when to start spot cleaning

sunflowerpiggies

sunflowerpiggies

New Born Pup
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Yesterday morning I bought two beautiful teddy boars from a breeder. They have been regularly handled and health checked and therefore are already quite tame. Yesterday I left them to settle in to their new home, however when I went to check on them this morning I noticed that they have pooped a lot! (especially near the entrance to where they are hiding). So what I was wondering was - how early can I start spot cleaning them? Will putting my hand into their hutch now scare them, or will it help them get used to a routine of morning spot cleaning?
 
It still amazes me just how much poo they can produce in such a short time! But you can definitely start to spot clean now. If I'm honest, poo picking really helped me bond with both sets of my piggies. It got them to realise that I wasn't a scary person who was going to grab them every time the cage door was opened.

I'd talk to them while you're cleaning and wouldn't otherwise interact with them and would just, instead, ignore them. It can help to have certain phrases (or a song!) so that they learn to recognise the tone and associate it with what's about to happen. Let them initiate any contact to begin with. If they get scared and skittish, just stop what you're doing (but don't stop entirely and walk away) and then slowly start again. In my experience, piggies are actually surprisingly curious little creatures and like to check out what you're doing. I think that's why my poo picking "songs" very swiftly ended up being "Merlin! Get out of the dustpan right now!" and "Ava! Don't you dare try and eat the brush again!"

I think it's always a good opportunity just to talk to them.
 
Use the Piggy Whispering techniques to let them know you are a friend and want them to join your "herd" and that you are "Chief Piggy".

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

You may feel a bit silly doing some of them so make sure no one is around! It's not silly if you are a piggy. You are talking in a language they understand. I found the most useful one was to talk as you approach them as predators are silent. Also have a word (or words) and a voice for different actions. "Dindins!" (veg time) is the most popular with mine. "Breakfast time" doesn't quite get the same reaction.
 
We do poo pick up sometimes more than 3 times a day, very varied schedule, my eldest daughter is chief piggy and she baby talks them with izzles and ozzles after their names..they love it! I am a bit more business like this week with getting up at 6am to get ready for work and school for my youngest..so we do a mini breakfast, poo pick, water and quick pets before the main event a few hours later..😁 great alarm clock though the wheeks as I am sleeping downstairs still due to hayfever..and the budgie has started copying the wheeks..it's cheered me up no end!
 
For such small creatures they can certainly make a lot of poo! With safe and calm repetition of the spot cleaning process they will get used to it and eventually possibly even try eating the dustpan and brush etc. whilst you are poo-picking. (I used to get inside the indoor enclosure and Tinsel would generally come and investigate what was going on and even have a nibble of my slippers).
 
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