Can I pick your brains please?

[littlepiggy]

OK, so the little ladies are safely installed and being fed etc. I knew they'd be nervous, but if anything they seem to be getting more nervous and go scooting around the cage when I go to grab them; Piggle is really quite hard to catch and sprints like Linford Christie lol!!

Are we handling them too much? I've got them out 2-3 times a day just for 10 mins or so and fed them melon etc on us. They sit quite nice and still, may wriggle a bit but nothing major and make little squeaky noises when we stroke them.

I really don't want to make them feel insecure obviously, but as this is all new to me I thought I'd better ask advice from you guys.

Just to remind you, they were handled every day from birth by the breeder and her 9 year old daughter, so it's not like they've just been chucked into a cage and ignored.

Any advice much appreciated

[guineapigqueen]

I wouldn't worry about them too much, I have 15 pigs that live in the flat with me and only one of them likes to be caught up and that is Kanika, my Skinny Pig(nearly hairless variety). The others do run away and hide in boxed or houses.

Typical piggy behaviour as they are prey animals within the wild, something coming from above to pick them up its instinct to run away. My advice to new piggy owners is to cover half the cage with a towel/fleece and remove the houses etc. Covering the cage they will have some where dark to hide but easy to be caught until they settle into the routine.

Good luck.
Emma x

[littlepiggy]

Thanks Emma, I've followed your advice, removed the wooden arch and big cardboard tube and covered part of the cage with a towel.

We'll get them out again a bit later and I thought they may like to try a few chopped grapes tonight (seedless of course!)

[eppingstrider]

It sounds like you'ere doing fine to me. I got a bit scared by the fact they ran away from me so much, and got a bit put off picking them up for a while, but got over it!
I still have to take all the hideyholes out if I want to pick them up - it's a bit of a game, I think!

[Hugs-Cavies (Doris)]

You'll find some piggies always will run away, like ES says its a game

Others, on the other paw, will happily be picked up, like Pip-Squeak for example who will just stop and let you pick her up.

[littlepiggy]

Got them out again - Daisy didn't really try to run away which I was really pleased about, but Piggle did her normal and when I lifted her up she was still running her little legs around!!!!

They enjoyed their grapes. Zoë held Piggle and I had Daisy who was really going for the grapes big style! Only let her have 4 pieces (2 grapes cut up) as don't want upset tummies!

When I put them back in their cage I tried not to let them go sprinting straight off - again Daisy kept still(ish) for me but Piggle was off; I slowly followed her with my hand and she let me stroke her for a second.

All in all a good day