Building Bonds

[Leni]

Hi everyone,

I have just adopted (or better: I took them in and I am going to keep them until they find a permanent home) two 1-year-old boars from a local animal shelter.
I've had them for a week, and I think we're making progress: they eat from my hands, they tolerate (I am not sure they enjoy it) being scratched, they don't mind me sitting next to their cage/playground,and *sometimes* when I top up the hay they come close and eat while I'm still there.
At the moment I'm actively trying to interact with them on a daily basis, but I'm not sure I'm doing it right.

What should I do? Should I give them more space/time and not stress them out with my attempts to bond with them?
How long did it take for you to pet your guinea pigs and safely pick them up/hold them? Do they spontaneously come to you at some point?
(I had to pick them up because I had to check their health, but they were so frightened that I felt horrible)

 

[sport_billy]

Hi Leni

Welcome to the forum! I do hope you'll enjoy your time here, it is a friendly community so please feel free to ask any questions you may have

Right, first off. You are doing a great job honestly, you have got over major hurdles already. Feeding from hand is excellent Some piggies like fuss others do not. One of our girls used to love chin rubs but nothing else. Widget loves head rubs but wont tolerate touching her back etc... so it is getting to know what they like.

I would say you already have a bond built there

Piggies rarely and I mean rarely will let you pick them up even the most tamest of piggy it goes against all prey instincts to be picked up and prey instincts are deeply embedded... think eagle from sky scenario. There are ways around this however... our first four piggies would walk into a chube we placed in the cage to be taken out for laptime or run time. The others I just herd in - have a look at video below. I still use this method today often

Be lovely to see some photos of your piggies at some point

Could you add your location to your profile as it helps us tailor any advice if ever needed to your geographical location

Welcome again
Lee

 

[SuperRupa]

Hi Leni

They already eat from your hands after a week? That's great!
I think you are making a great progress, so please don't worry so much.
Like sport_billy said, even the tamest piggies don't like getting captured. It's just their instinct. I use a cosy every time they need transferred. They now understand this cosy means "transport time" and when I place it in front of them they often willingly go inside and wait patiently to be transferred, but it took them probably a month or two to learn or get used to. We have three piggies and they are transferred one by one.

And welcome to this lovely forum. I'm a newbie here too and already feeling at home.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hi & welcome to our friendly forum. So far reading your post, you are doing remarkably well, just carry on with what you are doing.

 

[sport_billy]

They now understand this cosy means "transport time" and when I place it in front of them they often willingly go inside and wait patiently to be transferred, but it took them probably a month or two to learn or get used to. We have three piggies and they are transferred one by one.

That is really cool that the queue - how very British

 

[SuperRupa]

That is really cool that the queue - how very British

Oh sorry the confusion! Then don't need to queue because they keep separated all the time. They live side by side devided by C & C grids. They all have individual freedom time outside their pen.

They are all alpha male piggies and snap at each other very quickly. Did try bonding two of them but after several bloody insidents I gave up.

But in general if they live in a group piggies are very good at walking in a row aren't they - so adorable!

 

[sport_billy]

You is that in your avatar by the way?

 

[SuperRupa]

You is that in your avatar by the way?

Yes he was one of the alpha male piggies - so there were four pens!

Rupert is his name. He became very ill earlier this year and crossed the rainbow bridge last month. He was only two. Too young to die...

Well it seems like I still haven't got over it yet. I'm sort of feeling he's still with us, like I could almost see him squeaking and running around in our piggy room..... I miss him so so much.....