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Post by charskye on Nov 8, 2016 10:58:47 GMT
Hi, look. My Guinea pig is sending me very mixed signals, she allows me to pet her in the cage and out, will freak out when picked up, She will eat in front of me and is very casual and then will just avoid me sometimes, I have had her for a few days at most and she seems to be warming up to me? She makes nearly no sound beside the occasional purr and chirping when i let her out of the cage, yet when I do let her out, she always wants back in, or it seems like it... Can anyone help?
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 8, 2016 15:23:43 GMT
Hello and welcome Your girl is chirping and purring, which is a great sign, but she doesn't know all of the rules of her new habitat, yet, so she's testing the boundaries, learning what she can about you and her home. It can take pigs months to settle in completely. Some never do. It sounds as if she's well on her way to settling in. Try using a conveyance of some sort to get her in and out of the cage. If a predator caught them in the wild, it would grab them by their backs or necks, and carry them off with their feet dangling. This causes pigs to fear being picked up in ways that leave their feet dangling. If you can get both hands into the cage, put one hand in front of her by her chest, and scoop up her hind legs with the other hand. If you have a store bought cage, you usually only have room for one hand at a time, so try a cardboard box, a basket, a cuddle cup, or whatever you have handy. Put something soft, such as a hand towel, in the bottom of any hard container. Then gently use your hand to herd her into the the container, and lift out the container, piggy and all Any form of conveyance that will fit in the cage, can be positioned so she can easily get in and out, and will hold the weight of a pig, will do the job. Also, once she's out of the cage, leave the conveyance where she can easily get in and out from your lap. Put a cover over it, such as another hand towel, covering just enough that she can go back in the conveyance and hide under the cover, if she wants too. Once being taken out of the cage and handled by you isn't as traumatic for her, she will warm up to the process. It also helps to have a lot of small pieces of treats to feed her, such as celery leaves, to make the process of leaving the cage to be with you worth her looking forward to it. I hope this helps, and great luck with your new girl
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Post by Bean on Nov 8, 2016 16:39:36 GMT
Welcome to Wheekers! It all sounds good to me - as 3piggles said, many pigs don't like being picked up so bridging the gap with something they can hop into first can make it less traumatic for them (not that it takes long for them to get over it!). Feeding them some veggies while they're out is a great way to bribe your way into their affections too! Have you any plans to get her a chum? Guinea pigs are social animals (this is a great link) and almost always do better with a friend, so it's something to keep in mind for the future if it's not already on the cards. We've all been new owners at some point, so if you have any questions, please ask away!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 9, 2016 9:19:44 GMT
A warm welcome to our happy family love.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by charskye on Nov 9, 2016 23:53:07 GMT
Thank you all, it seems she's settled in rather quickly, even gone to the point of being calm when I pick her up, I'm new to caring for these little things, but she was clearly happy when cuddling up to me, relaxing and going to lick my hand... Dont know if that's a good sign or not, since they're nervous creatures, but thank you for the tips and such, any and all could help, I want to make her life as comfy as possible.
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 10, 2016 3:04:54 GMT
I have two guinea pigs, and even though one of them has been around for three years, he still panics and scurries around when we try to pick him up for lap time/cage cleaning. As soon as he's settled though, he always starts purring. He just keeps forgetting. Welcome to the board!
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Post by charskye on Nov 10, 2016 8:13:00 GMT
And if I can make another question... What vegetables should I supplement my little pig I want to give a variety and she doesnt really eat her normal pellet based food.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 10, 2016 9:20:35 GMT
Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green cabbage; a lot of types of veggies are alright to give to piggies. Salad is good to as long as you do not give her iceberg, the green leafy lettuces are OK. Some fruits are also good for a treat but only give apples as a occasionally as they can make their little mouths sore. Banana and pear are a favourite with mine. I didn't have my little Merley from a baby and he is very nervous. I just talk to him and stroke his head when he occasionally lets me.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 10, 2016 10:17:44 GMT
Have a look at the page on Guinea Lynx about diet - there's another page that lists all the veggies they can have. My pigs are all adults so they get unlimited hay, a handful of veg and a small amount of pellets each day. Veg-wise, so many individual veg can cause problems in large amounts whether it's gas producing, has too much calcium or oxalic acid. I just make sure I give a small amount of a variety of veg each day - 4-6 types. I don't need to overthink it and they get better nutritional value from the variety too. Make sure the pellets you're feeding are plain pellets, not a mix which they can pick bits out of and also contain a whole load of unnecessary stuff. An alfalfa based pellet is best for younger pigs, and ideally pigs over a year should be on a timothy based pellet. If your piggy has been used to a different feed, it's common for them to turn their nose up at something different - eventually they realise that's what there is and get stuck in! Equally if they're not used to veg, they can be a bit suspicious. Just keep offering a variety of foods and make sure you take away anything that hasn't been eaten at the end of the day. Apparently stale pellets aren't nearly so nice as fresh ones! Hay is the most important thing for them to be eating, and plenty coming out of the other end is the best indicator that they're eating enough! You can always weigh her regularly if you have any concerns she's not eating enough.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 10, 2016 21:58:18 GMT
This is the veggie chart from GuineaLynx. There is also a fruit chart. Check the left upper side of the page. All of the charts can be printed, so you can take a piggy shopping list with you when you go shopping.
