How long did it take your baby GPs to settle in?

[NotInMyDay]

We got two baby girl GPs on Saturday. They are so cute and I am daft about them already. They are very quiet and skittish which I know is normal but I wondered how long it took your baby GPs to start enjoying your company and not run away and hide.

I pop in to say hi to them a few times a day and last night and tonight I have the in a paddling pool run in the living room for some company. No water obviously

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Awwwwww cute baby piglets We missed the baby pig stage with our boars (they were a year old).

IIRC from years ago- I had GPs as a child, one of them was really scared.She spent the first 3 days with her head in someones armpit . Then she was introduced to the house GP -who was meant to be a girl as well, but wasn't.

The resulting piglets were handled from birth and really tame.

The next ones ( bought as babies settled within 3-4 days) always came forward for food but warily and grabbed the food and ran to begin with.

They are prey animals who will treat everything with suspicion to begin with, but that's just their nature.
(Then they treat everything with contempt )
My boars were standing in their run demanding to be put to bed at 7pm. Noisy little beasts. .

BTW, paddling pool is a great idea (without the water as you say ).
2 of mine lived in a drawer when I first got them (as a child) I even took the pants and socks out first

[BonkeyMollocks]

Hi, Little pig was 5 weeks when we got him and settled in properly after a few days. However he wouldn't sot still for cuddles for ages so make sure you hang on! He is 5 months and happy to snooze for laptime after he has ran all over me to find his spot and pooed .

I think the fact that he was indoors and there is a 4yo stomping around helped, now he is very tame and comes to you if you scratch the floor normally on the food hunt .

Big Pig took abit longer because he was alone for 2 weeks before Little pig came along and he is naturally more wary and timid in character. He still legs it away from me if he think he is going to get picked up but loves his cuddles .

Love the paddling pool idea, may have to steal that!

[NotInMyDay]

Yes the paddling pool works well as it contains the pee and poo!

I had them up in my arms for a cuddle and they snuggled in to my arm. They breathe sooo fast though and worry that I am scaring them too much!

They started to make very quiet squeaking / chirruping noises - is that good?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

The squeaking and chirruping is them investegating and communicatng with each other.
The fact they snuggle to you is good. They have found a safe place to hide. They will gradually become more familiar with the sounds and smells of their new home.
They do breathe fast -their tiny hearts must be pumping at mega-rates .

If you consider from the GPs point of view- they have very few natural defences.
They can't make themselves look big and fierce. They can't kick like a rabbit. Their claws are pretty useless.
They can't even turn their heads very quickly.
So the only thing that stops them being lunch is their awareness.
They never lose that no matter how old and settled they get.
Our boars will be pottering about and if a neighbours dog barks they stop- heads up, then decided whether to run or stay put. Then they go back to their pottering.

[NotInMyDay]

Hi I thought I'd post a wee update since you were kind enough to answer me.

Baby piggies are definitely feeling more at home. They have a run attached to the hutch but they wouldn't go down the ramp so I have put a concertina tunnel on the ramp and they zoom up and down it now! So pleased they are running about now. They have a few mad times during the day where they career about the hutch and run and it warms the cockles of heart. They are still quite quiet but getting more squeaks etc when they want food.

They eat very little of their pellets but guzzle the veg. Grass and green beans are their favourite. I think they have sorted out who is the boss. Fuzzy pig is braver and Smooth pig follows her everywhere.

Quick question it you don't mind. I fill up the hay in their bed at night time and they burrow into it but by morning it is flat and they just sit on top. I don't think this can be keeping them warm enough. Any ideas?

Thank so much for your advice.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They do flatten the hay down.when they romp about it.

I've just started giving my hogs their deep winter bedding now (it's getting chilly now).
But I only change it every 3 days (pooh pick and remove damp hay every day) then fluffy up the hay.
When it's really cold I put a layer of straw under newspaper in the back and sides of their haybox (there's another thread on SFA about straw as bedding-not reccomended on most GP sites.Especially not for baby or nervous pigs due to risk of injury)

When I lift the boars up, they are quite snug in their hay nests - they look like little hens

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Keep an eye on their droppings- they should be firm, well shaped and plentiful .

Most GPs see pellets as second class food, veg and hay first.
Make sure you give them fresh daily- pellets lose Vitamin C quickly.
I give mine a handful- enough to eat with a few spare.I don't want them squabbling over the last one if they get the munchies.

[NotInMyDay]

Thanks 70. I have been giving them a small handful of pellets. Aiming for them to eat most but have some left over. They eat about half. I change daily.
Their poo is firm and plentiful!!! As is the pee (plentiful that is)!

What do you think of me putting a cardboard box in bed area but upside down. More snuggly and less likely to get a draft?

I think you mentioned something like a snuggle pad but not fleece covered. Can you remember?

I luff my piggies

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi, it's lovely to hear they are settling in. I love little guinea-pigs , they are so full of the joy of life and everything is a huge adventure. Even if most of it scares them witless

I put a cardboard box in the boys haybox (but turned so that the base is on the bottom and the top is open.They have a wooden lid on the haybox). Then layers of newspaper (they pee like nobodies business). Mine like to have a seperate area to sleep .Boars don't hug together as a rule and mine definately appreciate a bit of personal space.

Make sure you have a big enough door (I put 2 doors) to make sure one can't trap the other.

The SnugglePads do come with a fleece cover (they are flat, size of a dinnerplate and hold the heat for 7-10 hours).
This year I'm going to try Hotties -they do a pet one that has a cover suitable for animals - they can have a cover, but I'm going to try just the heat pads and put them under the boys newspaper , embedded in their cat litter. (Bought a bag of wooden pellet cat litter that is suitable for rodents)

I find the only trouble with fleece/fleece covers is the hay is a devil to brush off and after 2 days they stink of wee.

If you do buy SnugglePads, look on Amazon- we paid £14 (free p&p) last year, they are £22+ in petshops.