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spice and honeys mummy

spice and honeys mummy

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Please don't shout at me or tell me i need to rehome my girls. :(

I feel for the past couple of weeks i've been ignoring Spice and Honey.
Don't worry they've had fresh veg daily, christmas pressies, lots of hay and been cleaned out weekly.
I still talk to them and that but i rarely hold them.
They've always been really skittish and i expect most piggies are, they always run away when i try and catch them.
And they are outside so of course i don't spend much time with them. When i go back to school i get home at 4.00pm and leave at 7.15am. So they do get fed but not held.

I feel such a failure as a piggy mum.
They can;t come inside. Because none of the family want them in,

I held the girls today and realised how beautiful and lucky i am to have them. I love them so much and i'm not going to rehome them. What can i do ?

I'm loojking forwar to the summer - Long nights so i can hold the girls and the garden is being re-vamped a bigger shed so the girls can go in but the grass is going,


Sorry if i've gone on - You lot look after your guinea pigs so much and spoil them.

:(
 
(((Hugs))) to you, don't beat yourself up. It's hard if your pigs are outside because you can't really bring them in during the winter. I do have a similar problem with Twinkle who doesn't want cuddles but I talk to him and try to encourage him and hopefully he will come around.

You obviously love your girls, please don't think you are failing them. Sounds like your girll are going to be spoilt in the spring with the bigger shed. :)

Good luck!

Louise
x
 
Awww! you must feel really rotten but I'm sure your piggies appreciate you. Is the shed big enough for a chair for you to sit in and hold them when you get back from school? or maybe get up a bit earlier for some cuddles before school?
 
keeping an animal in the winter time is hard, iv kept horses before and its just rotten, but in the summer you will have lots of time, even when you get back from school try to dedicate a little bit of time to them, even if it means maybe getting up a little earlier. we all have to make sacrifices for our animals

welll done you for posting, hope we can get you on track
 
There not in a shed at the moment.

The shed we have at the moment is tiny - it only fits the shelfs in, freezer and dryer.

The shed we are getting this year will be another 2ft longer and maybe wider so i hope so!
 
Not all guinea pigs enjoy cuddles. I've got about three that would rather not be held and Miss C is very choosy about when you hold her and will nibble you when she wants to get down (sometimes straight away ::) ). As long as you check them daily cuddling isn't a necessitity for all guineas in my opinion :) Even the tamest guineas will run at the thought of being held but will sit for you during lap time :)
 
Spice quite likes being cuddled and i play woth her spiky hair whereas Honey just wants to explore.

Thanks for all your comments - they mean alot.

Katie x
 
I'm glad you said that Karen, I really think Twinks is going to be one of those pigs that likes to be talked to but isn't one for cuddles. As long as they are cared for, and looked after especially when ill that is vital for being a good owner in my book. O0
 
((((hugs)))) from me as well, I think if my piggies were outside I wouldn't be giving them the attention that they are getting now so don't give yourself a hard time.
You'll feel better when you've got the new shed cos you will be able to spend more time with them and give them lots of cuddles!
 
Don’t beat yourself up, sounds like you are doing great. You said yourself that your piggies are well looked after, food, hay, water and they aren’t alone I presume from your blog.

So there you go, you’re great, and they are very lucky to have you!
 
Only 3 of my piggies love lap time and being stroked. The other 5 just dont so I dont force them! I still interact with them and pick them up for a checkover, nail clipping etc but let them down as soon as I can because they just dont want to be there! They have loads of fun running around and at treat time clamber all over me, but I respect their wishes in the cuddle department ;D
 
you are a fab piggy mum, as far as I can see you have always tried to do your best for them and they have been spoilt this christmas. Having them outside is hard, mine are all in a shed and can only come out a few at a time and its cold down there even with the insulation I think they are much happier if I bung a ton of hay in there cage and let them get cosy in it and munch away rather than being sat on my lap being smoothed, in the summer they are much happier doing this. I think we all have moments where we think gosh I havent really spent much time with the piggies they are very forgiving especially if you give them their fav veg and a cuddle O0
 
most of mine don't like being picked up but will 'come and see and chat' Big is like that hates being cuddled but will come to greet me when i go in the shed
it is hard like you say in the winter my guys are in the shed at the bottom of the garden (I know it should be fairies!we do things different here ;) )
come spring they wll be on the lawn!Ludwig likes cuddles and Shima likes cuddles Millie too but on her terms!
all differnt all 'put up' with the human slave that cleans them out and feeds them :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
That's how Twinkle is Ron, he will great me when I go in the room and stand at the hutch door I'll go to stroke him and he'll run off. I spend about 30 minutes per day just talking to him and Sunshine. Sunshine likes his cuddles. Fleur doesn't at the moment so I've been doing the same with her. My other two boars are fine as is Flora. I guess they are all different.

