Catching a piggy/general questions

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Spikie

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Hi all

First piggies ever, we worked up from snakes to gerbils to guinea pigs (next, Lions!), so some basic questions. Had them... 2 weeks and they were 'young' when we got them, still babies (I think!), ummm, say 6/7 inches long? Anyway...

Our pigs are in a cage with a side that opens. When we come upstairs they tend to either be sat in the open (behind the igloo, but still 'outside') or on the little platform where the food is. If we get near the cage they will more often than not run under the platform, then poke their noses out to see if we have gone. They have got better over the 2 weeks, they tend to more saunter than run to cover now :)

We have held food to them and they have taken it (sometimes), when they are in their run they seem much happier taking food from us (which is odd, as they are exposed in their run). They are basically just nervey, which I assume is normal given they are young and new to our house.

Should I be leaving them be or should I be causing them a small amount of distress cornering them in the cage and catching them? I don't want to traumatise them, but they rarely get to go in their exercise pen at the moment as they take some catching and they sometimes get really scared.

Also, is it normal for them to have a mad couple of minutes where they tear around as if they are being chased (when I am round the corner in the dark, so they can't see me)? Is that a fun game for them?

Thanks all!
 
The running around like mad is just them playing so nothing to worry about. Guinea pigs will always be nervous of being picked up. They are prey animals and do not like it. I have had Peronel three years and she still runs like crazy to get away from me! I suggest you pick them up everyday and they will soon begin to enjoy being held. It will take a lot of patience from you. Be gentle and let them sit on your lap under a little blanket as it will make them feel safer.
 
piggyfan said:
The running around like mad is just them playing so nothing to worry about. Guinea pigs will always be nervous of being picked up. They are prey animals and do not like it. I have had Peronel three years and she still runs like crazy to get away from me! I suggest you pick them up everyday and they will soon begin to enjoy being held. It will take a lot of patience from you. Be gentle and let them sit on your lap under a little blanket as it will make them feel safer.
Click to expand...

Thanks :)

So if I have to drag them out then it's for the greater good and they will soon need less dragging? I obviously don't hurt them, but sometimes it is a bit of a struggle to keep hold of them. If they get away they seem fine a few minutes later, and after I catch them they sit happily in my arms, so I suppose I can't be traumertising them too much...
 
The fact they sit happily in your arms shows they enjoy being held. It is just the picking up they hate!
 
Genius!

I love it! I will have to get one :)
 
My two piggies are 9 months now and still aren't keen on being picked up!

Sometimes they run and hide in the corner other times they sit there and look at me as if to say "go on then, just hurry up" :))

They have definitely got better with time as they used to do everything they could to get away. When they were small I used to get them to run into a fleece bed or little box and then pick the whole thing up, much less stressful than trying to chase them round the hutch.

They sit happily on my lap and loved being stroked, its just being picked up that they aren't keen on.

Go slowly, keep offering food by hand and they will soon realise you aren't going to hurt them. Just be patient, it takes time

x
 
It will get easier, or your'll just get quicker at catching them , lol !
I used to struggle getting them out of my outdoor hutch as it was quite low down and they'd always hide at the back. They had a tunnel they'd get into and then I would lift the tunnel into the run. But after playtime in the run I always removed everything from the run first (so they had no where to hide) and then would pick them up by hand give them a cuddle and then place them back in the hutch. Now there indoors in there c&c cage I find it alot easier as I just step in there and get them. Alot quicker! Also When hand feeding, try holding the food tightly so they sit there and nibble whilst your still holding it, rather than them grabbing the food and running. They then spend a bit more time closer to you and should become less scared:)
 
Putt is five and still hates being picked up. We herd her into a cardboard tube then pick this up, she loves being on our laps and if put down sitting next to us she climbs up onto our laps which is really cute. But still will run away if we go to pick her up from above, it is a prey instinct.

I'd advise you to get a chube or something else and then get your piggies to run into this.
 
Thanks all

We have been waiting till they ran into their igloo then taking the whole thing out and 'tipping' them into our laps. But that seemed cruel as they scrabble as they slide.

The idea of them jumping into a bed then getting picked up seems fine to me, so I'll go with that :)
 
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