Tired Arms!

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katanamoon

katanamoon

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I'm waiting (and waiting... and waiting) for my new girlies to stop hiding and come out for the tempting kale leaf I've been holding in their bedroom doorway for the last 20 minutes! My poor arm :(
 
I would remove the arm! Pretend that you have given up and don't care any longer, go a little bit away from the cage and just look over your shoulder, and they will probably come out... Quite often, the "I don;t care what you do" approach works with skittish piggies when the direct approach doesn't work. It pays to take two steps back and give them the space they need so you can build on it next time. Take it slowly.
 
I swear that one pair of rescued piggies I had could hold their breath for hours. They would hide so still in a hidey together and not venture out until I left the room! It's not uncommon. Just give them time. Time, patience, kindness and bribery with veggies all work in the end.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one with tired arms haha, only had my boys since Saturday so I'm in the same situation as you! They take food off me from their house now, it's a slow process but definitely worth it :D
 
I got the girls on Saturday too. They're getting better at coming out for meals as long as I don't move/speak/breathe but still refuse to take anything out of my hand...
 
I've been offering them food at the same time each evening - no idea if that makes any difference? Alfie has taken veg off me a few times now but Joey has only done it once so far, and when I say 'take' I really mean snatch it off me super quick and then disappear back into their house again haha, so still very early days yet!
I know what you mean by not even daring to move/breathe lol...I love watching them come out their hidey when they forget I'm sat there!
 
Give them time, it's still VERY early days yet!
 
I've had my boys almost 6 months now and they can still be quite contrary about when they'll eat in front of me. They will take veg from me (as long as it's something they really like) but sometimes when I just put the bowl in and want to watch them eat they just stand there - clearly desperate to eat but stubbornly refusing to move until I leave them to it! I think they've learned that they have more staying power than I do! I allow them to get away with it because they don't do it all the time and will often let me watch them eat as well :)

Just be patient, they will come round the more they get to know and trust you
 
It has taken almost a year for my two boys to come near me even without food. As everyone knows here I was worried just like you. It is worth the wait!
 
I think it took about 4 months for my boars to start taking food from me, I didnt hassle them though, just let them do it in their own time. Now I cant eat a bag of crisps in the house without them all standing at the bars and wheeking ;)

My Teddy Girls who were tame and calm and came from another member of this forum took nearly a month to start happily taking food from me and wheeking, even though they were tame in their previous home. They are now demanding little madams ;)

I find the "act as if you dont care" attitude works best with guinea pigs and rabbits too. It also works with other animals, such as dogs who wont come in from the garden and want to turn being caught in to a game (yes, I AM talking about you, Dream!) and naughty little ponies who wont be caught from their paddocks even though you have trekked around following them for 2 hours with a bucket of feed and polos :)
 
Feeling a bit more positive today - the girls have been in and out of their den all day demolishing everything I out down for them. I've just been sat by them for about half an hour, talking gently, and if they run away they come back out within minutes for more munching!
Feels like progress :luv:
 
It is such a wonderful feeling when you're sitting there talking, so they know you're right there and are happy to munch away but as soon as you move an inch, they're away! Love my girls to bits :luv:
 
Hurrah - progress! Just been sat talking to my girls with both hands palm-up in the cage as they were munching away, which is a first. But then... Managed to get close enough to give Pixel a smooth, which she sat looking worried about but didn't run away :clap:
 
Wow! Well done you! Ivory managed to be brave enough to grab a slice of cucumber out of my hand and run back into her house with it. Progress! I can sit by the cage and talk as much as I like while they are eating, but as soon as I move, they're gone...
 
You'll be looking back on this stage of their progress with fondness soon. In no time at all they'll be mugging you for food every time you walk past their enclosure or go to the fridge LOL. I swear mine are learning to climb the height of a c&c panel because they can stretch their little piggy bodies almost to the top when they see me go to the fridge!!
 
Haha, I can't wait! :D It's so fun watching their progress. Pixel found the water bottle today but the little ball bearing made her jump. A few hours on she's chugging like a pro!
 
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