I was beginning to think Twinks didn't like me so I'm glad others have pigs who don't like cuddles too. :D
 
I'm sure you look after them very well so dont be too harsh on yourself

It is the same for me, mine are in the garage outside and when I first got them my Mum and Dad wouldnt let them come inside infact my Mum wouldnt even go near them, then on Bonfire night I persuaded them to let the piggies come in for a bit because the fireworks would scare them and they realised how lovely they are and now they come in nearlly every night and my mum loves them!

My avatar is a pic of them inside in their bed :smitten:
 
Awwww you need BIG HUGS :-*
I wouldnt worry too much as you sure do love and care for them properly so they should be fine if they dont get as much cuddles as you would like to give them 0:)

Mine are in a shed and i only cuddle mine every other day taking it in turns doing boars one day and then sows then boars as if i doen a mixture then it wouldnt be very nice on me the boars will spray me and keep sniffing me ;D ;D Ive learnt my lesson now But all I'm saying is cant you sneak piggies in your room ::) Thats what i do i grab a few piggies and run upstairs and let them play in my room :D My mum and step dad have catched me loadsa times and now are not bothered if i bring a few in now and again 0:) I sit in my living room with a few sometimes as whenever my auntie and her kids come she wants to hold them too

Try getting your family involved in them and let them see what wonderful creatures they are :P
 
I'll probably be shot down for saying this but here goes lol! I dont make a big deal out of holding mine to be honest, i find it much more rewarding if they come up and see me and have a chat to me and a stroke, mine are never themselves when i hold them and i kind of think pigs weren't put on earth for people to pick up! Dont get me wrong they do get cuddles but i dont think its a necessary thing. Mine trust me so much and will climb on me and always come to see what I'm doing if i get in the cage with them, i dont think they'd be like that if they were being picked up all the time. Dont beat yourself up, i think its far more enjoyable for the pigs if you just stroke them and talk to them and give them their favourite treats! 2 of mine stand up now when i say spinach, its so cute and thats just because i sit and play with them in their environment rather than picking them up :) i'd just say spend more time sitting outside if you can and just get to know them they way they are in their own little area, you dont need to cuddle them all the time :)
 
I don't give mine cuddles often although I do handle them everyday, one of them just kept running away from me so I gave up trying as you cant' force it.Since I've stopped trying she comes to me now when I call her and lets me pick her up and will quite happily sit on her little cushion watching me while I clean her out :smitten:
My other guinea lets me know she's had enough of cuddles when she starts chewing on my sleeve! :smitten:
 
;D awww bless - I do have a few who are sooo frightened of me and some who just relax on me and fall asleep on my shoulder as soon as i pick him up ;D It just depends on the piggy and how they are as i have to admit its only the red eyed piggies who are wild ::) ;D But i guess its also caus eshes still young though

I dont cuddle cuddle mine i just hold them and walk around with them and they seem to like it 0:)
 
As long as they have water, food, a clean hutch etc and each other for company I'm sure you're doing a great job. It is hard in the winter and it'll be so much easier in spring!
 
jnenbnb said:
I'll probably be shot down for saying this but here goes lol! I dont make a big deal out of holding mine to be honest, i find it much more rewarding if they come up and see me and have a chat to me and a stroke, mine are never themselves when i hold them and i kind of think pigs weren't put on earth for people to pick up! Dont get me wrong they do get cuddles but i dont think its a necessary thing. Mine trust me so much and will climb on me and always come to see what I'm doing if i get in the cage with them, i dont think they'd be like that if they were being picked up all the time. Dont beat yourself up, i think its far more enjoyable for the pigs if you just stroke them and talk to them and give them their favourite treats! 2 of mine stand up now when i say spinach, its so cute and thats just because i sit and play with them in their environment rather than picking them up :) i'd just say spend more time sitting outside if you can and just get to know them they way they are in their own little area, you dont need to cuddle them all the time :)
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If you're shot down then I'll go with you because I think the same. Mine get held and checked and those that enjoy a chin rub etc will get one. Ursula runs if I just look at her- she knows I want to cuddle her! She has BIG Pig eyes and constantly nazal gazes so is a big Teeeeeeease, but get an apple out and she comes straight for me ::)
Even if they could I don't think guineas would march round with little placards saying 'we want cuddles,' do you?! ;D

