Mikknu's Pigg-nus!

[Mikknu]

Hey everyone! I'm going to try and keep pictures of my boys relegated to here, along with updates on them. We've just gotten home today(03/13/20), and are eating dinner before stopping by the pet store and grocery store.

They're pretty scared right now, but I saw Kenai start to explore some things already! My SO and I noticed that though he's pretty small, he seems really curious. Much braver than Koda, who's been frozen the whole time.

I scattered their home hay all around their cage. I'm hoping it helps them adjust a little.

Everyone keeps saying Koda looks like skunk TT~TT I guess I've got to accept his skunk-ness... Kenai has much softer fur than I thought too. Way softer.

According to their previous parent, their favourite food is bell peppers and parsley. Koda is a Sheba Mini Yak, like we thought, and they called Kenai a Lunky mix. I'm not sure how much I believe the Lunkarya, knowing he's so soft made me think Swiss, but it's whatever I suppose. He's still growing, so we'll see what he becomes!

Finally, the best part- Pigtures! Not too many right now, I'm trying my best to leave them be. I covered their cage with a huge sherpa throw I've got, and they've just barely started creeping around.



Update: As I was typing this, Kenai ran to the upper level! Very happy!

 

[Swissgreys]

Gorgeous boys - so glad they are safety home.

 

[Mikknu]

I know, I'm so happy that we all made it there and back safely.

They've both been up into the half loft and down already. Kenai is hiding in the fleece forest, and Koda is hiding under the small canopy in the hay box right now. I saw both of them in there earlier, before they ran from me. They're obviously pretty scared of me, I feel pretty guilty.

I did a quick health check on them, once I had some time to get them into cozies so that I could. They're both males for sure! Their skin all looks good, eyes are bright, everything is clear and their nails are trimmed as well.

Kenai is 302 g. He feels a bit on the skinny side, but not emaciated by any stretch if the word. I was told that he's been growing pretty slowly.

Koda is 379 g. He has a bit more meat on his bones than Kenai, but not enough that I'm really worried about either of their... hefts?

Mostly right now I'm worried about them eating and drinking. I haven't seen evidence of either, but I know that they may not be doing so where I can notice. I may weigh them more frequently these first couple days, just to be sure that they're eating something if I don't see them eat anything at all.

I was literally just typing I havent heard them making noise and Koda came out of the hay box and started making social noises! Which brought Kenai out and now Kenai is zooming and popcorning! He stopped by the hay bag but isn't doing much but he's popcorning! Koda is now hiding in the fleece forest, xD

I'll continue to update!

 

[Black piggies]

Congratulations on having them home. They must be loving their spacious new luxury pad!

 

[Hannah_xx]

How exciting for you!
I’m glad the long journey to go and get them went well. And it sounds like their settling in very well, love that Kenai is zooming and popcorning already, he must be chuffed with his new home!
They’ll eat when they’ve had a few more hours rest, and settling in time. You could scatter some salad leaves in which might tempt them

Their very cute!

 

[artcasper]

They are gorgeous! Glad you got them home safely... they will take a while to settle and will more than likely sneak out to eat when u r in bed... I always talk to mine as I approach their cage, they know u r there then... cage looks fab!

 

[PigglePuggle]

So glad you got to bring your gorgeous boys home after all your careful planning, you are going to be an amazing piggy slave

 

[Mikknu]

Thanks so much for all the support everyone!

While they thought we weren't there, the boys came out! They drank plenty of water and started eating the oat hay, as well as munching on the little ball toy with hay in it. I was able to watch them zooming in circles around the upper/lower level, though they didnt stop in the hay box. Little poops everywhere, of course!

They're both in the fleece forest, I just woke up and turned the lights on. Overnight, I heard them drinking more on and off.

The cats have been investigating. The pigs are, obviously, not the biggest fan of them. All the cats wanna do is sit in the hay box though ._. They don't really seem to care about anything other than that. I'll continue to watch them and work with taking them off the lid, although I'm pleased to know that they can't get in!

More pigtures! Koda isn't anywhere near as brave as Kenai, but he'll get there. I believe in him!

 

[Flutterby]

 

[Merab]

Congratulations at getting them home.
Give them time and they will settle into their new environment.
They are soooooooo cute

 

[Mikknu]

I'm very happy to have them home!

They're been much less active so far today. I put a scattering of salad leaves and some bell pepper in their enclosure, with just a few sprigs of cilantro. It hasn't drawn them out yet, but I'm hoping it will in an hour or two. I'd like to see Koda get a bit of food in him. I'm thinking about putting some hay in the fleece forest, just to make sure he's getting something in him.

If they eat, I'll post pics!

 

[Spoink]

You are so sweet, what a lovely human your piggies have. They are little diamonds.

