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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 5, 2017 14:44:54 GMT
Merley loves his tubes and cuddle cups. It is wonderful Baz love finding things that they like and realising how different each individual piggy is.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 5, 2017 19:54:37 GMT
Baz, the best I can say is that it's his reason for being bored, not ours. How often do kids say there's nothing to do, when the parents can think of endless things to do. It really means there's nothing to do that he feels like doing, or the suits his mood at that time. It's the perverbial nothing to eat in the fridge full of food
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 6, 2017 2:57:17 GMT
Oscar found himself a distraction- tonight, as I was cleaning their cages, I decided to push the cages together and let the guys interact through the bars. Oscar saw the twist of chewable ribbon attached to Murphy's cage and decided it was perfect for him! He snagged it and dragged it through both cages into his own. Murphy sat there watching him do it; apparently it was of no consequence whatsoever to him. These guys crack me up.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 6, 2017 8:59:12 GMT
Ha ha I love it. Despite having plenty of her own, our Holly bunny likes to nibble on the hay sticking out of Merley's pen. He isn't bothered either. If it had been Lacy Jane bless her, she would have been nipped on the nose Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 6, 2017 20:39:26 GMT
Both rabbits and guinea pigs are extremely social animals, and love to spend time with others of their species. The ones with something the other wants are probably entertained by the wanters antics, and are having fun having another rabbit or piggy to watch. If you can put their cages together, it might give them both something interesting to do, and keep them both entertained. Have you tried it and it didn't work?
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 7, 2017 1:13:24 GMT
Both rabbits and guinea pigs are extremely social animals, and love to spend time with others of their species. The ones with something the other wants are probably entertained by the wanters antics, and are having fun having another rabbit or piggy to watch. If you can put their cages together, it might give them both something interesting to do, and keep them both entertained. Have you tried it and it didn't work? The original setup had the two cages next to each other, but they sat on tables of differing heights. The guys could see each other, but not really interact unless the piggy in the lower cage would stand up to wheek to the other one. (Murphy does this occasionally, and Theo would do this too) The current setup while the construction is underway has the two cages next to each other on the same level, but one cage is angled away- space is at a premium at our house, and this is the only arrangement that keeps them safe. Whenever I can, I'll set them on the floor after their cages are clean and let them interact through the bars. Hopefully, when all is done I can have them like this on another table that can will accommodate both cages at the same level. I'm going to miss this setup a little bit; I rather enjoy seeing them more, now that they're both literally two feet from me in the office.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 7, 2017 9:09:45 GMT
We did that for quite a long time, had a set up where the piggies could only see each other. After a while we put them all together, watched them closely of course, but they bonded. I love to be able to see mine too Baz love.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 7, 2017 21:17:44 GMT
Puberty is the terrible two's time for piggies. Once they get through puberty, which is between 2-12 months old, they tend to settle down a bit. If one boy is older, and one younger, it also tends to work better. Two boys the same age rarely work through puberty, so if they can be separated long enough for them to get over themselves and grow up, they might make great cage mates. However, if tried, and failed, it rarely works if tried again. They remember the reasons it failed. I'm glad you're getting to spend some quality time with the boys, Baz. They do love to be where something is happening. My girls are in the dining room section of the great room, and they sit at the edge of the cage just watching things happen. When they get bored, they go about their business So much better than when we had them in the basement family room at the last place.
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 11, 2017 2:40:36 GMT
We managed to trim some claws yesterday. Not 100%, but I'm happy enough with our progress. We even got Murphy trimmed down, too- his back legs are easier, because the claws are bigger. We did get to cut down a few of his trickier, tiny claws- again, not everything, but enough to where there should be no discomfort for the guys.
