Taming Skittish Piggies

[popcornandwheek]

Hey!

I have two baby boars who I adopted almost a week ago now, Popcorn and Truffles, who are very skittish. Every time I come near them and open the hutch door they have tended to freak out a bit and hide. So far I have fed them lots of treats and grass, trying to tempt them with food! They generally watch me warily before possibly snatching a piece.

Do you have any tips on taming them? I really want them to trust me - although I know that will take a lot of time

Also, they don't like being picked up at all - do you have any tips on transporting them to their run on the grass and back?

Thanks! xx

 

[popcornandwheek]

Have you ever used those fluffy ferret tunnels...? I forgot what they're called but when my pigs seem to be annoyed just wait till they sit in it and quickly pick it up .
Try snuggling with them, putting them close to your heart for 30 minutes... give or take... every (other) day.
Let them run around! Right now I have a shower curtain laid out on the floor with a few tunnels and hay. Sit in the middle and handfeed them as they walk by. This way, you can bond with them AND they can bond with eachother!

Thanks for the great ideas! I'll definitely try taking them out in a tunnel and sitting in the middle of a run Do your piggies like to be picked up at all, or do they just generally not like being picked up? xx

 

[Louise's Zoo]

I've only had my girls 3 and a half weeks and they were very shy for the first few days. One was a 5 week old baby and she is now so bold and is the one who comes straight out to see me and doesn't run and hide when I stand over the cage. She is also the loudest!

None of mine really like being picked up and I have to chase them round the cage. I use the tip above, I wait until they hide in a cosy or tunnel then pick that up. The 2 older girls will sit very nicely on my lap or for snuggles but baby Eileen (now 8 weeks old) does not want to sit still. She just wants to explore.

It will take time but they will get used to you and your routine.

 

[popcornandwheek]

I've only had my girls 3 and a half weeks and they were very shy for the first few days. One was a 5 week old baby and she is now so bold and is the one who comes straight out to see me and doesn't run and hide when I stand over the cage. She is also the loudest!

None of mine really like being picked up and I have to chase them round the cage. I use the tip above, I wait until they hide in a cosy or tunnel then pick that up. The 2 older girls will sit very nicely on my lap or for snuggles but baby Eileen (now 8 weeks old) does not want to sit still. She just wants to explore.

It will take time but they will get used to you and your routine.

Thanks for the advice! It sounds like you've done a great job at taming them! Did you just keep a routine and feed them lots of veggies? Did you take them out for lap time every day? By the way, do you tend to take them out separately or together? I don't want to have both on my lap then lose them xx

 

[flowerfairy]

I agree that it takes time. I got my two sows at the end of January and it took a few weeks before they were brave enough to sit on my lap without a hiding place. Jingle will eat whilst being brushed and stroked. Mistletoe just sits waiting to be put back in her cage!

Hope to hear more about Popcorn and Truffles and to see some pics.

 

[Louise's Zoo]

Thanks for the advice! It sounds like you've done a great job at taming them! Did you just keep a routine and feed them lots of veggies? Did you take them out for lap time every day? By the way, do you tend to take them out separately or together? I don't want to have both on my lap then lose them xx

I'm very strict with routines in my house as I have quite a lot of pets (cats, dogs, tropical aquarium, cockatiel and a hamster) and if I don't keep routines, everything would be a mess

I clean them out the same time each day, feed them same time, etc. I also talk to them a lot. I read that they will get used to what you are saying and the way you say it so I tell them when I'm going to feed them, clean them etc (and now I sound like a nutter ).

I do get them out together but as above, I sit on the floor of a safe room and let them run about and come to me. They are tame enough now that they will climb up onto my lap, especially if I have some yummy treats (cucumber is a favourite). Then if they are calm I will pick them up and snuggle them to my chest for a little while and again, talk to them.

2 of mine are adults so they are easy but I have to be careful with Eileen as she is so small so I make sure there are no small gaps for her to escape.

 

[popcornandwheek]

I agree that it takes time. I got my two sows at the end of January and it took a few weeks before they were brave enough to sit on my lap without a hiding place. Jingle will eat whilst being brushed and stroked. Mistletoe just sits waiting to be put back in her cage!