 

[Mikknu]

Some more pigtures! Apologies for the poor quality, I'm about ten feet away from them and I only have one small light on so that it's dusk-like. I remember reading somewhere that guinea pigs are most active in the twilight hours.



They're eating plenty of hay! And still drinking a lot as well. I put a full water bottle in and they're down about 105 mL. Lots of noises too! Although I'm not 100% what the noises mean. I hope they're social happy noises though, they sound like a bunch of little repeated squeaks.

They're still very skittish. I haven't seen evidence of them eat any vegetables, though they are scattered around. Now that their cage is cleaned for the day and they're back in, I'm going to add some more vegetables right before bed in hopes they eat them while I'm asleep.

They seem to like it when I sing and talk near them, so thank you for that advice. They also seem to like light music/tv.

 

[Siikibam]

I would give them 48 hours to settle in before hand feeding or even taking them out the cage to clean it. Are you doing a full clean or poo picking/sweeping? Also try covering part of their cage with a blanket or something. They’ll feel even safer then now

ps sorry if I don’t make sense, I keep dozing off while I type.

 

[Mikknu]

Thanks for the advice! I'm scatter feeding right now, but I do have tiny bowls for them. Not a big hit though.

I was doing a poo sweep, they were so terrified of my hands in there that when they ran into their cozy sacks I just moved them out. I'll leave them in tomorrow when I clean. I'm figuring this out, little by little!

This is their cage at the moment. We've got some boards out in the garage we're going to cut to size instead of having cardboard on top, heheh.

They appear to be pretty pleased with this arrangement. As long as I don't move too quickly, they'll be out and about. Exploring, eating, drinking. They're bottle biters, and very thirsty. I can't tell if they're eating any if the scattered veggies(I haven't wanted to spook them), but in the morning we'll see.

I saw Kenai popcorn, his foot cleared the top of the coroplast! I was pretty surprised, he must've jumped a good 4, 5 inches for me to see it from where I was sitting. Koda is running about more as well.

As long as they're eating and well, I'm happy just to see them. Maybe I'm talking too much... I'm just so excited.

 

[Darcey15]

Very pleased to hear you have your piggies home. They will settle in a few days & no doubt you'll start to see their little personalities come out. Enjoy watching them!

They are stunning

 

[Mikknu]

Thanks you @Darcey15 !

Here's the update for today. The day started with them not coming out at all, but as of the last hour they've been pretty active! I left the hay bag open and both boys have found their way into the top of it! I guess that means I have to close it all the time from now on.

I didnt see Koda all day. I was worried he'd gotten stuck somewhere, but turns out he's just a silent shadow. Kenai is really noticeable even in the dark, Koda much less so.

They've been fairly active since then. They still haven't eaten any vegetables though..m they eat the pellets I sprinkle and are constantly eating hay, but they won't eat any vegetables I offer them. Scattered, by their fleece forest, in a bowl, right by their hay. Nilch. I know they've been eating vegetables, they were eating bell peppers and cilantro the day I picked them up. Is this normal?

They're eating plenty of hay. They seem to rotate between the oat hay and the orchard, but I think they like the oat hay just a little bit more. They're running around plenty! I was told that Kenai was the top pig, but Koda sure seems to be chasing him around a lot. They arent very noise though. Koda chases, and Kenai jumps. Is this Koda barbering him... ? Or is Koda asserting dominance and becoming the top piggy?

They dont make much noise st all. They're very, very quiet... I wish they'd be a bit louder.

I bet I'll regret saying that eventually though xD

 

[Black piggies]

Do you know what veggies they had before? Maybe if they were getting less ideal veggies than what you offer, say carrot, you could give them their old veggies and transition them gradually?

When I got my boar he stayed in his hidey for a long time, just coming out to eat when noone was around. He gained a lot of confidence gradually over time. For months I think my piggies were scared of hands in the cage and people walking by and now they're very relaxed.

 

[Mikknu]

Do you know what veggies they had before? Maybe if they were getting less ideal veggies than what you offer, say carrot, you could give them their old veggies and transition them gradually?

When I got my boar he stayed in his hidey for a long time, just coming out to eat when noone was around. He gained a lot of confidence gradually over time. For months I think my piggies were scared of hands in the cage and people walking by and now they're very relaxed.

Their favourites at their old home were green bell peppers, cilantro, parsley, and their favourite treat was oranges. They have also had baby romaine. They were really calm and well handled, they let their mom pick them up and hold them without barely any running.

Thus why I'm trying to use their favourites, but they just aren't biting :c I don't want them to suffer because they won't eat veggies. They're eating the pellets I sprinkle feed, which gives me a little bit of hope that they're transitioning to what I'm feeding.

I'm just not sure what to try... ?

 

[Siikibam]

Just keep persevering. Put it in every day and if not eaten then you’ll have to throw it away. Hopefully they’ll bite soon.

