Nervous newbie!?!

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Cookie&Truffle

Hello,
I only joined up here yesterday and have already spent hours looking and learning! thought it was time to post myself and ask some well needed questions :x
This will probably sound really silly, but I was once biten by a very large guinea pig when I was a little girl and even though at the time it didnt really bother me, I'm really nervous having now i've brought 2 rex guinea's on Saturday :( I have a lovely chocolate coloured piggie called Truffle, and a tri colour'd girlie called Cookie. Cookie has glorious curly hair on her back!
They are the most gorgeous little girls but I'm ashamed to say I have to get my mum round to get them out their hutch so we can sit petting them! Is it normal to feel a little worried about picking them up? or am I being just plain stupid?

They are both, of course, looking very scared and hide for most of the day in their little house but when we do get them out, they love to be stroked and sit with my little girl no problems.
When I put their veggies in, I talk to them but try not to disturb them so they know that everytime the door is opened, someone isnt going to whip them out of their home.

Does anyone have any tips for a new time piggie mum.....both how to get them to trust us and how to calm my nerves when picking them up?! :red

GREAT FORUM TOO :))
 
hello and welcome! make sure you do it gradually! start by letting them come to you by holding your hand as a fist in the cage, they'll just sniff you if you have clean hands! then offer food, handfeeding is a great step up! then stoking, then picking up. always start from the front of your piggie or piggies, as they are prey animals so get scared easily. and, no, its not a silly question at all! i was just the same xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
hello and welcome!

with piggies its best to get to their level - try not loom down upon them - gently stroke them and talk to them so they get used to you.

I think you are doing just fine by the sounds of it! just takes some time! :)
 
Rex pigs are renowned for being docile and "laid-back". If they are not eating they are sleeping!
 
Thanks to those who have replied, we've made some progress today......they have eaten their grass cuttings and carrots infront of me and my daughter (much to her amazement!) and didnt hide until we were out of sight :))
I guess it takes alot of patience to build up their trust in people
 
It takes them a while to settle in - but tempting food fed by hand should help!

It's sometimes good to handle them with a towel - if they're scared, you can use the towel as a sort of comfort blanket! Also stops them from scratching you if they're scared

Sophie
x
 
Picking up piggies

Picking them up is very hard if you are nervous, there is nothing silly about asking for help at first. The accepted way to pick then up is to insert one hand under the tummy while keeping them from running away with the other hand in front of them. Most piggies will obligingly lift up their tummies for you! Then you can lift them out fully supported.

This does mean exposing your wrist to the piggie's face as they end up lying along your hand and just up onto your forearm, which can cause nervousness in you if you are worried about being bitten.

So - there is nothing wrong in finding some house/box/material home which they will go into. Place it near to the front of the cage and tempt them in with treats, then lift the whole box/home out onto your lap and let the piggie enjoy your company. (You have to make sure the home fits out of the cage door easily!) This will help to build up the bond between you and allow you to remove the piggies when they need cleaning etc. Please note, I do make this sort of thing so I know a load of piggie owners who have been helped with this.

If you put a towel over your lap and then snuggle the piggie into it by folding it over them and lifting them up in it into the crook of your arm they will enjoy the cuddle more, and you will gain in trusting them. They like to be swaddled and they like to hide their heads - they do actually pick up on your nervousness.

Have lots of fun with your new piggies, Sarah x
 
Thanks Sarah, just looking at your website now......which home/pocket would you recommend for being able to lift them out?
 
A home with a stiffener to keep the entrance open works well, and as your piggies are still young (I'm assuming here) then they would both fit into a home for one no problem. Piggies actually really like hiding in the back of these, so it does make it pretty easy to close the entrance and lift them out without difficulty. Then you can cuddle them through the material, just use the home as a cuddle pocket, or wait for them to emerge.

If you don't see what you want then just ask, I'm happy to make whatever you need.

Sarah x
 
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