New piggy keeper

[Rosina]

A friend of my hubby is giving up his pair of piggy, because his kids don't want to take care of them anymore. And we are going to take them in, but I am very new to piggy too, I had hamsters when I was young, but no piggys. I never seen the new piggys before and not sure if their old cage is big enough, so I just build one anyways.

So here is my questions, if I am not going to keep their old cage and move them to my new 2x4 cage, would they adopt to the new enviroment okay? Should I keep their old hide house? if they already have one? or should I just have everything build new? (which I really don't mind. =) )

 

[loves2travel]

you can buy everything new if you want, the only thing i would say to definately change is the cage. They will adjust right away to the nicer large space.

 

[mncavylover]

They will definitely adjust fine. I would keep everything else the same, unless you really feel like shopping.

 

[loves2travel]

I forgot to say before, WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Starbucks]

also, try to find out what food they were eating because you dont want to change their diet all at one time. may cause upset stomach for them.

always introduce new foods (pellets, veggies, fruits, etc.) slowly. introducing new pellets should take about two weeks. (broken link removed) has a good recommendation for changing to new pellets.

 

[Rosina]

Thank you for all of your advise, =( just got the piggy's today, poor piggy's their old cage is only 14" 28" big, and two of them living together in that little thing. Good thing that I built one yesterday. Hope they will like my new bigger house.

 

[loves2travel]

oh wow! that is the tiniest cage i have heard of!!!!! yaya that they now live with you and can have better care!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

How are the piggies in their new cage? I'm sure they don't mind giving up their old one for the one you made them! Wasn't surprised to hear that the old one was too small - given that someone was getting rid of them because their 'children' wouldn't take care of them anymore. I bet they're happier and piggies seem to adapt pretty easily when having to adapt to better conditions rather than to worse ones. Good for you for giving them a wonderful new home!

 

[CavyCrazyMom]

Oh man...that is sad! I love to hear stories about people like you adopting and taking the time to read up about them and such before they even get them...that's awsome! And I'm glad to hear that they are out of their situation...obviously it wasn't the best place for them to be.

When I took my girls out of their smaller cage and put them in their new bigger cage they flipped!! They were running around and popcorning...it was SO cute! I wished I had a camera for that day! They also got two new friends to live with, so it was a very exciting day for them! i bet yours did the same. If you haven't seen them already, be sure to look under 'accesories' and check out the 'cozies'...they are a HUGE (can't stress that enough!!!!) hit with pigs! I have yet to hear of a pig that doesn't like them!

 

[loves2travel]

yea, from everyones stories of seeing their girls get into a band new big cage, and wishing they had a camera, im going to be prepared for when they come home. camcorder and camera ready!

 

[Rosina]

=( I am not sure if they are shy or if I scared them. I have moved their old hide house to the new cage, got the hay rack and everything ready, then moved them into their new cage. The first thing they do is to find their old hide house, and not come out form that at all. =( I left them there all by themselves last night, and this morning once they see me I walk into the room, they run right back to their hide house again. =( Maybe they don't like me?

 

[tashagurl]

They are just scared of everything. If you talk to them and give them veggies at the same time the will start to associate your voice woth goodies. Some pigs are just shy. Give them time to ajust(sp) and they should be fine.

 

[Furkidsmommy]

It just takes time. I think some piggies take differently to being in a bigger home. Some enjoy the extra space right away while others hide until they are more sure of themselves but trust me they will grow to love their new home and you.

 

[Loveheart]

it will take time sometimes mine took 2weeks and its still scared but it sometimes does happy squeeks i just cant wait to get it a huge cage so its even more happier!

 

[Rosina]

mmm... I really hope they like their new home. I think the ex-owner don't give them much hay and fresh veggies, they love the hay rack now, and I am thinking to give them some fresh veggies today. Sometime they would hide their little house and make a lot of noise, I wonder if they are disscussing about their new home. =)

 

[loves2travel]

one person i know had piggies in a big beutiful c&c cage, and it took two months before they would even come out of their pigloos. every time they wanted to eat or drink, they would push the hidey house to that area, even for floor time. so dont be worried! i bet they are chatting about their new home!

 

[mncavylover]

I agree, they are having tons to adjust to now, new cage, new family, new smells, new hay, new veggies... the list goes on and on! It takes time for all pigs to get used to you, no matter what their age or cage size. Great job!

 

[agpiggy]

when i put my piggies into a new home, they hid away for about a week....i guess they were scared because it was something different but now they love it!!

 

[Rosina]

Well I guess I will just have to be patients. Bubu, would come out once in a while, but Abu would just move her little hidey house around everywhere she go. So far I built a second level for them and they never go up, and so as the hammock.