Sometimes they stand still and I swoop in with the scissors, and then they shift to where I would cut too much off and I pull back quickly- aggravating, but better than drawing blood. If only they would just freeze for 30 seconds, I could get it all done!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 11, 2017 18:03:51 GMT
I am always afraid of hurting them so we have the vet's nurse trim our claws, bunny too, they also have their teefies checked. Every 6 weeks they go and it is surprising how quickly they can grow in that time.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 13, 2017 21:02:24 GMT
My eyesight is terrible, so although my girls are fairly mild mannered and patient, it takes so long for me to focus on the nail and the clippers at the same time, but then the girls start pulling their feet away, and I have to start all over again. I have found a great trick to help me see their nails better. I bought a bright red apron, so it doesn't matter if they have white or black nails, I can see them against the red. I did use a light blue print smock, but the print made it hard for me to find the nails in all that was happening on the smock, so this plain, bright red apron is much better for me.
I'm glad you got to do their nails. I never do a 100% perfect job. I don't think anyone does. If someone holds their hands or feet once they start trying to pull away, it would terrify the pigs, so we all, even the vet techs, have the same problem. I try not to cut too much at a time, anyway, so I don't get bleeders. I don't think the vet techs are that concerned about bleeders.
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 16, 2017 2:19:44 GMT
Cleaned cages today, and I had to laugh again- I finished Oscar's cage, and put him back. Then, I put Murphy and his pigloo next to Oscar's cage. Murphy poked his head out, saw the little twist of ribbon Oscar had nabbed from him previously and decided to take it back!
He stretched his head up, snagged it, and tore it on half! But he got his fair share, and hilariously, Oscar sat there watching him do it with an air of detached professional interest.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 16, 2017 9:57:46 GMT
It is hilarious when they snatch things from each other and there is a battle to and fro. I like it when something is snatched and the thief runs off wheeking LOL.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 16, 2017 17:35:24 GMT
I'd love to see the detached professional interest expression, lol They really can be expressive, and what catches their fancy and why, often totally eludes me. It makes sense to them!
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 18, 2017 4:10:11 GMT
I'm trying to get a few more photos of Murphy when he's not running for cover to his pigloo; occasionally he gets quite a placid look on his face, other times I swear his eyes look HUGE when he's peering at something off in the distance. He does tend to be shy lately- I've started a new catchphrase whenever he darts off out of sight: "Leaving so soon?" On the other hand, sometimes he permits me to put a finger through the bars of his cage and gently stroke his nose. I'm sure I've mentioned it in passing, but I do really admire boldness in a guinea pig. Oscar is this way, as was Deo.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 18, 2017 13:46:30 GMT
Ha ha, I love that Baz hunni, we just say "Hello Merlin, goodbye Merlin" as he is scatty too. I love it when they are friendly too and do not fear you. Their little characters vary so much.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 20, 2017 17:06:44 GMT
The girls are pretty good, though they will suddenly run away because of some noise or movement I don't even notice.
I love that bug-eyed look, Baz. Dallas used to do that, but none of my other pigs have, not that I've seen.
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Post by bazookagoof on Mar 20, 2017 2:15:34 GMT
Oscar's getting bolder, and Murphy's getting weirder. Now when I clean Oscar's cage, he cautiously creeps out of his pigloo and quietly explores, looking for objects to chew on. The sound always gives him away, and I have to reach over and remove whatever it is he's got. I have dubbed him, "Sneakin' Around Pig" for these cage-cleaning sessions. If anyone's seen that old horror movie "Blair Witch Project", then they'll know what I'm talking about here- Murphy acts like he's in the movie; often I catch him standing in a corner of his cage, with his nose facing the corner. There's nothing for him to look at except the blank gray wall of the dining room, so this is slightly unsettling. You'd think the Blair Witch had caught him! Unless he really IS fascinated by the wall.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Mar 20, 2017 9:10:22 GMT
Ha ha Baz love, no I didn't watch that film as I was told it was rubbish but I have a fair idea of what Murphy is doing. I would love to know exactly what they are thinking.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 20, 2017 20:33:28 GMT
Dementacat used to stare at the wall, and talk to it, as if he could see/hear something we couldn't. That's how he got that nickname. Usually pigs face the back wall when they are really sick and possibly dying, but then it's accompanied by puffing up, and lying down, not appearing to be paying attention to something no one else can see. Maybe he's psychic
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