Just brought them home.

**PrayerWarrior** · #1 05-06-08, 02:21 pm

[FONT=Georgia]Well, we have our pigs! The whole family is too excited for words. They're upstairs in their cage in my room, alone, with the door shut so no loud noises or cats/people will affect them. I told everyone to not go in there until 6 o'clock (2hrs 40mins by themselves). They are extremely skittish and pretty terrified, actually, which is both understandable and expected.

I know it's going take a couple weeks if not months for them to warm up to me/us, but I still wanted to ask.

What did you do when you got your first piggies, and how long did it take for them to be comfortable and not so scared?
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**LoveCutePiggies** · #2 05-06-08, 02:41 pm

Thank you for posting this question. I'm getting my piggy Saturday and was wondering the same thing. And congratulations!

**Haley0489** · #3 05-06-08, 02:44 pm

I left mine alone for the first night, from 6pm to around 9 the next morning.
They were in my room, but my TV was off and I wasn't around their cage pestering them.

After the first night I handled them daily.

**Butterscotch2** · #4 05-06-08, 02:53 pm

That's great! I left Butterscotch alone for the first three hours. Then I started to handle her, a little at a time, the next day, playing more that week, month, etc.

**Karsluma** · #5 05-06-08, 04:50 pm

I've only had mine for 2 weeks - one is definitely more comfortable than the other. I have 3 kids, so they *had* to hold them immediately - they were very gentle. Since then, I have taken them out one at a time - at night after the kids are in bed, and held them on a towel up next to me while I lie on the couch and watch TV. I pet them, and hand feed them.

Last night was my first "alone time" with our newest pig, and he handled it pretty well and after about 15 minutes, took food from me.

I'm still new at this, but that seems to be working for me.

**Pumpkin_RIP** · #6 05-06-08, 07:13 pm

Congratulations! I also let mine have some quiet time for a couple hours, then I would go in every so often and just talk to them for a short period of time. When she got used to me, I just reached my hand in slowly, and played around and touched stuff in the cage to get her used to my hands. Eventually that led up to petting and handling. Good luck!

**PrayerWarrior** · #7 05-06-08, 08:23 pm

[FONT=Georgia]Thank you, everyone, for the great advice...techniques...whatever the word. This is what I/we've done; feel free to critique and give criticism in any way. I'd really appreciate it, actually.

When we arrived home, I took them upstairs to my room in their box and lowered them butt-first into the cage. Murphy (brown Abyssinian) ran straight into the nearest small enclosure, which was the PVC tube. Jasper (black with brown spot silkie-American mix) ran into an igloo and neither came out at all while we were up there.

When I checked on them about 2 hours later, they were both running on the backside of the cage, jumping into their litter box and munching on hay, all while 4 small children, 2 older children, and a baby were watching them. Murphy was even popcorning and running laps!

Later, I fed them and helped the 2 older children help feed them, and Murphy took it from our hands as long as we were slow. Jasper wouldn't take it from us--which I expected from both of them--but ate it in his igloo. He did take the bell pepper from my hand, though.

While Murphy was drinking out of his water bottle, I gently lowered my hand (after waving at him so he saw me, haha) and he let me pet him! He was even wheeking at me!

It seems like we're making progress, but just wanted to ask for opinions. I'm extremely excited, if that didn't already show.

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**Haley0489** · #8 05-06-08, 09:07 pm

Yay! That's great they're already warming up to you! It took even my friendliest pig, Milo, at least a week to approach him, but he popcorned on day two and I was just thrilled!

**AneesasMuse** · #9 05-06-08, 09:42 pm

My Giorgi has a been a "love bug" since the very day I found him at the "dump" site ...but little J.R. is still getting used to me approaching and picking him up ..after a month or so.

Giorgi runs to me when I come in or near the room and his cage.. and J.R. actually stood still and watched me approach him, today ..but ran for cover when I reached (as usual). He's young, so it's expected I guess. He does fall asleep on my chest every time, though.

Congratulations to you and the piggies!

**babyboo** · #10 05-06-08, 10:09 pm

Well actually I hadn't come upon this site until after I got my piggies. When we brought them home and played with them right away. Doing that though I think helped them some way because they chirp to come out, and come right up to your hand ready to be picked up.

**PrayerWarrior** · #11 05-07-08, 12:16 pm

[FONT=Georgia]Murphy's been closing his eyes while sleeping for 30-45 second intervals. So who knows, maybe they like it here after all.

Question: When did you all start doing floortime/ taking them outside?
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**Haley0489** · #12 05-07-08, 02:43 pm

I took them out for floor time around day 3-4. I'm sure you could take yours out now, they seem to be a lot more comfortable than mine were,

.

**gpigluver14** · #13 05-07-08, 02:58 pm

Quote:

Question: When did you all start doing floortime/ taking them outside?

I'd say a week is about long enough to introduce them to the great outdoors! Before taking them outside, give them small amounts of grass, inside, so their stomachs can get used to it. Make sure the enclosure is safe from the predators of your area and ALWAYS keep an eye on them. And make sure the grass is pesticide/chemical and animal waste free.

**Metroid & Boo** · #14 05-07-08, 02:59 pm

I started petting and playing with mine as soon as I got them. Metroid had floor time on his second day with us and Boo on the first, but I didn't know any better then.
Metroid had outdoors time on his fourth day, he HATED it.

**PrayerWarrior** · #15 05-07-08, 04:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haley0489

I took them out for floor time around day 3-4. I'm sure you could take yours out now, they seem to be a lot more comfortable than mine were,

.

[FONT=Georgia]Haha, well, thank you, I guess. One of them will actually take food from the palm of my brother's hand. We know who his favorite is! It was so adorable all the wheeks and popcorns I got this afternoon when I refilled the hay racks.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gpigluver14

I'd say a week is about long enough to introduce them to the great outdoors! Before taking them outside, give them small amounts of grass, inside, so their stomachs can get used to it. Make sure the enclosure is safe from the predators of your area and ALWAYS keep an eye on them. And make sure the grass is pesticide/chemical and animal waste free.

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[FONT=georgia]Their foster mom said she took them outside pretty often and they loved the grass, but I'll give them a little beforehand, as well. [/FONT]

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Metroid & Boo

I started petting and playing with mine as soon as I got them. Metroid had floor time on his second day with us and Boo on the first, but I didn't know any better then.
Metroid had outdoors time on his fourth day, he HATED it.

[FONT=Georgia]We caught them (a seriously difficult task) last night and held both of them for a bit, and they didn't seem to hate it but they didn't enjoy it either. I've been picking up their poops and putting them in the litter box, and they don't get so skittish with my hand anymore; as long as I'm talking to them.

Thank you for the answers, everyone! I'll let you know if I have anymore questions.
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