 15 minutes and I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[MemberZ]

If you can get her still enough in a corner, try moving the back of your hand slowly towards her, if she stays still, slowly and gently stroke her on her front shoulder just behind the head, I find this works with every piggy I have encountered and thats been quite a few upto now. Only do it slowly and persevere as it's a bond of trust that the piggy has to pick up with you.

After you have started to gain her trust, when stroking her flank with the back of your fingers, she may let you move your hand up behind her neck and again with the back of your fingers stroke her behind the ears if she does not move try stroking her behind the ears with your fingertips as this will show that she is gaining confidence and from there with patience you will be able to stroke her along her back. But I have found that with every pig by using the back of your fingers it calms them. I find that when they in their cage or pen that whn I corner them and do this, they usually let me pick them up without running away lol, although once up they don't always like it but would you lol p

Piggies think that when you go in with your open hand that you are imeadiately going to pick them up and their initial thought being prey animals is to run, it's just instinct. If you want verification this works ask Sunshineandtwinkle hehe

Welcome to the forum

 

[lindsecm]

Okay, I will definitely try that in the morning! I feel like I stressed her and myself out enough for the night, earlier. I chased her around the cage for a good 20 minutes until we got into a stare down when she got smart and sat in the farthest corner to where I couldn't reach her, lol. She got quite upset and proceeded to bite just about everything in her cage from the washcloth I was trying to wrap her in to her food bowl.

I completely understand this is going to take time. On the bright side she seems to let me pet her for a few minutes (granted I haven't tried the latter method yet) which gives me hope that she will eventually warm up to me once I imply the method.

 

[lindsecm]

If you can get her still enough in a corner, try moving the back of your hand slowly towards her, if she stays still, slowly and gently stroke her on her front shoulder just behind the head, I find this works with every piggy I have encountered and thats been quite a few upto now. Only do it slowly and persevere as it's a bond of trust that the piggy has to pick up with you.

After you have started to gain her trust, when stroking her flank with the back of your fingers, she may let you move your hand up behind her neck and again with the back of your fingers stroke her behind the ears if she does not move try stroking her behind the ears with your fingertips as this will show that she is gaining confidence and from there with patience you will be able to stroke her along her back. But I have found that with every pig by using the back of your fingers it calms them. I find that when they in their cage or pen that whn I corner them and do this, they usually let me pick them up without running away lol, although once up they don't always like it but would you lol p

Piggies think that when you go in with your open hand that you are imeadiately going to pick them up and their initial thought being prey animals is to run, it's just instinct. If you want verification this works ask Sunshineandtwinkle hehe

Welcome to the forum

I can't say thank you enough! I tried this today after giving her time of just me talking to her more and having my hands in the cage in a non-threatening way. and then I did attempt to pick her up and she made a few laps around the cage and stopped in front of me. I proceeded to try your technique and she let me pick her up without any struggle!!


I would give you a massive hug if I could! can't say thank you enough! |)