Herding Piggies For Cuddles

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Flamestriker

Flamestriker

Adult Guinea Pig
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Yeh, I am stuck. I cleaned out the C&C cage yesterday and my usual routine doesn't work!
The cage is a 3x2 with a 2x2 loft one end and a 3x5 the other (short 3 grids to make it a full 3x8 cage. It currently houses 5 sows.

But they know that I cannot reach one end because of the 3grids. So when I want a cuddle, that is where all five gather. And look at me. And I am sure that they are laughing...or going :raz:

Any ideas how to 'catch' them? A pole with a box or large drawstring bag at the end? I don't want to downsize back to a 2x8 as they have so much room. And the spare grids I bought from Amazon are slightly thicker and won't fit the connectors to make a divider.

I cannot simply live without piggy cuddles! :help:
 
My two won't allow me to pick them up if they're out in the open, but they'll allow me to pick them up if they're inside a carrot cottage. Basically just lift the carrot cottage up slightly to avoid scraping them on the edges, and pick them up gently with the other hand.

Course that only works because they've eaten huge doors into the front walls, but maybe if you gave them something as a big enough shelter at the easy to reach end, it might help? Unless you've already done that (I'm not sure what way your cage is laid out sorry)
 
We are currently using a 3x c&c so understand :)) the width makes a huge difference.... I focus on one pig and chase them round to a corner I can catch, I am sure an arm waving carefully around under the loft will send then the other way. Or maybe when you want a cuddle sneakily block the loft end off? Luckily we have no loft for the piggies to congregate under laughing at us x
 
I have one of these

viewImage


only mine has a longer handle. It is so easy to gently push them round to the nearest edge of the cage. Jingle has got a bit wise to this and will just stand firm so I put her hidey into the cage and remove all cage hides and in she goes!
 
Good idea flowerfairy.

My lot do not congregate under the loft because the hay tray is there. They go to the opposite end (where the grids are 3x5) where they know that I cannot reach. Then they scuttle back and forth knowing that I cannot get to them
 
I have been known to stand up the log tunnel to block off an escape route. Can you line up the bits in the cage so that they are only able to run so far when you are trying to catch them?

They are daft, I know it is instinct but when they are so happy being cuddled it is such a shame we have the horror of the catch first.
 
Ooo...where do these come from please and what are they called?

flowerfairy said:
I have one of these

viewImage


only mine has a longer handle. It is so easy to gently push them round to the nearest edge of the cage. Jingle has got a bit wise to this and will just stand firm so I put her hidey into the cage and remove all cage hides and in she goes!
Click to expand...
 
I take the hidies out of the cage and put in their carrier and they just walk into it. Makes moving them around easy especially when the lovely warm weather comes and they go outside in the run. They were nervous of getting into it at first but bribery with a bit of carrot or cucumber inside worked, now they get fed at floor time anyway so they are happy to just hop in. Much easier to lift them out of carrier for cuddles too.
 
Block access to the loft in the first place. I use a sideways wastepaper basket to collect mine for mass transport. They get used to the routine; this went even smoother by the end of the summer!

Here is a little video of me collecting the 12 strong Tribe in 3 minutes - admittedly, it is much easier to get them back home than to get them out. But the majority of piggies is catching on pretty quickly.
 
Flamestriker said:
Thank you Wiebke. That is very useful. I think I will adopt you're and piggieminder's ideas, as the cage is big enough to put either a basket or a crate in.

Thank you everyone
Click to expand...

Put some fresh grass or a little treat at the very end during the training phase, that helps enormously! Plus you have to work past the stage where they are not keen on coming in so have a little treat and lots of praise again as soon as they are where you want them. ;)
 
Once they catch on that coming out the cage means food, either during cuddles, floor time or on the grass they will look forward to seeing whatever you decide to carry them in coming. My two have a little ritual where they have to go up the ramp and walk round the cage before they go in the box, it's like they have to check everything is okay at home before they leave. :))
 
Mine loathe coming out and love going back home again!

I transport them in this

2hwg1op.jpg


Lap time is like this only with 2 hides these days

2yukcq8.jpg
 
i have a fleece house which they happily jump into when i need to move them to their play pen at night time.... once in, i gently reach in and lift them out, one at a time as only one fits now they are nearly 2 lol !
 
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