progress with the herd

[Pepperdog]

What a day we have had today, it was actually dry for two days in a row so the ground was dry enough to put the pigs out - I have a walled and shaded garden so it stays damp longer than other lawns and I wont risk putting pigs out in runs if the ground is cold and wet still (even on sunny hot days).

So time for the boys to go out - they are always dealt with first, and tyrian is fast asleep in the sqube with both back legs sticking out the front and part way up the side of the sqube, I went to get my camera but he woke up mallethead so trust me, double chookin legs, uber cute :<>

Anyway, time to go home after a hard days munching and in store for the herd now the boys were back home again - nail trimming (dum dum duuuummmm). Silver first to be caught, such a good boy, no problems and back in the hutch for him after a little cuddle and willie clean, minty was next to be caught, surprisingly portly for such a slender looking piggie but good girly not much of a todoo over her claws, just a bit of a struggle with one front paw. She did enjoy her little cuddle, had quite a bit to say to me so we had a little chat.

Next was crystal, the most difficult piggie to trim so far, she has become the most handlable of all of them because of her time with me during her skin treatments and for some strange reason her claws like to grow at funny angles so kept promising she would find it nicer to walk on her new shoes, another cuddle and as she is a very chatty pig anyway, we had a nice long cuddle and talk (and suffered for it later being a rex piggie and I was in short sleeves).

Then it was fudge - fidget fudge the screaming piggie, as soon as I picked her up she was off rolleyes so managed to do all claws with less fuss than expected so I thought she might want a cuddle, cue lower volume of screaming rolleyes but still screaming at me until I tickled her chin and she purred :o as soon as I stopped, back to screaming.

The progress was how much better they were to be still as I trimmed, normally they are right wrigglers but much better this time round and managed to trim the claws shorter (and more the length I wanted) because they were calmer and stiller. But the most progress was fudge, instead of blue murder I am killing her screaming, it was less volume and more a wanting to get away screaming, I wont stop her from being a noisey pig as that is what her personality is and always has, a spoilt little brat of a child basically and I love her naughty ways but she wasnt getting into a strop with it so she has accepted being handled enough for claw trimming.

 

[flips]

Sounds like things are moving along nicely. Well done. x

 

[Lil-Ninnibig]

do you have any tricks up your sleeve when cutting piggys nails as ditto goes berzerk on me whenever he sees me trying to clip his nails, there getting ready again and i dread doing them as he gets really stressed. Any tips for me?

 

[Lilly]

Ah, nail clipping! I did make one of Hazelnuts' nails bleed once when he was young and squirmy. After nearly 2 years Hazelnut is pretty calm about it. Peanut Butter is still squirmy after nearly a year but fortunately I haven't made him bleed yet.

You're doing well with your 4!

 

[Pepperdog]

having been a "foot trimmer" to goats, sheep, cows and my own dog (claws) in my time I tend to be a bit braver than most who have not had to do claws before and have a fair bit of experience behind me.

I have trimmed on my own from day one, they have not been easy and fudge has tried to bite me a few times when she got into a right mood.

Take your time, never try to rush a trim, if they struggle and you snip, you are more likely to snip too much off. This is my top tip, just take your time. I get one foot and gently position it so I can see the claws and where I need to snip, they usually take the foot off me a few times but careful persistance and patience will get them to settle in to having the foot moved from underneath them. NEVER pull the leg back to a position that is not normal - remember as much as possible go with a normal position for them and they are less likely to resist. NEVER grip the foot and end up in a struggle, you risk damaging them, if they regain their foot back, then gently find it and hold it again, you dont need a vice grip to trim nails, I have held a foot with one finger before.

Sometimes piggies prefer to hide their heads in towels, some are happy to be held, one of mine will sit on my chest as I hold one foot at a time (minty), even sometimes being able to trim as they grip a t-shirt if I can get the angle right.

Just go with what works best for you and your pigs, and not one method works for every pig as I find, and sometimes that even changes from trim to trim. Be adaptable

 

[Lilly]

Thanks for all the tips!