Advice On Handling

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Kia_2878

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Hi, I got 3 piggies yesterday and they are beautiful - I am a first-time owner - and I'm as nervous as they are when it comes to handling them.

I can barely even touch any of them and off they run in their cage.. any advice on the best way to get them used to being handled?

Thanks :)
 
Have a look at this web site; it's a reputable source of guinea pig information.
http://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html

The way to get your pigs to get use to being handled is to handle them. It may take months or even years before your pigs decide that your hands aren't a hovering hawk. Hand-feeding veggies at veggie time has worked wonders with my three. What I do is that every time I have veggies I announce it by whistling at my boys and then each pig must come to the front of the cage (come to me) and take from my hand their first (or all) veg.

This encourages them to come toward you (which isn't a fear behaviour of running away) and the whistle, once they connect whistling to something pleasurable happening, creates excitement and forewarns them that you're coming.

Have a look at this youtube channel. Momo is a very experienced guinea pig owner on Guinea Lynx forums and has a video which goes over guinea pig care somewhere.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cutemomome
 
I have been hand-feeding them since I got them, one will take almost anything from me and run off with the goodies and the other two have took the occasional bit from me. This has included green beans, dandelion leaves and baby carrots. It seems none can resist dandelion leaves lol.

As soon as I get my hand near them without food however they just run and if I dare touch them they're off like a shot.
 
You got them yesterday. Be patient. They'll still be settling into their new environment, of course they won't want to be with the new big scary thing that keeps looming over their cage. Little pigs, by nature, are more skitterish than their elders, it keeps them safe.
 
Don't worry, it's take mine since Christmas to become remotely easy to catch -lol

Most of the time they run away to hide still, but now ant again one of them will just stand there to be stroked and picked up.

They're fine when you have them in your hands and will happily stay for ages, they just still aren't keen on being caught.

I guess millions of years of running away from danger is a hard habit to break.
Oddly they don't run away from the cat though, good job he's an old fart. :)
 
I thought I'd do an update on this situation with my new piggies. I've been slowly getting them used to myself and currently not touching or handling just yet but I've been removing the lid of their cage completely at veggie time and laying next to tank watching them, and I'm chuffed to say that they're starting to not care that I'm there and coming out to eat in front of me.

My next step I'm planning is when my playpen arrives (hopefully tomorrow) I'll transfer them into it, using a box, and sit in with them so they can approach me when they feel brave enough to. Any thoughts on this - do you think I'm doing this the right way?

I must say I could sit and watch my little piggies all day, they each have a definate personality and I can't tear myself away from cage *** their play is so cute :)

Best decision of my life getting these piggies - and I'm building a 2 storey c&c cage next week for them too!

Finally I thank everyone for this forum - when I've had doubts or questions I've used the search button and found a solution to everything - it's such a wealth of info!
 
Yeah I've been hand-feeding them each 1 piece of veg or dandy leaves before putting the bowl in with the rest of the goodies.

They take dandy leaves every time, drag it out my hand and run in their boxes with it to munch hehe (I've had to temporarily give them a box each until I can order some pretty ones - they were fighting when they didn't have one each)

As for veg they each have their own preference as to what they like - Cocoa will take baby carrots from my hand, Kizzy takes courgette and Gizmo baby sweetcorn. It's so sweet that they're all so different :)
 
Yo are doing absolutely right!

If you can get them to walk into the box themselves with the help of a treat that might make things a lot easier, as most piggies hate being pcked up, but are OK with being cuddled.

Always use a certain phrase with a certain cadence whe you pick them up, so they know what's coming and it's not random violence anymore.

Try to be as level as possible as you can, so you are to this hovering predator, and avoid any sudden movements (again, predator).

If you can get them to sneak under your pullover or cuddle in a towel on your belly, that will help the bonding, as they can get used to your smell, while still feeling safe. Be prepared for accidents, however, if they relax a bit too much and fall asleep...
 
Thanks - I don't think I'll have any trouble getting them into a box, they all run into them as soon as I go near them at the minute hehe.

My thinking is if I then move the box into the playpen and sit in with them - it's a large pen I've ordered - then they can come out in their own time and have a sniff and see I'm not out to hurt them.

What do people think about doing this with 1 piggy at a time or all together at once?

Playpen should arrive tomorrow so in meantime I'll continue to sit near cage and talk to them, as I have been doing. I've just hand-fed them dandy leaves and watercress and they're happy at the moment and jumping around the cage, which is so cute to watch!
 
If you can get the box with piggies in to your lap without incident and cuddle/stroke/talk to more than one at once then they will be reassured by the presence of another piggie and more relaxed. Try putting your hands next to them, cupping them gently at first as well as stroking, your hand will be warm and familiar but nothing in their lives has actually stroked before. Ruffle the ears a little bit, that's a mummy thing, and that will relax them too.
I've read that piggies have a twenty minute bladder time - then it needs to be emptied. They can't put their hands up to tell you - so look for shuffling bottoms, trying to tell you by nipping, staring intensely up at you with a vaguely crosseyed look and so on. You'll learn!
If they are near enough to the floor to see it - ie you are sitting crosslegged - then they will want to get down straight away. Once you have them in a box then move to a higher place or turn the box so that they can't see the floor. Panicky jumps from new piggies can be harmful to them.

Have loads of fun, it sounds as though you are getting to know your little piggies well. I have four, all grown up and very used to cuddles, and they still give me the runaround sometimes! Then - Carmina is happy to be cuddled with Carmeline but has a right go at Columbine, who doesn't want to share her cuddles with anyone, and Carmilla is just happy being cuddled and happiest of all if all four of them are cuddled at the same time!
 
Just playing devils advocate but what drove you to buy piggies if you are scared of them?

dont get me wrong - i have had to conquer some of my own deamons to get to picking mine up

i got mine because i have kept many as a child and my daughter has been driving me mad for a year until i gave in (even though they are really for me - :))

so i am just curious really
 
It's not really fear as such, I'm just nervous at the minute, which I'm sure will settle once I'm used to them.

As for why I chose piggies - my OH is allergic to dogs & cats (both of which i love and am not nervous about in the least) and I've always grown up with pets and want my children to grow up with them also (althought they're definately more for me than them lol)

My choices were hamsters, piggies or bunnies. My 8 year old daughter has a hamster and it's so sweet - it took me a while to get over my nerves and handle that but now I'm absolutely fine with it.

Just general researching into all of the above animals led me to think piggies would be the best pets for me and also appreciate the love I'll give them. I'm absolutely confident that my nerves will pass, as theirs do too and we'll help each other get accustomed to each other.

I have a lot of time and love to give my piggies and I'm confident we'll be a match in heaven eventually :)
 
i am sure your nerves will pass - mine did

i just kept saying to myself - they do not bite, they will not bite
as it really is true

sometime i have found i can go to them and pick them up no bother, other times it takes more effort on my part

the ones that run away generally sit still when being held
and the one that comes to me for a cuddle always wriggles

its a lot of fun getting to know as i am sure you are finding out
 
Congrats on the new arrivals. Lots of good advice here so far. It takes time and patience and of course, some piggies have naturally more "skittish" personalities than others and some like cuddling more than others, no matter what you do.

Just a wee tip that might be helpful - when you are putting them back in their enclosure, it's good to put them in rump first rather than nose first. It's easier to keep a grip on them and also, they are not going to see what you are doing so will be calmer. If you go nose first, they can get scared and leap, which could cause them to land awkwardly and damage their teeth or eyes. When they and you become more confident, this isn't always necessary. But, it's a good discipline to show children about handling piggies.
 
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