Scared to pick up pigs

CanadianCavy

CanadianCavy

New Born Pup
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I have had my two baby girls for three months now and as you all know it can be a very slow process to get them "tame".
I have spent lots of time getting them use to eating from my hand and every week I make a little more progress. With food as the goal I have managed to get them to touch my hands and one of them even lets me pet her head now. Although the other is still very skiddish. They also respond to my voice and run up to me when I come to the cage!
Long story short I have still never picked them up. I am so worried about back tracking and having them scared of me again. I know I should be weighing them and eventually need to trim their nails but I just can't bring myself to do it...

All the videos I see online of picking them up are done with already tame pigs. I know they will scream and squirm and I may have to chase them around to even get them.
Any tips please and thank you!
 
Hi!
I am no expert but I will give you some of my advice from experience
if they are still fairly skittish I would only go and try to pick them up if they need to be picked up like have to go to the vets,if they are tame and you think they might be ready for a cuddle, slip your hand under there belly quickly while cupping there bum to support there spine.

Also for trimming their nails if you are not ready to do so take them to a vet to get the first nail trimming done and watch to see how they do it and ask for tips from them, in my experience feed them veggies while trimming and they are more likely to not squirm.😉

Is there anything specifically you want advice on?

Hope this helps!:)😀
 
Oh also if you get them into a corner its easier at least for me :D
 
If you do a search there’s a video on how to pick them up using hides, tunnels etc. That makes it less stressful for both involved.

As for nails, offer them a snack and wrap them up like a burrito with only one leg sticking out. It’s better to take off a bit at a time and maintain, that way you’re not as likely to cut the quick. But you can always take them to the vet and ask them to show you how, as mentioned above.

Don’t chase them around the cage if you’re trying to catch them. And weighing weekly is a good way to keep an eye on their health.

Good luck and try not to stress when you’re picking them up. Pick up and hold for a couple of mins a day and gradually increase the time.
 
You could try picking them up inside a cosy or a tunnel. The problem with most piggies isn't the holding, they don't tend to mind that, it's the actual picking up. They instinctively run from anything coming from above. You might be a large bird about to eat them.
If you entice them into a tunnel, cover both ends with your hands, and let them out on your lap, I don't think you'll have much trouble, as they already trust you. Give them lots of treats. It's really easy to pick them up once they're on your lap usually.
They may sit stock still the first few times, then as they get more used to it they'll move around more. That's down to prey instincts too. If they're confident they may move around from the start.
Give it a go. You won't look back.
 
With all of mine (including my boys who I’ve had for 3 months) I started picking them up on day two, for a little bit each day. Yes they started off scared, but it’s more that deeply instinctive ‘I’m going to be eaten’ prey fear. I always tuck them inside a zip hoodie that I’m wearing so they can ‘hide’ but I can still stroke them and talk to them (incessantly/like a lunatic!)

Nice gentle nose and ear strokes are a good start, as some don’t like full body strokes. Then, after a few days, they will start to be less scared, because you haven’t eaten them and so even though the beginning is tense, they do learn that you are a safe person and lap cuddles with pigs is great. Also, try offering them food during cuddle time, they will eat when they’re beginning to feel more comfortable, so you could always use that as a barometer if/when you decide it’s the right time to handle.
 
I found I could start picking the piggies up using a tunnel, covering it with both ends to transport them and encouraging them out once I was sat somewhere safe and still. Eventually (it definitely took a while, it's just what emerged organically from our time together) I got to being able to say (nicely!) "in your box" and with a little guidance they'd hop into their hay box and be fine being scooped up directly from that (it made it easier to get my hands in right position underneath them as I could move the box if needed). Then I could carry them snuggled into my chest. I still tend to talk them through what's going on and try to reassure them.

To start with we kept lap time very short and it involved yummy veggie treats. Later, when we had longer cuddles / grooming times, they'd let me know when they'd had enough by making their little "I need a wee / poo" noise and I'd be guided by that.

Nail clipping is definitely something of a skill to learn. I started out with help, so one held the pig and the other did the nail trimming. It was all a bit stressful to start with but we all survived! After (a long!) time I (and the pigs!) got confident enough to do both holding and clipping simultaneously whilst they were on my lap. It's never been my favourite job, but we manage. As ever, treats have helped!

Good luck 🍀 And have fun!
 
None of my guys actually like the process of being picked up (one quite literally sounds like you're murdering him), but are quite happy with being held, because being held = lots and lots of treats, so I find it's a case of just having to ignore their protests and doing it as quickly as possible to lessen the stress for both me and them. Encouraging them into a tunnel or a hidey definitely works, although one of my girls, Minnie, has sussed this out and will not go in one so I end up having to herd into the hay tray and take the whole thing out with her in it. She's a terror to pick up, but she's actually the one who enjoys laptime the most and will just lie on me, chooken legs and all. I think some never like the process of being picked up due to their prey instincts, but they quickly forgive and forget (especially when food is involved) so I wouldn't be worried about back-tracking!