 

[Black piggies]

The veggies don't smell of your hand cream or anything? It's great they're eating hay and drinking. That's the main thing.

 

[Mikknu]

The veggies don't smell of your hand cream or anything? It's great they're eating hay and drinking. That's the main thing.

Not so far as I know, I don't use any lotion. I wash the veggies and cut them with a clean knife, on a paper plate so there shouldn't be any adverse smells from an old cutting board. Immediately take downstairs and sprinkle. I put some in their bowls with a little bit of pellets too, no dice. I also put some right in front of their favourite hiding spot.

Boy do they drink though! They're always biting at the bottle. It's where I see them most frequently. They have two bottles, but seem to prefer the one in the middle of the cage... I'm not sure why.

I can hear them shuffling around in the hay right now. I cant see them though, it's pretty dim down here.

 

[Black piggies]

Mine prefer one of their two bottles too. Could you try a sprig of parsley? The water you wash them in wouldn't seem different to them? (We live in the area of UK with the hardest water and visiting relatives in Scotland with very soft water, my son isn't keen on such a change...) Maybe they're just enjoying the hay too much, which is great.

 

[Mikknu]

Mine prefer one of their two bottles too. Could you try a sprig of parsley? The water you wash them in wouldn't seem different to them? (We live in the area of UK with the hardest water and visiting relatives in Scotland with very soft water, my son isn't keen on such a change...) Maybe they're just enjoying the hay too much, which is great.

Hmmm... I'll try washing them with purified water and see what they think. That's what's in their bottles that they seem to love so much, so I'll give it a shot!

They drained half of their main bottle overnight. I'm pretty impressed, the bottles hold a pretty good amount of water. Another small victory is that I put a small rosehip and dandelion loop in there by their veggie bowls, to see if they would at least come investigate the veggies, and they at that at least! So they're willing to try things.

They started moving around really early this morning! Just 45 minutes after I woke up. They don't seem to be as startled anymore either, which us good. That's not to say they arent still afraid, but they aren't running around like chickens with their heads cut off anymore.

I think, THINK, I heard the first dominance spat last night. They were in the fleece forest and it was dark, but there was some rumbling, and then one of them squeaked quietly and I heard a thump that I've come to associate with one of them jumping. I'm glad that they're feeling comfortable enough to start establishing an hierarchy in their new home.

If they finally eat some veggies, I'll post back on here. Should I give them before, or after, a cage clean though? I know it's going to scare them, me sweeping up and them having to run around everywhere. I've got to actually take their hay box out soon, I've been scooping out soiled hay but I havent pulled the absorbent and fleece padding out of it yet to throw in the wash. When I do wash, it'll take all day probably. Or at least an hour for the wash, and five or so for the dry. Maybe more?

 

[Darcey15]

Thanks you @Darcey15 !

Here's the update for today. The day started with them not coming out at all, but as of the last hour they've been pretty active! I left the hay bag open and both boys have found their way into the top of it! I guess that means I have to close it all the time from now on.

I didnt see Koda all day. I was worried he'd gotten stuck somewhere, but turns out he's just a silent shadow. Kenai is really noticeable even in the dark, Koda much less so.

They've been fairly active since then. They still haven't eaten any vegetables though..m they eat the pellets I sprinkle and are constantly eating hay, but they won't eat any vegetables I offer them. Scattered, by their fleece forest, in a bowl, right by their hay. Nilch. I know they've been eating vegetables, they were eating bell peppers and cilantro the day I picked them up. Is this normal?

They're eating plenty of hay. They seem to rotate between the oat hay and the orchard, but I think they like the oat hay just a little bit more. They're running around plenty! I was told that Kenai was the top pig, but Koda sure seems to be chasing him around a lot. They arent very noise though. Koda chases, and Kenai jumps. Is this Koda barbering him... ? Or is Koda asserting dominance and becoming the top piggy?

They dont make much noise st all. They're very, very quiet... I wish they'd be a bit louder.

I bet I'll regret saying that eventually though xD

Its still early days. They are eating hay & pellets & drinking plenty of water so thats all good. Veggies are extra anyway and I'm sure it will come. They are still settling in so just give them time to adjust.

My pigs like routine. They are out on the grass today in the sunshine, have unlimited hay & a bowl of pellets but tonight when I go in...they will go nuts because they know whats coming & all shoot inside to be the first up for veggies (normally kale, spinach, carrots or whatever i have in). This didnt happen immediately though...a good few days at least & i remember my little one Sonya didnt come in at all. I had to pick her up from the run & plop her down in the shed to be fed. Just a little timid at first but now she comes in with the rest of them.

They are all different but like any animal (or child) a routine takes time but just keep at it and I'm sure they will settle soon enough.

 

[Black piggies]

Yes my cage liners take overnight at least to dry. You could use newspaper or puppy pads with bits of fleece fabric under their hideys if need be.

