Bonding with my piggies

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MummyJohn&Nibbles

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Hi guys, I'm new here!

Ok, I have a few questions about getting my piggies to stop running off everytime I come near the cage.

I've had them for 3 weeks now and I know it's early days.

I think the main problem is that I have a 4 and a half year old who runs past the cage, obv has the odd screaming tantrum etc. I'm the one who feeds them and they seem to be most at ease (outside the cage) when I'm laying down on my bed with them. They come up and have a sniff, one of them nibbles my toes and I *think* John gave me a guinea pig kiss yesterday. Is there anything else I can do to help with getting them used to us or is it just a waiting game?

Gawd I really love them already. Best pets ever and they seem to enjoy Metallica and Queens of the stone age!
 
I personally would move the cage if you can, a child running past making noise is not the ideal thing to help calm nervy pigs down. Obviously they will get used to him/her in time, but they are having to get used to a lot at the moment anyway.

If they feel nice and safe with you on your bed, this would be a good place to introduce your child to them, so he/she can learn about how to handle them and they can learn he/she is not a guinea pig eating monster!

Pigs need to feel very secure in their environment and depending on where they came from this can take MONTHS. Pet shop pigs are harder as they have had so little stability in their lives. I would suggest as I say moving the cage so it's maybe higher, not quite at child volume height but still so they know this is normal for your household, and keeping to a nice routine with them. Once they learn when veggie time is you will hear wheeking and gradually they will come out for their veg, then just get used to you = nice things and hopefully calm down. They need to get used to your child as I doubt you want to rehome him/her! but just maybe from a distance/where they feel safer.

Try not to feed them through the bars though, especially carrots, as little fingers often look like these to a guinea and it will encourage biting. Open the door properly if you can.

I like a pig with a good taste in music too ;)
 
The thing I've found with guineas is that food mainly followed by routine at a close second is the main thing to encourage bonding. It took a while for Maisie and Peaches to get used to us but just through routine, talking to them whilst it's veggie time and being gentle with them they've come round brilliantly.

I do understand that it can be fustrating as well though as I've just added two new babies to my brood and they're very skittish at the moment. I wish we could just talk to them sometimes and explain that we're not going to hurt them!
 
Hello

I found it took some time, I have talked to them a lot they recognise the voice. Feeding and talking to them seemed to do it for me now they are less skittish - still like to give me the run around sometimes! :))
 
I've always opened the cage to feed them, they went squeaky mad yesterday when I got the Asda delivery lol. They also squeak when they hear keys in the door! I've taken to leaving Planet rock on quietly when i'm out so they hear human voices more.

I think we are having a break through too now.... They have stopped running away whenever someone walks past their house. I also say hello when I walk past too. Oooh I want a cuddle now :)

Thanks for all the advice. I wish I had kept piggies years ago.

On a separate note, My Hamster escaped the other night. I only knew because there was some walnuts missing off of the cake I baked the night before. Panicked a bit, but I found him trying to get back into his cage. Should have seen his face like "ah man, BUSTED"
 
MummyJohn&Nibbles said:
On a separate note, My Hamster escaped the other night. I only knew because there was some walnuts missing off of the cake I baked the night before. Panicked a bit, but I found him trying to get back into his cage. Should have seen his face like "ah man, BUSTED"
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That made me lol! :))

Even my 7 year oldie could make a mad scrabble for her hidey if one of us walked a bit quick past her cage, they are prey animals, so it's their means of defence, even when they become pensioners :) So all perfectly normal! Enjoy them, they are the best pets ever :))
 
Poppy'sMum said:
That made me lol! :))

Even my 7 year oldie could make a mad scrabble for her hidey if one of us walked a bit quick past her cage, they are prey animals, so it's their means of defence, even when they become pensioners :) So all perfectly normal! Enjoy them, they are the best pets ever :))
Click to expand...

I agree with this! Glad they're starting to settle down now. It's the best feeling ever when they start to trust you!
 
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