When it comes to nails, if you're really struggling I'd take them to the vets to get it done. I tend to cut their nails myself on a fortnightly basis (if needed!) with normal nail clippers, and just take a small amount each time (most of my guinea pigs have dark nails so it's hard to see the quick!). Giving them some food to chomp on while doing it really helps. If they move around a lot, then wrap them up in blanket to help keep them still and calm and secure. Keeping their nails a good length is important.

But remember, they may scream and make a fuss, but you're not hurting them and it isn't going to dent your relationship with them! It's unfortunately something some guinea pigs never grow to like, no matter how tame they are.
 
So I bit the bullet and I have picked them up three times in the last two weeks. Every party involved has absolutely hated it! Makes my heart hurt and makes me sweat. They ran and screamed and so be expected. I curled them in a towel on my lap and got them to eat some lettuce.

I may have given up. Last night I was trying to hand feed them in the cage as usual and Molly got spooked and started chattering her teeth at me. Refusing the take the food. Then tonight Ginny did the same thing! Both of them hiding and chattering and refusing food. That has never happened before and it must be that they are sacred of me.

😭
 
CanadianCavy said:
So I bit the bullet and I have picked them up three times in the last two weeks. Every party involved has absolutely hated it! Makes my heart hurt and makes me sweat. They ran and screamed and so be expected. I curled them in a towel on my lap and got them to eat some lettuce.

I may have given up. Last night I was trying to hand feed them in the cage as usual and Molly got spooked and started chattering her teeth at me. Refusing the take the food. Then tonight Ginny did the same thing! Both of them hiding and chattering and refusing food. That has never happened before and it must be that they are sacred of me.

😭
Click to expand...
Why don't you use a technique involving a chube or cosy? Like this here


Guinea pigs are prey animals so picking them up will scare them, no pig likes it no matter how tame
 
sport_billy said:
Guinea pigs are prey animals so picking them up will scare them, no pig likes it no matter how tame
Click to expand...

Love the video!

With a bit of practice Tinsel was great with the tube like above. Sparkle was better in one of the long bendy plastic tubes until he got too big to fit into it! It did take a while to get him out the other end sometimes (the tube was long) but I think it meant it was at his pace so he could come out again when he'd stopped being in prey hiding mode and felt more able to explore. It probably took a year or so until we got to herding into the hay box for picking up.
 
Honestly, they will hate it to begin with, but it’s all about doing it regularly so that they realise it’s not scary. As prey animals they will be frightened of everything to begin with, but it does get better. Try five minutes every day, just gentle nose rubbing and chatting to them/giving them food. Might take a week or two, but they’ll get there 🙂
 
Fantasimo said:
Honestly, they will hate it to begin with, but it’s all about doing it regularly so that they realise it’s not scary. As prey animals they will be frightened of everything to begin with, but it does get better. Try five minutes every day, just gentle nose rubbing and chatting to them/giving them food. Might take a week or two, but they’ll get there 🙂
Click to expand...

The fact that they are now teeth chattering and running away form me even when I have food is the scary part. I feel like I'm going backwards and it's so hard.
I think I'll get one of those plush houses to pick them up in because it looks easier thAn the tube. But then my concern is that they would just figure it out that I'm going to pick it up most times and they won't even run into the house anymore.
 
Honestly, most guinea pigs are not going to enjoy the feeling of being picked up. It cuts very close to their instincts as a prey animal. Even guinea pigs that like lap time don't always like being picked up. Even my very tame pigs who I have had for years don't always like to be picked up if they're not expecting it (I usually hold them in the evenings... if I pick them up when it's not the evening they will often make a dash for it.) My only advice is that they will not get used to something they are never exposed to, so to get them used to being picked up you will have to pick them up. You can try to make it easier with a cozy or a tunnel. Once they figure out that you aren't going to hurt them, it will get easier and they won't be as distressed by it. Hang in there, it will get better!
 
You just need to win them over with nose scratches and talking softly and incessantly at them. Tell them about your day, get them used to your voice. Please don’t be scared, bonding with new animals is never easy and maybe yours will take a few months to work rather than a few weeks like I’d imagine you were probably hoping for, but just be kind and consistent with lap time and you’ll get there. We all do eventually, regardless of our individual methods.

My other top tip is leave a piece of clothing that smells like you draped over their cage so that your scent is a constant for them and is less of a warning when it comes into their space. Also, during laptime, try wearing a zipped hoodie so that you can tuck them into it so they’re nuzzled up next to you and feel like they’re hidden, but you can still talk to them/tickle them too. Making them feel safe is a good way to get them to trust you.

Keep persevering. You’re doing great 👍🏻
 
I feel your pain, I too hate how stressed they get. I take mine to the vet for nail clipping for an easy life! The tube method for picking up works well.
 
So I got a new sleep sack that I think is perfect for picking them up in. Any tips on getting them to go inside on command? They will go in it during the day when I'm not there but when I want them to go in, no way lol. They will go to the edge for food but not all the way in
 
Maybe ‘herd’ or shepherd them in gently. Or if you see they’re in there you could then pick it up. And try to find a word or phrase you can use to signify its time to come out the cage.
 
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