Making my Pigs feel welcome

  • Thread starter Thread starter AmberEdwards
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AmberEdwards

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and want to say a big Hello to everyone :)

My husband & I have rescued 3 wonderful Guinea Pigs today. We have had the hutch waiting for ages. It have 2 levels (4ft) and a run that we can attach to the bottom deck. It's a beautiful hutch that was made to order in Bolton & driven down to me in Essex last week.

My pigs came today & are very nervous. They have not yet (after 8hrs) come out of the enclosed section. I want to make them feel as welcome as possible but I'm not sure weather to leave them alone to settle in or handle them lots in these early days.

Any advice or tips on making my new babies welcome would be great. I want them to feel safe not scared. Some friends & family wanted to come along today to meet them but I said no as I just felt it wasn't fair on them.

Thank you all in advance. X Amber from Essex
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. You should let your piggies settle for a couple of days so that they can get used to their new surroundings. Is it 3 sows you have rescued? Looking forward to seeing pics when they have settled in :)
Just to make you aware, keep an eye on whether the piggies use the ramp or not as one level at 4ft is not big enough for 3 pigs so if they dont use the ramp (a lot of piggies dont) then they will need bigger accomodation ;)
 
Leave them to settle for at least 24-48 hours. Talk to them gently and as often as possible, so they get used to you. Don't try to tower over them like a predator or stare at them straight for long.

Try to lure them out with little treats, but don't be disappointed if they don't take it off you yet. Make sure they have plenty of hay nearby; they will come out when they feel safe and start to explore and feed. It may take them a few days to tackle a new variety of pellets.

Be careful giving them veg, if you don't know whether they have had them before. It can give them the runs. Iintroduce new veg slowly, one by one, and leave them for a day to get used to them, even if they won't eat them straight away.

A surefire way to make friends is usually fresh grass, but don't give too much, if you are not sure they have had it before (diarrhea).

Well done for going for recues. Enjoy bringing their personalities out and get them used to you! Be patient and don't handle them too soon or for too long at first. Little and often does it!
 
Thank you so much for such a warm welcome & great advice.
The ramp....point noted that if they don't use the upstairs accomadation will be too small...the ramp seems a bit big for them & I am concerned they may fall down it. The are girls & 12wks old.
Could I help then use the ramp perhaps? Maybe use treats to get them up & down it?
I have noted down everything you have noth suggested & just e-mailed it over to my husband too.

Thank you so, so much. I will take pics once they have settled in.

Amber :))
 
Hi and welcome to the forum :) I think that the best advise has already been given. Just let them settle in. When it comes to introducing yourself to them, talk to them gently so they get use to you voice and let them sniff at your hand. Guinea pigs are naturally nervous animals so will tend to run and hide most of the time. I rescued a guinea pig in April as a cage mate to my existing piggy after her cage mate died and she has only just stated to come out of her shell but all the hard work is paying off. Like Vicky has said, don't be disappointed if they do not take veggies from you straight away or if they run away from you as this will settle in time. If you are prepared to put in the hard work (which I'm sure you are) the benefits will pay off. Guinea pigs are lovely animals to own and I look forward to seeing pics of them and hearing all about them :) xx
 
How's it going today?

Somebody on the board makes fabric tunnels for ramps, but i can't remember who? Perhaps if you put a thread in the "General chat".

You can try to lure them up ramps with little treats ot fresh grass strewn all the way. It's easier to go up than down at first. But I would wait until they have setteld and are comfy with you first. They may discover the ramp on their own, especially if they're young!
 
Hi and welcome :))

How are the girls settling in?

Disney and Paris would not use the ramp at all, I tried food and allsorts but ended up having the tunnel made. Its great now, they charge everywhere!

Helen at Cosy Cavies is fab, she makes wonderful guinea goodies and they are a really good price.

http://www.cosycavies.co.uk/
 
Thank you all so much for such a warm welcome! :)

Piggys are coming along just fine. It's been very wet here in Essex since they arrived & I am not sure if I should put them in the run when the grass is wet. What do you think? Not in the rain but once it has stopped......

At the moment as soon as I wake up I sort my daughter out and go into the garden to check on our Piggys. My heart skips a beat before I open the door as I just want to make sure they are still alive! I am very gentle & as you advised speaking softly to them. I avoid having my toddler & piggys together just now as she is SO, SO, SO loud!

I LOVE the tunnel! It is just what I need so will have a good nose on the website with my credit card rolleyes

Thank you again, x Amber from Essex
 
If they are indoors piggies, I always make the "hand test" to see whether the ground is warm to my hand, if not, it should be OK. You can always put a slightly raised tray with a towel and a hut in, so they can go and have a nap in a dry and warm place.
 
Hi there,
I'm new here too and have 2 girlies, same age as yours.
Ive gota toddler too and have introduced them very slowly and under stricked supervision, the girls arnt too sure of him but will sit and eat some carrot on his knee, but its only for a few minutes a day so they get used to him slowly.
In the evening they have free run of the living room.
After 3 weeks last night was the first night they explored abit more and was actually popcorning ( think thats what you call it) it was fantastic to see.
I feel abit more reasured that they feel happy
Claire
 
I dont worry about how noisy my toddler is as piggies get used to it. At first when she was running around screeching 'hiya' tat them they hid away but now they go up to the bars to see her as they are used to her just being a bag of noise :)) My piggies are indoors though so are used to all the general household noise ;)
 
"popcorning"...tell me more?! Sounds like your piggys are very happy little pickles.

I am trying so hard to get it right. I want them to be happy piggys x
 
Popcorning is what happens when piggies are very happy. They sort of jump in the air like they are having little fits or as if they are being poked up the bum :)) Mine run round and round the cage it makes me dizzy. Its a lovely thing to watch :)
 
You'll get it, but it may take a bit as settle in. It took me two weeks for one of my lots ot popcorn; the other hasn't done more than one ore two little jumps. But she's a big, fat girl, and that's probably the reason why...

It can be a matter of temperament. Some pigs do it more than others, and when they are adults, they do it less often.

But watching them jumping or racing at breakneck speed and bumping into each other is fun. You can encourage them to do more, if you make admiring noises!

If you have space outside the cage/hutch, you can build little hurdles and tunnels.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top