Help with grumpy piggies

[magentastardust]

Piggies are around 8/9 months-They weren't overly cuddly piggies but always stroked when we give food and snacks and would sit and snack when out on my knee-although always used to run away if trying to be picked up.

One piggy is short haired the other has long wavy hair, she has started getting matted hair at the back so when she has been sitting on my knee I have been brushing her and trimming her hair at the back to stop /help the matting.
Only problem is now that Sandy the piggy hates getting her hair brushed even whilst sitting in among a pile of Parsley, she has started bucking when I try and brush her. She did give me a nip on the legs last time she was out being groomed.
She now has started chattering teeth when I try and pick her up (that means they are angry doesn't it?) and I am now getting a bit scared of picking her up which isn't helping.

I really need to sort out her hair as it isn't getting better and they both need toenails trimmed but are so grumpy and don't want touched. Any suggestions?

Thanks

First off, I have to admit, I really don't like the Fancy Breeds TBH.
I like a good old plain smooth or an Abby.
My little boy is good chunky Rex , coarse short fur.
The Peruvian was years ago and I didn't know she was until her fur grew .
(And don't get me started on Satins and Skinnies)

I decided with my Peruvian (Marmite) that she wasn't a show pig (though she was a perfect jet black) so her fur was an apendage on her body, not the be all and end all. I kept her fur floor level at her sides and short round her bum so she wasn't hampered by it ( I saw too many photos of GPs in 'rollers' poor little souls)
Yes she needed combed and bathed but she tolerated it well

Your guinea obviously doesn't. She might just find the brushing uncomfortable so she's pre-empting it.
Is there a chance you've caught her skin or pulled her fur?
I think, if it was my piggie I'd just trim her fur short, use those round ended baby scissors. She'll feel the benefit in the summer time anyway and the fur will grow back.

Claws, you can't leave, if you don't feel confident then a vet or a local rescue will trim them (Rescues will charge a donation but it'll be less than a vet and they'll be used to all sorts of guinea-pigs, some will be very neglected, scared, stroppy, unhandled. They will give you advice on clipping)
If you don't cut them, the quicks get long, the pigs risk the nails cutting into their skin and in extreme cases they can fracture their feet.

We have two boars, DD and I do the cutting together. She holds the piggie against her stomach, not sitting on their rump, she holds them under the bum and round the tummy (then she'll be in biting range)

I sometimes just do the back feet one day and front the next if they are really tardy. It's not worth winding them up too much.
We try to be quick and efficient (and stern but quiet).
GP3 took umbrage once and .............well I think he peed but I could be wrong

The chattering is an angry voice but it might be directed at her cagemate rather than you? Ours chatter from time to time, they tell each other off just for walking in between the other pig and the plate

And the grumpyness might just be time of year too.
My GP3 has been bonking the older boy so gets told off (he learns quick it's not a good idea)

Told off by GP1 that is- a quick head jerk or a snap.

We chorus "Oi, Dylan. No "

Like that stops him

Hmmm the Chattering is at me - Will persevere and spend a bit more time with spoiling and stroking to try and build up a bit of trust again.

We didn't realise how long her hair would be until it started growing, think I will have to trim more off her behind and give her a little side trim! She doesn't mind that its the brushing that she hates -I just used the soft bristle brush in a grooming set as the comb makes her jump and as much as I would like to comb it properly with the metal grooming brush there is no chance of getting it through without pulling and I wouldn't want to do that.

I have trimmed their nails 2 or 3 times normally a couple of feet at a time so I can do it but just don't want to aggravate them at the moment with them being so grumpy at me don't want them to associate all cuddles with nail clipping and hair brushing.

I think really some guineas , like other animals, are a bit more bad tempered. I've had uncuddly hogs but they were still chatty and walked round the house like they owned it.

Our young boar is a bit ragey if we lift him wrong. (In His Opinion)
It's just them.
They don't bear a grudge for long if the hair/nails need trimmed then that's how it has to be