after finally managing to get hold of each of the 4 rescue guineas and getting terribly scratched in the process, i gave each one a good look over. sadly i found martha to have a large solid lump on her back, about 1" or more across, no idea what it was she squeeled as soon as i touched it and she was in obvious discomfort. after talking to someone about her they decided they could take her and have her looked at by a vet and will pay to have her looked at and sorted out. obviously i didnt want to let her go alone so martha has stayed with her older buddy ethel. i know they will be well cared for, and it also cures my problem of martha attacking poor ruby all the time.
i now have just lucy and ruby in the 3.5ft hutch, the difference in their attitude is amazing. they are both still incredibly scared of people, but i put them in their run on the sunshine and they actually grazed, even with me sitting right beside the run. i still got the teeth chattering :... and darting around when it was time to get them in but they seemed much happier. they also wheeked at the sound of the hay bag for the first time while standing up on their back legs at the side of the run x) they are like 2 different pigs. when i put them back in their hutch instead of bulldozing their way around and squabbling among eachother, they both went upstairs, ruby went into the bed and laid down, and lucy sat out in front of me, laid down, big yawn and went to sleep x) right there, not even hidden away in her bedroom. she drifted off while looking at me through the wire, and even when i went to get up to go in, she just lifted her head and watched, didnt even stand up.
these 2 are going to the vets this evening as i found 2 small bald patches on lucys shoulders when i was checking them,and all 4 had extremely sore red cracked feet too which although had gotten so much better i still want checked, so ive booked them in for a check up. hopefully nothing to worry about, the skin looks perfectly healthy underneath their baldy bits, but i want to make sure with the 2 new babies coming some time soon. I'm so pleased i finally managed to catch each one and look them over. poor martha must have been in so much discomfort with that lump, probably why she was so grumpy, but at least she can now have the care she needs and wont be jostled around by the younger pigs. i should really avoid taking in unwanted critters, it can be so awful seeing the conditions they have been left to live with
i now have just lucy and ruby in the 3.5ft hutch, the difference in their attitude is amazing. they are both still incredibly scared of people, but i put them in their run on the sunshine and they actually grazed, even with me sitting right beside the run. i still got the teeth chattering :... and darting around when it was time to get them in but they seemed much happier. they also wheeked at the sound of the hay bag for the first time while standing up on their back legs at the side of the run x) they are like 2 different pigs. when i put them back in their hutch instead of bulldozing their way around and squabbling among eachother, they both went upstairs, ruby went into the bed and laid down, and lucy sat out in front of me, laid down, big yawn and went to sleep x) right there, not even hidden away in her bedroom. she drifted off while looking at me through the wire, and even when i went to get up to go in, she just lifted her head and watched, didnt even stand up.
these 2 are going to the vets this evening as i found 2 small bald patches on lucys shoulders when i was checking them,and all 4 had extremely sore red cracked feet too which although had gotten so much better i still want checked, so ive booked them in for a check up. hopefully nothing to worry about, the skin looks perfectly healthy underneath their baldy bits, but i want to make sure with the 2 new babies coming some time soon. I'm so pleased i finally managed to catch each one and look them over. poor martha must have been in so much discomfort with that lump, probably why she was so grumpy, but at least she can now have the care she needs and wont be jostled around by the younger pigs. i should really avoid taking in unwanted critters, it can be so awful seeing the conditions they have been left to live with
my daughters are very happy their new little pigs are going to be just fine.
I'm just pleased we got them out of the situation they were in to start with. now we just need to help ruby and lucy put a bit of weight on, hopefully it wont take too long with them being able to feed properly and not dodge the other pigs. plus they will be in a new bigger hutch in 2 days time