Help! unexpected arrival, advice needed....

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Bentleyboy

Hi All,

Were very new to the guinea pig world..... last month unexpectedly a pig turned up in our garden from nowhere. After 2 days trying to catch him we finally succeeded. We informed RSPCA & local village shop etc but it looks like we got ourselves a pig .....

We took him to a vet for checkup who confirmed he is a male, 6-8 months, and in perfect health, we have purchased a hutch and today a 'run'. Unfortunately he is terrified of humans and we are struggling with him. Every time we go near him he freezes and 'jolts' away, infact today as we were trying to put him in the 'run' he escaped and ran around the garden for 6 hours before we caught him again. By the way he has silky smooth short hair and is tan/white colour. Note he eats very well and will eat grass from our hand. If we try to pick him up he jolts away....

We have 3 questions:-

1. From my description what breed do you think he is?
2. How can we tame him so he is not petrified of us?
3. From the net I understand they like to paired, what recommendations would you advise for a new mate, we are concerned about them bonding etc ?

Thanks for any advice, as we are very much new/ novices to this due to the unexpected landing of our new little friend....

David.
 
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Hiya David and welcome. :)

Congrats on your new addition. Do you have a photo? That would help to say what breed he was but from what you say he sounds like a smooth haired bi colour perhaps a satin if he is really shiny on his coat, although I have shiny girls and they are not satin.

Guineas are naturally frightened creatures as in the wild they are prey animals. Just give him time, talk gently too him. I find trying to stroke in the cage first gains their trust. He will come around all my boars have they were terrified at first.

Yep pigs like to be in pairs. I would suggest a male pig unless he is neutered already if so then a female would be nice for him. Bonding should be on neutral ground perhaps in the bath. I would contact a rescue as if you get a boar you could go to the rescue with your pig so he can choose his own friend.

Good luck with him,

Louise
:)
 
Oh god love him he has had a rough time so no wonder he is nervy... I'm glad you are giving him a home... trick to catching him... use a box or tube for him to dart into then carefully pick him up and return him to hutch.... I take it he is outside, would u consider bringing him inside? he can get used to you and realise your not scary.
Piggys DEF need company, being a boar you would be best pairing him with a younger boar, they usually get on ok.
I'm not sure on breed, I'm sure others can help.
I can hand on heart say he will settle down and learn to trust you, being prey animals there instincs kick in and they are naturally skittish and nervy, plus you dont know how he was handled if atall before he chose you!
This site will be a fantastic tool so post often and show us some piccys! Also maybe someone here will have a young boar as we have a few rescue owners here,
WELCOME TO PIGGY LIFE!! Its fantastic!
 
when i seperated Laurent from his mum at 4 weeks he was a very nervous piggy his mum was too and it was a hase to pick him up but after about a week of spending some time with him not picking him up and picking him up so he knows you won't hurt him its a lot easier castching and cuddling and its getting easier
just give him plenty of time and patience
and welcome o the forum
Ron
 
I would agree with Clare about bringing him inside if you can - www.zooplus.co.uk have some great rabbit cages, I would get at least a 1m one if you are able to for a single pig. With our first experience with a guinea pig rescue, the lady said think of it like the child who everyone tiptoes around when they're asleep - the child is often a poor sleeper, easily startled, skittish etc - whereas a child who has people and day to day living noises all around will just sit there and evetually take it all in it's stride. We found that excellent advice and have followed that thinking with all our boys. If you can keep him indoors, if you put a stick house (a bit like a tunnel made of sticks) in there they and you have easy access unlike other types of hidey holes and he can feel safe in there yet not isolated until he's confident to make an entrance.

I would also agree with Ron about not making too much fuss at first, but talk to him a lot and let him get to know your sounds and scent and you will be well away :)

Another guinea in there will also help if you can find him a friend, a local rescue may be able to help you out and so many babies are born into rescue, if you decide to go down that route, it shouldn't be too hard to find a pal for him.

It's lovely that you are taking him on :) Welcome to the forum, but beware that becoming a piggie slave is addictive!
 
Hello! That's great that you're taking him on..well done you!

1. From my description what breed do you think he is?
He sounds like a golden and white Dutch to me!

2. How can we tame him so he is not petrified of us?
Regular handling and contact is key to breaking older guinea pigs. Because of his age, he will probably need more handling and human contact than a younger guinea pig. Try to handle him for 5-10 minutes four to five times a day, giving him a treat such a slice of cucumber or lettuce each time he comes out. Hold him close to you and make him feel secure. If he starts to get stressed, stroke from the neck downwards until you reach his rear. Do this very slowly and talk in soothing voices. It will take a while. I had a ten month old rescue sow who had not been handled at all and it's taken such a lot of handling and time to break her. Radios/televisions noises are also good for helping nervy pigs to relax.

3. From the net I understand they like to paired, what recommendations would you advise for a new mate, we are concerned about them bonding etc ?
I would echo the advice above. Neutral territory is important when introducing them. Ask local rescue centres about young males that need to be paired up with an older boar. Try having two bowls in the cage, to prevent bickering.

Hope this helps!
 
on the tv radio all mine like listening to the radio
and Laurent 'sings'along with Bach and Sullivan and to lst nights Janacek Prom!
 
welcome to the forum David and congratulations on your new friend, does he have a name yet?

Give him time, talk to him and hand feed him, he will get used to you, my boy Fugly has been with me 18 months and yet he will still run away and hide when you walk past his cage but he is happy to play and cuddle
 
Welcome to piggy ownership!
Glad you can give the piggy a new home.

I agree with the post above, neutral ground if you want to introduce another male to this one.
Give him a bit of time to "listen" to you and "smell" you. If you pick him up and cuddle him, give him a little treat. With time he'll learn to trust you and won't be so skittish any more.

Trying to hunt the piggy in the garden, put some "one way" tubes down or some little cardboard boxes with a hole on one side....they love hiding and they are feeling secure that way.
 
Thanks ALL for your help, i can't belive I got so many reply...!

I have to admit i do feel at bit stupid chatting about a piggie as i am a sport and car man usually lol, the wife has told me there is no intention of him staying outdoors in the winter, it looks like I'm being replaced .....

I forgot to mention we have already contacted a rescue centre (lymm, cheshire, guinea pig rescue), about getting a mate for him, however after several emails and Tel messages we have had no responce so I'm not sure if they are still operating...?

Will try and get a pic, thanks again

David.
 
Hi David

A lot of rescues are operated by volunteers at their own homes in their spare time, so it's likley that they are just really busy if they are still operating, so please bear with them, but don't give up :)

That's great that he will soon be inside as well :) Talk about being thrown in at the th deep end though!
 
Thanks for that....we have been trying for 3 weeks with Lymm guinea rescue so i think they must be on hols or have shutdown. Does anyone know of any other rescue centres close to me? We live in Warington so Liverpool, Chester, Manchester are close by.....

Thanks

David.
 
Hi David, I live in Warrington too. We have got two little boy piggies (Rolf and Harris, you will see them in the photo gallery) We got them from here on the forum.. and we have two more rescue piggies coming down from scotland to us in a couple of weeks. Everyone on the forum who are trying to find homes for piggies are really helpful and will travel to meet you. Have a look there. Love the comment about you being a car/sport man. Bet you greet your friends with a man hug, then do that slapping on the back thing that men do when they realise what theyre doing lol xx
 
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