Avoid any veggies or fruits that are high in calcium, which causes stones. Also avoid any that are high in sugar.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 11, 2016 9:10:26 GMT
Luckily Merley is a great hay eater, I think he prefers it to his salad sometimes.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 11, 2016 21:40:31 GMT
Since 80% of their diet should be hay, I'd say Merley has great taste My girls will drop the veggies for a pile of hay, any time
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 12, 2016 16:09:08 GMT
This pleases me too Piggles love as it is the best food for them. I love watching him and listening to him munching away. Hugs Jo xx
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sadyandmrsk
Tin Member
2 Rescue Piggies On a better road to a better life with me :)
Posts: 67
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Post by sadyandmrsk on Nov 14, 2016 20:44:19 GMT
Ive Had my pigs since April 6th 2016 and they still aren't completely used to me. I think its just kind of piggies nature since they are pray animals and they will always be scared of this big creature that walks by there cage every now and then. I guess food is the way to earn their trust. At least thats whats worked for me haha.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 15, 2016 21:53:28 GMT
I think there's something to that, but I also think some pigs are just more nervous than others, some are more outgoing than others, some are more cautious than others. Animals have the same range of personalities humans have, they just don't get to show them in the wild. Once in a domestic situation, where they are safe and have plenty of food and water, those differences come out. I was standing by the edge of Pigloo City talking to the girls, and doing some things in the cage. They were right by my hands the whole time, but if I moved my hands toward them, they move just out of reach. No fear. They just didn't want to be picked up, and my fingers held no treats, so they were unimportant fingers Jo's Merley is a nervous, skitty pig. I've had those. I had a jealous pig. I've had pigs who lay down to sleep in the middle of the floor, and others who would only sleep in pigloos. I've had talkers and silent ones, serious ones and goofballs, just about every personality of pig. I'm really glad they feel comfortable and confident enough to be who they really are
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 16, 2016 9:43:48 GMT
Yes he is Piggles love and I too have had ones in the pat who have been very friendly. I think plenty of handling as a baby helps but as so many of ours have been rescues, they have come to us as older piggies. When we get Merley a friend (there are literally no girl piggies at any of the rescues I have asked) I would so love her to be a cuddly-with-hoomans piggy.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 16, 2016 17:06:08 GMT
I remember getting the booklet with the first pigs, pet store pigs, saying not to handle the pigs until they've had a chance to get settled in. I totally ignored that, and started handling the pigs from the very beginning. We have to handle them to get them out for cage cleaning, nail clipping and vet visits. We should feel their bodies all over regularly, for bumps, lumps and ouchies that might need vet attention. So we have to pick them up, pet them, etc. We might as well make it part of their normal existence, rather than letting them think they're going to be able to hide in their cages, then dragging them out.
No pigs really like to be picked up, though many like to be held. Finding the best way to get them out of the cage with the least trauma, then having treats for them once they're with us, just makes the whole process more enjoyable for them and for us. I had a Skype call with a friend in Belgium one Christmas. I was sitting in my recliner with Zippy draped over my left shoulder, and Dallas snuggled up under my chin, while I was typing on the keyboard. She was amazed to see them staying their willingly, and said her girls would never do that.
I think it was because I made it part of their lives, and I gave them choices. Their basket with a towel over it was right beside us, so if they wanted to go hide or play in the basket, they could. They didn't have to ask me. I also have a cover over the chair, they could get down and play on the chair if they wanted. They had choices, and they used them. When I put the basket in their cage, they climbed in willingly, hid under the towel until it stopped moving, them came out willingly, and played. When they'd had enough, they went back in the basket, and I put it in the cage so they could get out as they chose.
Not all of my pigs have been that accommodating, but they've all had the same choices. Some used them. Some didn't.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 17, 2016 9:35:19 GMT
Brilliant post Piggles love.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Alina on Feb 26, 2017 3:46:43 GMT
It sounds fine to me! I have a 3 year old guinea pig that I got about half a year ago and she also likes to be in her cage when she sees it. But she is still warming up because her old owners didn't take he rout much.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 27, 2017 9:04:09 GMT
I just love your piggy's face Alina love. He is looking at you so adoringly. When I have my new piggies, I am going to handle them all the time. Merley hated it but I am determined to have some cuddly piggies this time.
Hugs Jo xx
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