New piggies - how long to settle in before handling?

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Hannah8881

Hannah8881

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Hello everybody,

I got a boar guinea on Sunday and decided to get another boar this morning. They are 10 weeks and 8 weeks are getting along fine at the minute. The question is though, how long should i leave them before i start to try handling them? Some sites/books suggest a couple of days and others say a few weeks. So i am now a little confused.

I have been going outside to speak to them and check they are ok but as soon as i open the door they hide away in the corner, they don't even come out to eat/drink when i am around. I understand that they will take time to settle in but i just don't want them to stay all nervous and skittish because i cannot get to them to handle them :(

Thank you in advance.

Hannah, Marley and Jack.
 
I let my girls settle in overnight then started handling from the following day. A few minutes at a time is fine to start off with. :)
 
Thank you flips. Can i ask how i would get hold of them to pick them up because as soon as i put my hands in the cage they both just run away and i don't want them to fall out the door. Is there a special way?

Thanks again :)
 
Thank you :) I will give them another day or so and then i will try. Will keep talking to them in the mean time and try offering them some apple out of my hand.
 
Hi Hannah,
I've had my pair of boars for just over a month now and the boys have got into a routine of climbing into a cosy when I want to take them out of their hutch, for example when I want to put them into their run in the garden. Looking back at when they first came to me, they were pretty nervous and I felt guilty for picking them up unnecessarily.
While they're in the cosy I will stroke them, whisper sweet nothings to them, remembering to make then feel as safe as possible.
When they see their cosy they're straight in because they know the routine and associate it with time on the lawn and I'd like to think their mini cuddles with me :)) I guess it's more comfortable for them in the cosy, rather than being handled by me!
It'll take time for your boys to get used to you, so just be patient, it'll be so rewarding once you gain their trust!
 
Hi,

With my boars I handled them straight away (I just couldn't keep my mits off of those gorgeous boys!) but I'm sure I shouldn't have done that...rolleyes

I kept them in a smaller cage (alone at first) so it was easier to grab them. Also when I did catch them, me and my sister would sit down and make a diamond shape makeshift run with our legs so that the didn't run too far.


I don't know... I hope this helps, even though I'm kind of useless...
 
Thank you for both of your replies. How are your boars now? Do they like being handled? I'm quite scared because i do not want to do the wrong thing, that's why i keep asking questions. I want to make them as happy as possible and i want to give them all the love i can but i don't want to rush them.
 
I either corner them or use a cosy (cosy is preferred by both pigs and me). My pigs don't get stressed once they are picked up anymore but it's taken some time to get them used to it. Some pigs really like being cuddled, some are indifferent to the whole experience and others hate it.
It is important that they get used to being handled to a certain extent so that you can do basic health checks, cut nails, give medical treatment, etc.
I don't make my pigs stay on my lap more than they are comfortable with. If they start getting stressed or fidgety, I put them back. I get a lot more out of floortime when I lay on the floor and the pigs have the run of the hall- they come up to my face and have been known to give me a bum-push if I'm in their way. :(|) It all just takes time. You'll get to know your pigs and what they like soon enough.

Ask as many questions as you want, we don't mind. :(|)
 
Hannah8881 said:
I am sorry to sound silly but what is a cosy?
Click to expand...

Not silly at all!

A cosy is just a fleece pocket. It's padded with wadding.
Cosygirl.jpg


Iseeparsley.jpg


:)
 
Oh right! So, sorry questions again, do they sleep in them in their hutch or do you just put them in when you want to get them out? Do you need more than one or will they both jump in the same one? Lol so many questions, sorry.
 
I made my cosies, found it really easy-peasy! All you need is a sewing machine, material, wadding and some fleece - search for patterns on the web. x
 
You can get different sizes. I would imagine your piggies would quite like to share at the moment as they are quite little. If you have an outside hutch I don't know if you could leave one in the hutch as it might get damp (but I don't know). I have indoor piggies so sometimes I leave one in the cage for them to sleep in but I mainly use them to pick them up and for lap time. Now my girls are bigger they don't like to share much anyway. rolleyes They wash well and dry pretty quickly so 2 is probably a good idea so you can wash one/ dry one.

Threelittlepigs makes them but I'm not sure how busy she is at the moment as she has a poorly pig. She has a thread in the fundraising section and this is her website.
http://www.cavycozies.com/

This seller also makes them and quite a lot of people on the forum have bought from her.
http://www.cavycouture.co.uk/

I have made a couple as well. You can pick up fleece throws pretty cheaply and cut them up.

:)
 
Thank you for the links i will definately have a look. I think that is it for the questions at the minute and i'd like to thank everybody who has given me advice , it is very much appreciated :)
 
Figgy is absolutely fine to be handled, he adores a snuggle. Poco did too~

Right now, Figgy is sleeping, using my mum's belly as a pillow!

It wasn't at all a problem that I handled them the first day, although I'm sure you are not supposed to :))

I just loved their look too much to stay away~:<>:<>
 
MellyWelly said:
Hi Hannah,
I've had my pair of boars for just over a month now and the boys have got into a routine of climbing into a cosy when I want to take them out of their hutch, for example when I want to put them into their run in the garden. Looking back at when they first came to me, they were pretty nervous and I felt guilty for picking them up unnecessarily.
While they're in the cosy I will stroke them, whisper sweet nothings to them, remembering to make then feel as safe as possible.
When they see their cosy they're straight in because they know the routine and associate it with time on the lawn and I'd like to think their mini cuddles with me :)) I guess it's more comfortable for them in the cosy, rather than being handled by me!
It'll take time for your boys to get used to you, so just be patient, it'll be so rewarding once you gain their trust!
Click to expand...

A cosy! What luxury. My boys have to climb into an old shoe box!:0
 
Hey thay have both come out in front of me today to eat their vegs. Jack the newest was a little scared and grabbed some cucumber and then ran back into the bed but Marley just sat there and munched away! I am so happy :D
 
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