I Think He's In A Mood With Me...

[Werzal]

Hi, I've had my boys just over a week now. Toffee is still very shy and runs for cover whenever I go near the cage, although he has eaten from my hand a couple times (reluctantly). He also doesn't make much noise. I'm hoping he will come round when he's ready.

Elvis however has been quite vocal for a few days now, squeaking at me when I go to get veggies from the kitchen and coming to the front of the cage to take them from me. Now, because I decided he had had too much veg yesterday and didn't give him some when he asked he's not talking to me. Is this normal behaviour?

Elvis has also started chasing toffee round quite a bit again, although they had calmed down. I just don't want them to get hurt or fall out.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Haha I too have received the silent treatment for not providing delicious greens when ordered to Totally normal, like us they can get the hump with each other and us.

What size cage are they in now, or have you made them one? A bit of chasing is normal dominance behaviour, I would just make sure to have two of everything spaced apart so Toffee never loses out on hay/food/water and weigh them both weekly to make sure they're both putting on weight Also check them both for any scratches/nips regularly while they settle down

I've just ordered some chamomile herb treats for my girls in the hope that it will calm them down when they're in season and chasing each other, who knows if it will help but fingers crossed!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Your boys are settling in and are also doing normal dominance stuff. Make sure that their hidey have two exits, so any chase can't end up in a dead end with one piggy feeling trapped.

Be consequent with feeding and treats. Elvis is just testing our how far he can push you.

 

[Werzal]

It's quite funny to be honest, he looks at me then turns his back on me.
I've joined cages together and built a ramp between them, they are loving it. I think it's about 7x2.5 foot. They've got 2 of everything, even down to toilet roll inners.

They know that after I've had my morning cuppa and checked the garden it's feeding time. Not gonna let them wrap me round their fingers when it comes to treats,

 

[Werzal]

They also won't let me pick them up at the moment. As soon as I go near they run. I don't want to scare them by chasing them around so I'm trying to take it slow. I think I read somewhere that's the right thing to do.

 

[Betsy]

It's quite funny to be honest, he looks at me then turns his back on me.
I've joined cages together and built a ramp between them, they are loving it. I think it's about 7x2.5 foot. They've got 2 of everything, even down to toilet roll inners.

They know that after I've had my morning cuppa and checked the garden it's feeding time. Not gonna let them wrap me round their fingers when it comes to treats,

Ha! Really? That's what you think now ..... You won't stick to it .... Whenever I get mine out they have some dandelion leaves and if they don't get them they make me know about it! I started it cos I wanted them to let me know I was a friendly human and when I pick them up nice things happen. I'll have to go up to my late Mum's village where the dandelions grow in abundance on the (dog free) grass bank and they grow to over a foot long (I kid you not)! I have never seen such huge dandelion leaves in my entire life!

 

[Werzal]

I'm gonna do my best. They really enjoy runner beans. I've got all kinds of veg growing in my garden and have also started a weed garden to supply the many animals we have in the house.
Foot high dandelions sound amazing, gonna need to find some of those round here.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Great idea, I currently have dandelions, nettles and plantain growing for them but wanna expand the natural things!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

As for picking up it can be hard, best to encourage them into a hidey or something to pick them up swiftly and efficiently, they soon become wise to it though so be inventive!

 

[Betsy]

Tried that it didn't work so well. When I first put Meg in the hutch at around 9 weeks with her Mum Velvet and her Aunty Betsy she had her favourite corner and always went there when she wanted to be picked up. Christian and Dennis (the other babies) were in the bottom of the hutch (it's a double decker). I took the ramp out and covered the hole with some strong cardboard. After the boys had been neutered and after the appropriate waiting period I put the ramp back in. Meg discovered that if she goes to her favourite corner to be picked up she can scoot of down the ramp and we have a game of catch me if you can.

 

[Werzal]

Ok, I read somewhere not to pick them up if they go in a hidey as that's there safe place. I've had them out a couple times, if they are running too much and seem frightened I leave them. I'm thinking little and often is probably key.