Hope to hear more about Popcorn and Truffles and to see some pics.

Thank you! Your pigs sound adorable I'll definitely post more pics soon! I also post every day on my instagram account popcornandwheek xx

 

[popcornandwheek]

I'm very strict with routines in my house as I have quite a lot of pets (cats, dogs, tropical aquarium, cockatiel and a hamster) and if I don't keep routines, everything would be a mess

I clean them out the same time each day, feed them same time, etc. I also talk to them a lot. I read that they will get used to what you are saying and the way you say it so I tell them when I'm going to feed them, clean them etc (and now I sound like a nutter ).

I do get them out together but as above, I sit on the floor of a safe room and let them run about and come to me. They are tame enough now that they will climb up onto my lap, especially if I have some yummy treats (cucumber is a favourite). Then if they are calm I will pick them up and snuggle them to my chest for a little while and again, talk to them.

2 of mine are adults so they are easy but I have to be careful with Eileen as she is so small so I make sure there are no small gaps for her to escape.

Ooh, I'll have to get a firmer routine! At the mo I tend to seem them in the morning then several times throughout the day I have the pigs, two hamsters and a fish tank, so I tend to have loose routines

Aww, really? I'll definitely have to sit next to them and wait for them to come to me! Thank you! xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hey!

I have two baby boars who I adopted almost a week ago now, Popcorn and Truffles, who are very skittish. Every time I come near them and open the hutch door they have tended to freak out a bit and hide. So far I have fed them lots of treats and grass, trying to tempt them with food! They generally watch me warily before possibly snatching a piece.

Do you have any tips on taming them? I really want them to trust me - although I know that will take a lot of time

Also, they don't like being picked up at all - do you have any tips on transporting them to their run on the grass and back?

Thanks! xx

Please have a look at our new owners' guide bundle via this link. There is a full section that deals with settling in, picking up and making friends with skittish piggies.
Please wait with taking your piggies outside until they have settled indoors and are comfortable with their new home. shop bought piggies have never been on the grass and will find it a very frightening experience at first. They also need to get used to eating grass showly, or you can end up with diarrhea or even bloating if not careful. You can find a guide for preparing for lawn time and tips for hot weather care (as well as hot weather care) via this link:
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

 

[popcornandwheek]

Please have a look at our new owners' guide bundle via this link. There is a full section that deals with settling in, picking up and making friends with skittish piggies.
Please wait with taking your piggies outside until they have settled indoors and are comfortable with their new home. shop bought piggies have never been on the grass and will find it a very frightening experience at first. They also need to get used to eating grass showly, or you can end up with diarrhea or even bloating if not careful. You can find a guide for preparing for lawn time and tips for hot weather care (as well as hot weather care) via this link:
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

Thanks, that will be very helpful Fortunately I adopted them from a lady near me so they are used to eating grass and whatnot x

 

[KaitlinH]

I had the same problem. My Guineas hated being picked up at first but after a few weeks of handling them once every (or every other) day, they were fine. When you finally get them out and they're on your lap, try giving them treats and veggies (mine love cucumber) to show them that being picked up is a good thing and that they don't have to be scared. They still get scared when anyone other than me approaches the cage as I have been the person mainly handling them but that will come over time. I recommend, if you are introducing a new person to the Guineas, bend down and get on their height level so you don't look like a predator to them. This really helps when my Guineas are being introduced to new people.

Hope this helped

 

[shannonandrosy]

I am still trying to have patience on waiting for mine to quit running whem I try to pick them up. They finally let me pet them while in cage without running but cant do the pickup yet

 

[Celine298]

From day one I put my guys in a busy room to get used to people moving around and noise. I also talked to them constantly to get them used to the sound of my voice.
I also sit quietly beside their cage when they're eating to get them used to my presence.
For laptime, I began by placing them near me on the sofa and gradually they would come over to me as they got used to me.
Now they sit quite happily on my chest.
They are still skittish when I go to pick them up but once they have a solid surface beneath them again they're fine.

Wrapping them in a blanket is also a good way to make them feel secure during lap time or when cuddling. It makes them feel safe when they can burrow.