stressed piggies

[woo]

I have two new young piggies both girls, they are approx 10-12 weeks old and i have had them for 15 days. They seem very happy with their cage and they popcorn when the think i'm not watching

My problem is they are still terrified when i try to pick them up, i would say more now than when they arrived.

I am trying to gain their trust by hand feeding them while in the cage, they will come up eventually and grab a peice of food then run back to bed, then i put the bowl of veg in and they then come out and eat when i have gone.

To get them out of the cage i would have to chase them around a lot and i don't want to stress them any more, when i do manage to catch them they are so scared they look like their eyes will pop out bless 'them :{ I am worried if i don't get them out soon for more lap time they will never be tame?

Any tips on very shy scared piggies would be great, thanks

one other thing, one of them, Noodles, when i do manage to get her for lap time while on my lap and i stroke her, her body vibrates with vibrating noise, I am guessing this is because she is scared?

woo
x

 

[bpdfs]

The vibrating means she likes what you are doing, Its like a cat purr! mine do it all the time they love it!

As far as shy, They are still Babies, They need more time then that, It took 3 months for my Lucy to finally come around.. Just give it time.

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

try out the "towel trick," i have had good luck soothing stressed out pigs with it. take a hand towel or even a pillow case, put it on your lap, and put the pig in the middle, with his head closer to the top, so it will be exposed when he's wrapped up. once he's on your lap, rap the towel snugly around his body, swaddling him like you would a baby, and of course make sure his head is sticking out at least a little bit. pick the pig up, and hold him against your chest. you might need to do this quickly, because pigs tend to be squirmy. but once he is wrapped up he'll chill out. the towel will make him feel secure, and if he wants he can borrow down (but it's better if you can have him stay up by you so he can get comfortable with being held). It also helps if you bribe him with his favorite veggies so he can learn to associate vegs with you holding him. it will take time for them to be comfortable completely...being prey animals it's instinct to run. try using the towel the first few times you hold them, and eventually they'll be more comfortable without it.

 

[bekked]

Dont give up!
Handle them every day, regardless, and they'll soon get used to you. : )

The vibrating/purring, means that they are happy, which is a positive sighn.


I think *alot* of guinea pigs play hard to get when you try to pick them up, I think maybe it's because they cant see YOU, they just see these masive pink things (your hands!) but as soon as they get onto the lap they realise it's you and chill out!
I think it's natural that they run a bit when you try to pick them up. Some of my happiest, oldest, friendliest and most loved piggies do that, I think they just do it for funsies because once they get to lapland they're so so happy..

 

[Abi_nurse]

Lots of perserverance and handling. Piggies are naturally prey animals and will be a bit scared of things they dont know. It can take months if not longer for them to come out of their shell. Althought seemingly unfair by picking them up lots gets them used to you and your voice and smell. Feeding them on your lap is good too. Makes the whole experience enjoyable.

x.

 

[woo]

Thansk so much for all your replies and ideas, i will give them a go

I had a breakthrough today, the last couple of days i have not picked them up but have been handfeeding them but making sure they come to me rather than the other way round, then earlier today nibbles let me stroke her and pick her up without running off....yea:<> noodles is more of a challenge

woo