What clever pigs you have, mine can do little more than squeak at the sound of a bag ::) Oh, and the back door ::) Angel begs when I bring in Growing Grass or Sunflower Greens though :)
 
I think the same too. Having six isn't always easy to cuddle them all, especially with having the girls in the living room, the boys just constantly sniff the air and don't settle. So when I do have a play with them I go upstairs and put a fleece on the spare bed. Of course I check them over and make sure they are ok, feed them, and spend about 30 mins per day just talking to each set. 3 of my pigs love cuddles, the other 3 don't. Like humans they are all different. :D
 
Oh yes its like a fire alarm in our house when a bag rustles, or even if they hear someone coming up the stairs! They started off standing up to take spinach off me so i said spinach when they took it and now i suppose they just associate the word with the food so stand up! Its only the two greediest though! i think the placards would be more likely to say 'leave the grass and go' ;D x
 
awww i think your a great piggie mummy :smitten: dont feel bad :-*

i agree that my piggies rather me sitting next to their cage and watching them rather than picking them up :smitten: i handle maisy alot but she jumps on me ;D but cookie doesnt like being handled so doesnt get as many cuddles ::) she still gets handled and we are still bonding ::) but if she stays like this and doesnt want handlling then I'm happy to sit and stroke her and feed her whilst shes in her c&c! and poppy well i dont think she even knows what she wants ;D
cookies the same with a bag rustling ;D

i think all the members have said it all really :)
 
jnenbnb said:
I'll probably be shot down for saying this but here goes lol! I dont make a big deal out of holding mine to be honest, i find it much more rewarding if they come up and see me and have a chat to me and a stroke, mine are never themselves when i hold them and i kind of think pigs weren't put on earth for people to pick up! Dont get me wrong they do get cuddles but i dont think its a necessary thing. Mine trust me so much and will climb on me and always come to see what I'm doing if i get in the cage with them, i dont think they'd be like that if they were being picked up all the time. Dont beat yourself up, i think its far more enjoyable for the pigs if you just stroke them and talk to them and give them their favourite treats! 2 of mine stand up now when i say spinach, its so cute and thats just because i sit and play with them in their environment rather than picking them up :) i'd just say spend more time sitting outside if you can and just get to know them they way they are in their own little area, you dont need to cuddle them all the time :)
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I agree them - we don't cuddle them all the time, Oscar gets really fidgety at laptime but runs up to the cage when we lean in and have a chat with him, and he'll chat back. Pepe however is just the most loving and affectionate, and is the only pig happy to be stroked in his domain and always curls up when he's being cuddled. Dylan doesn't like to be handled so much, but is a good boy at laptime and Leo is so young and quick it's like trying to stroke lighting! ;D

Ours wheek at the bag rustling, but they've learnt to do it when we say 'wheekies!' as well ;D

I wouldn't feel about about not constantly showering them with cuddle time. :)
 
Mine only get handled twice a week - when they are trasnferred from cage to carrier for clean out. They prefer it this way! They do still get food etc etc though
 
@Debs111 said:
Mine only get handled twice a week - when they are trasnferred from cage to carrier for clean out. They prefer it this way! They do still get food etc etc though
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Dont you even cuddle them ? :P
 
I am not to keen to hold my pigs, they scrabble alot, but i find it more rewarding when i walk in and everyone wants to chat to me, and are up at the front of the pen jostling for the first nose stroke, and cucumber of course ;D I'm not that loved.

they are so much fun to watch,

non of my pigs enjoy being held but they do all like to have there noses stroked,

so no you are not a bad mum you see to there needs water and food,new bedding and you talk to them, if you didn't do all that well then may be you would be a bad mum, and the fact that you feel the need to chat about it also shows you are caring ;)

chill bean
 
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