What to do when a pig bites?

[mrs.torres2566]

I have 3 seven week old precious girls Penelope, Smores and Rose. Rose is a bit or a biter and Penelope bit me for the first time this morning. They never break the skin, its more of a nip. Rose nips fingers whenever she feels like it. Penelope nipped me because she had a bit of bedding in her "lady area" and I was trying to clean it out. It was a warning nip but nonetheless a nip. Since they are young I want to 'nip' this in the bud. How do you recommend I go about doing this?

 

[guineapigs<3]

My Sienna is the same she'll give a nip as to say I want to get off your lap now, I don't mind this as it's just her way of saying let me go. My other 2 have since grown out of this and just head but me, as they're so young I'd give them time to grow out of it, when Sienna hurts me though (by accident) I put her down and then don't pay her much attention for 5 mins or so, so she knows she's done wrong!

 

[mrs.torres2566]

My Sienna is the same she'll give a nip as to say I want to get off your lap now, I don't mind this as it's just her way of saying let me go. My other 2 have since grown out of this and just head but me, as they're so young I'd give them time to grow out of it, when Sienna hurts me though (by accident) I put her down and then don't pay her much attention for 5 mins or so, so she knows she's done wrong!

So I shouldn't worry about it? I am just worried they will grow up to think biting is ok. Thank you!

 

[guineapigs<3]

I wouldn't worry about it just yet only if it turns aggressive would I worry, if they start to draw blood or won't let go then I'd worry but for now a little nip isn't anything to worry about they do it to their cage mates to interact how they're feeling sometimes and they're just doing the same to us because it's the only way they know how to interact and show what they're meaning.

 

[mrs.torres2566]

I wouldn't worry about it just yet only if it turns aggressive would I worry, if they start to draw blood or won't let go then I'd worry but for now a little nip isn't anything to worry about they do it to their cage mates to interact how they're feeling sometimes and they're just doing the same to us because it's the only way they know how to interact and show what they're meaning.

I am not too worried about Penelope's nip because she was telling me to stop touching her area but Rose just randomly nips a finger, nose or ear. I wish I knew what she was saying.

 

[guineapigs<3]

You will notice that from time to time piggys will lick us, I didn't notice this at first because it's such a light touch that we can't hardly feel it, they lick us because they like the taste of salt on our skin, and sometimes they can get a bit carried away and try and have a nibble maybe this is what she is doing and enjoying your ears as a tasty treat as long as she is getting handled regularly she will be fine.

 

[gizmo01]

when rocky or marmite bites i usually say a sharpish 'ah' and rest a finger on their nose
rocky learnt quickly but marmite is still learning. Ignoring them doesnt work because they will beg for attention

 

[piggyme234]

My girls are all different, Francesca is still quite young and when I got her when she was 7 months old she would explore everything by tasting it. She had to nibble everything just to see what it was but she has grown out of that now, she is one next month. Annabelle was frightened when I got her she was 3 and had been used for breeding and she would nip quite hard to tell me she wanted to be put back in the hutch but she has stopped since she has become tamer. Lexi nips to tell me to put her back with her sister as she is protective of her and doesn't like to be apart. She has always done this but will only start after being held for a while. Charlotte and Kizzy like to lick my fingers, sometimes Kizzy gets a bit carried away when she needs the loo and nibbles so I know to put her back.

These are a few reasons she could be doing this. Does she look frightened? Does she nip you hard? Could she be in pain? She could have mites of lice which make it uncomfy for her to be touched. Chances are she is just exploring by taste and will grow out of it or she is just a little nervous and that will pass as she gets used to you.

 

[Boof]

Gidget will nibble if you put your finger chin or anything near her mouth. however she has bit me twice and draw blood the first time I just put her in the cage and left her alone. the second time it really wasnt her fault i dropped something and bent over to get it and I guess she got scare and bit me pretty hard drew blood.

 

[monica1607]

They should grow out of it. When I got my ginger piggy Zsa Zsa she bit all the time (my friends piggy had babies and she was 1 of them and she would bite from the moment she was born) we found that she was doing it as she wanted to be put down so we use to pick her up with a towel so that she couldnt get to us and get her own way, also I was told by just pulling on her ear just gently would teach her to stop as apparently that is what their mothers do, I have tried it and she has stopped biting us.