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Small pets

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Original poster

New to the piggies...

15 replies

goodthinking99 · 12/02/2017 19:30

I'm new to the joys of wee furry GPs but have had this pair of curious girls (Dolly and Bunty) for about 6 weeks. They are DDs (age7) but are mine really...and I think they are just great and find cleaning and feeding them quite a relaxing task

They wheek like goodun's at the merest hint a of bag of spinach being rustled and I think I've witnessed some popcorning...but it's to an untrained eye so I'm not sure.

My questions are - they live in the kitchen in this c&c run, does it look ok for them? Can I improve it? I'm planning to put a loft on soon, in the hope that they will be able to negotiate a ramp. They have a little pootle around the rest of the kitchen when I'm cleaning the run, is this to be encouraged? Could the explore the rest of the flat if supervised?

And they will deign to have their noses tickled when bribed with parsley (or any food) but aren't keen on being picked up...will this change when they've decided I'm a trustworthy presence or do I need to be more proactive?

I hope I'm doing the right thing by them, so any advice welcome.

OP posts:

pipsqueak25 · 13/02/2017 09:36

they are gorgeous !! , i get my piggies tame by having lots of handling, hand feeding and talking with them, - they live in the dining room, as they are able to see you and hear stuff they will get more attention than being outside all the time and get to know who feeds them etc so that will all help, gentle stoking and handling will help too
your set up sounds good, 'pootle around the kitchen' i like it ! they can free range if supervised. you sound like you are doing a great job with your girls, love the names, so cute !!
thanks for the pics !

pipsqueak25 · 13/02/2017 09:38

meant to say 'pop corning' is leaping into the air and springing about, means they are happy, your furry kids are telling you, you are a great fur mum and catering to their needs well.

FernieB · 13/02/2017 16:24

Your set up looks great. A pootle round the kitchen is good too. I let mine do that every day for exercise and I put an old fleece blanket down with lots of box tunnels and houses for them to race round. They do run about for a bit. I would be wary of letting mine wander the rest of the house as they pee and poo freely and it would just be too messy. Don't worry about them not liking being picked up. My original pigs hated it and even after 5 years would still try to run away from me, but once on my knee they settled in for cuddles quite happily. It's just the picking up action they didn't like. My current two are quite lazy and just sit there and allow themselves to be caught (Madampig has only been with us a few weeks and has gone from hiding in terror to laziness in that time). I'd just keep picking them up for cuddles so they get used to it.

Sounds like you have turned into a piggie slave - your pigs will be very spoilt.

pipsqueak25 · 13/02/2017 17:05

'madampig' love this name fernie !

Original poster

goodthinking99 · 13/02/2017 17:46

Ah this is all good to hear, I'll try and getting the picking up action smooth and quick...at the minute I just seem to freak them out...despite the food bribery . We're off to the vets for a check up on Thursday so will have to get them into a box somehow. And I'm hoping the vet will trim their nails, I don't think I'm up to that yet at all!

I think I'm definitely their slave now...I'm worrying about being home late and getting stern looks from the pair of them. I would never have picked the piggies myself (it was DD and her classmate that sealed the deal, the classmate's new puppy had knocked them into second place and DD kindly offered a home) but now they are here I luffs their little hairy faces...and the smell of fresh hay (which is just as well).

I'll watch the boards for tips and hopefully they will be satisfied with their humans.

OP posts:

FernieB · 13/02/2017 20:41

Nail trimming takes practice and a firm hand. It's much easier if they're pink clawed as you can see the quick so you know where to clip. If you do happen to draw blood from the nail (which I have done a few times with a black clawed wriggler), then you can quickly dip the claw in cornflour to help stop the bleeding. Also don't fret too much about it - it doesn't seem to bother them, but if you're anything,like me you'll feel guilty for ages

OneSockOn · 14/02/2017 19:35

Your piggies are gorgeous! We've just got as well and they are delightful, so much fun!

fortifiedwithtea · 14/02/2017 21:40

Aww beautiful piggies. you should give them Mumsnet names as well though to fit in with the crowd

There was a reason my Shai (RIP) was nicknamed Naughty Girl for MN purposes. I let her have the run of the kitchen and she got behind the tumble dryer and chewed the cable. Luckily it wasn't on at the time and DH was able to cut off the damage and re-attach plug and it still reaches the socket.

I think your set up looks great, your guineas are lucky to have found you

EastMidsGPs · 15/02/2017 18:11

Oh gorgeous piggies.
They've landed on their paws😃

I've never mastered the art of nail trimming so we go off to see Dr Chris the vet. For 8 paws we are currently charged £12. It was £10 until recently
They also get a cuddle from the nurses and Dr Chris along with the opportunity to tell them how badly I treat them and how SS should be involved😉

Original poster

goodthinking99 · 15/02/2017 20:31

Am reassured to hear there are others who fear the nail clipping...I find it hard enough on DD and she listens to what I'm saying (occasionally ). And their names are in constant flux...Dolly can be Cheeky Chops, Fluffball or Trumpton depending on what takes DDs fancy.

OP posts:

EastMidsGPs · 15/02/2017 20:53

I learnt my lesson over names after my first pair of pigs. We called one Squeak EastMids.
At the vets DH was when her name was called out, we've stuck to human names since.
Sadie doesn't like her name and ignores it, DH calls her sweetheart and she clucks and chats away to him like mad in reply.
We did adopt one who came with the name 'Princess Caramel Barbie', but she quickly became Missy or Tig for short, not quite sure how that happened !!

FernieB · 16/02/2017 15:00

We also have person names - there's no way I'm responding to 'fluffy' (or something similar) at the vets. My previous boys had old fashioned names and I felt as though I was bringing an elderly gentleman to the vet.

Original poster

goodthinking99 · 16/02/2017 15:33

We're off to the vets soon...I hadn't thought about being called in by name...maybe just as well they got new monikers when they arrived with us. I don't think I look like a Jaws

OP posts:

Original poster

goodthinking99 · 28/04/2019 20:54

Just a quick message to say that Dolly, sadly, went over the rainbow bridge two weeks ago. I couldn't believe how sad I was! I miss her wee fluffy face and champion wheeking. She was at the local city farm pet boarding at the time, so after discussion they have decided to adopt her mate Bunty, the black one, and are currently working through the quarantine before building up to introducing her to the rest of their herd. We gave Dolly a proper send off...and can visit Bunty any time we like, apparently she's already a firm favourite with their staff and volunteers, and it seems like a good retirement plan for my piggy. but it is too quiet when I open the fridge door.....

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/04/2019 23:25

Ahh very to hear that Dolly has gone over The Bridge .
And good that your other pig has new cagemates , it is very difficult once one goes, there is a continual cycle .
The Rescue where we got our sow pair three years ago will take lone sows , they have a pack of females and the lone sow will blend in and have the company .

We had to PTS a piggie (GP8) in October then our boar (GP6) in January . Now we have GP7 (nearly 5yo) who was very bristly with new cagemates so she lives in the small bedroom for the remainder of her days.

It doesn't get any easier , no matter how many times I've trodden the road .They are lovely little animals and it does take a while to get used to chopping veg and rustling a bag without a response from the Furries .

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