I like to poop scoop before giving a feed as I then pick up any bits of veg left etc but you'll get you're own routine. Good luck for cage clean! Btw because I really struggled to catch my pigs early on, I clean each side of the cage separately, with the pigs on the side I'm not cleaning. I spray the cleaner onto wipes not into the air. They're very used to this and get a treat when it's done.

 

[Mikknu]

Yes my cage liners take overnight at least to dry. You could use newspaper or puppy pads with bits of fleece fabric under their hideys if need be.

I like to poop scoop before giving a feed as I then pick up any bits of veg left etc but you'll get you're own routine. Good luck for cage clean! Btw because I really struggled to catch my pigs early on, I clean each side of the cage separately, with the pigs on the side I'm not cleaning. I spray the cleaner onto wipes not into the air. They're very used to this and get a treat when it's done.

We'll figure it out. I'm not washing today, I'm sorta playing it by ear. Because their main liner goes up over the walls, I'm not so worried about the main flooring.

I did do a deeper clean on the top. I took all the pads off+the fleece, and used some vinegar water to wipe down the coroplast. There were a couple pee spots from where they'd gotten between the fleece pads, but nothing awful. As far as I can tell, it looks healthy... ? I'm not that awfully versed in guinea pig pee Their hay box got a dumping and complete refilling today too, whereupon I discovered they're starting to eat and nibble on more of the chews they've got! Which is cool.

While I was cleaning the top they were in the fleece forest, but they ran up to the half loft and were investigating me while I was doing the rest of the cleaning. They seem much less afraid of... well, everything, as time goes by. I feel like when they're out of their hides they're happy, but the second they go into their fleece forest, they won't come out for a long time. They have a bunch of other hides(I saw Kenai in one!), but they seem to prefer to fleece forest above all else. I'm glad they feel so safe in it.

I repositioned a little, to better suit their needs. Both water bottles are next to each other in the middle now, for better access. I put some veggies, a pellet mix, and a bit of hay in their bowls in an attempt to get them to root around for the veggies(green bell pepper and parsley). Still no eating though. I moved the hay box to the right a little, so that they'd have a bit more room. Tomorrow their cuddle cups should FINALLY get here. They're pretty big into sitting on top of everything, so I think the cuddle cups will be a hit.

They're currently really enjoying the hay box. They're making more noise, although they're still mostly silent. I actually heard some medium loud noises from them, I thought I'd turned on a recording xD There's lots of rumbling, but it never lasts more than a few seconds. I can't really tell who's doing what though...

 

[Siikibam]

Do you have a second liner or just the one for now?

 

[Mikknu]

Do you have a second liner or just the one for now?

Just the one for now unfortunately. I was going to be getting two more in April, but uh... Yeah, the virus and lack of work has sent things into a rather large corkscrew for spending that much extra. Their playpen is 2.25 meters squared (150 cm by 150 cm), so I'm anticipating having to use that on days I wash the liner. We have a high efficiency washer and dryer, so hopefully, it won't take more than 6 hours maximum to dry. That's five hours in the dryer, I think it should be okay. We did a test run with smaller lap pad, potty pads, and cuddle sacks. The cuddle sacks, the thickest and most difficult to wash things, dried in 2 hours on the lowest heat. The lap pad dried in 1.

If we get in a pinch, I've got plenty of extra uhaul blankets(about 4) and lots of extra fleece. I'll make a "liner" out of those blankets and the fleece wrapped around them. When I've got a bit extra money and things are open again, I will probably sew my own extra cage liner. I've got to get the fleece for it first, and to do that, I want to know when I'm going back to work. I have to prioritise my bills.

 

[Mikknu]

The boys have been a little less active today. With all the people in the house, running up and down the stairs, putting boxes everywhere. I haven't barely started to unpack, it was a long and hectic day. I probably won't start until tomorrow, or maybe even later. I'm hoping to get virtual meet ups scheduled for my clubs and friend group in the next few days, now that things are settling down.

Last night, Kenai ate from my hand! He did it again this morning as well! Koda still freezes up and runs any time I'm near. Still, I think he's just the type of pig that doesn't like cuddles. And from what I understand, no pig likes being picked up.

I remember reading that once they accept food from your hand, it's okay to try lap time. So we did! I tried some of the piggy whispering things, and pretty soon Kenai was making guinea pig noises(chutting?) And wanting to explore. I feel so touched that he trusts me.

Neither of them will eat vegetables... I'm going to try some orange soaked vegetables. To see if that might entice them to try something. Or even if they just lick some orange juice off, or eat the orange itself, I'll be happy to have made even a little progress. I guess my vegetables just... aren't presented in a way that they realise is food, or maybe they just smell strange? I can't imagine from what though.

Pigtures! Just of Kenai, Koda is still super shy.