piggie cuddles

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barnyard

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I want to get my new piggies use to us but dont want to rush them as its only been a few days! To be honest I'm not over confident myself whaen it comes to animal handling so I'm trying my best to be confident for the piggies, my kids and me :)

At the moment i am letting them go into their cosy sacks and then I lift them onto my knee and just let them sit in those on my lap while I and my kids give them a stroke. I only do this for about 5 mins. Is this ok, the right way about getting them comfident at being handled? and for me its gaining confidence in thinking they arent going to bite me everytime we handle them (silly I know but theolder i get the fearful I become!)

basically am I on the right tracks!
 
That is a very good way to go about it! Most young guinea piggies want to go back home soon; put them back when they start getting wiggly or upset. You can slowly extend the span. Always have them in a cuddle bag or on a towel/fleece if your children are cuddling them.

It is good that you are establishing a routine. Cuddling them in the sack has the advantage that they will sit still and feel somewhat protected. Thay also won't jump out of your hands suddenly.

If you ever put a guinea pig back in its cage/hutch when you are holding it, do so bum forward, so they can't injure themselves by suddenly making a big leap.
 
A good tip is to sit on the floor with them in the cuddle sack, rather than on a chair, if you aren't confident in catching a wriggly piggy that tries to escape as a fall from the height of a chair can be lethal.

I also made sure I was the only one to handle them for the first week or so as it is more stressful for them if they are passed around from one person to another. Five weeks on & they come to me & take food from me, & purr when I have them out for a cuddle/stroke :))

If you are worried about them biting, I will say they very rarely nip, over 11 years I can honestly say I have only been nipped once, when we had our first pair, & that was down to ignorance; don't put your fingers under their mouths, pick them up correctly (support their bottoms with one hand so they "sit" on your hand, put the other hand under their tummies) & you will be fine :)
 
Thats exactly what I do-I lift her out of the cage in her sack and have that on my lap.Then after a few minutes I get her out of her sack and have a cuddle.She seems to really enjoy being stroked.Then I open the sack and she gets back in, I put her back in her sack.Its less frightening for her as they tend to jump out of your hands else.

I have never been bitten by a guinea pig and this one is our 6th one.
 
Sounds like your doing a great job! :)p

Just to add, you could give them a favourite piece of veggy whilst cuddling them too they'll look forward to both cuddles and food then. :)

Georgia has sometimes stuck her finger in the cage and they have had a nibble - not a bite - they must think it's something to eat :))
 
thanks everyone! least I know I'm on the right lines! reading about hoe to care for gp and then having them here is very different, mainly the noises and learning to read them correctly is a struggle but hopefully will get their :))
 
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