7 Week Old Guinea Pigs Won't Eat Food or Drink.

[ashurly]

Hi, it's Ashley here.

I recently adopted two baby male guinea pigs a day ago & I tried giving them their first food in their new home, such as hay and pellets to start off with, but it looks like they haven't touched any of their food at all [I left them alone for two hours]. Is this because they are getting use of their surroundings because they are in such a new place? I also have noticed that their water bottle has been quite full.

I just need some recommendations on how I can make them eat something at least and drink water. I've also been giving them a few carrots, but they haven't touched those either.

 

[Piggies&buns]

They are very new and need time to settle in. Cover their cage with a blanket and leave them alone for a week. During the week just top up their hay regularly and spot clean their cage if you can without disturbing them. They will most likely come out to eat and drink when you aren't there such as overnight. Ensure hay is placed by right their hides so they dont have to come out to get access to hay

Ensure you keep pellets limited and only give them one tablespoon of pellets each per day. Carrots are a high sugar food and should only be given one small amount once per week only. The more hay your piggies eat the healthier they will be.

New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

 

[Swissgreys]

Your piggies are new and will be very scared in their strange new environment.
But rest assured they will eat and drink when they need to.
Depending on their cage location and type, make sure they have unlimited piles of hay in easy to reach places and they will nibble on this for sure.
This should make up 80% of their diet anyway.
You could also try covering their cage partially to make them feel more secure.
2 hours is not very long, but within 24 hours you should start seeing some poops appear which will let you know they are eating and drinking.
Just give them a little time to settle.

 

[ashurly]

Your piggies are new and will be very scared in their strange new environment.
But rest assured they will eat and drink when they need to.
Depending on their cage location and type, make sure they have unlimited piles of hay in easy to reach places and they will nibble on this for sure.
This should make up 80% of their diet anyway.
You could also try covering their cage partially to make them feel more secure.
2 hours is not very long, but within 24 hours you should start seeing some poops appear which will let you know they are eating and drinking.
Just give them a little time to settle.

Thank you! They have unlimited piles of hay and lots of hidies in their cage. I'll see how they'll go tomorrow

 

[Swissgreys]

Thank you! They have unlimited piles of hay and lots of hidies in their cage. I'll see how they'll go tomorrow

Honestly I totally understand how you feel.
I was so nervous when I first bought ours home and was convinced they were probably going to die that first night!
I made lots of mistakes too - I kept creeping up to their cage to check if they were alive, instead of gently announcing my presence so they wouldn't think I was a predator.
I also checked on them far too often, but they all grew up into happy healthy confident piggies, so we got there in the end.

 

[Swissgreys]

Here is a really good place to start:

New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

I also wanted to add that depending on the weather in Melbourne at the moment (I am from the Dandenongs) instead of covering their cage with a blanket you might want to use a thin cotton sheet instead. For those of us in Europe is is currently rather chilly, but I suspect it is a lot warmer where you are.

 

[ashurly]

They are very new and need time to settle in. Cover their cage with a blanket and leave them alone for a week. During the week just top up their hay regularly and spot clean their cage if you can without disturbing them. They will most likely come out to eat and drink when you aren't there such as overnight. Ensure hay is placed by right their hides so they dont have to come out to get access to hay

Ensure you keep pellets limited and only give them one tablespoon of pellets each per day. Carrots are a high sugar food and should only be given one small amount once per week only. The more hay your piggies eat the healthier they will be.

New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

Ah, thank you for this information. They only had one piece each and I've been giving the recommended amount of pellets and they have plenty of hay!

 

[ashurly]

Honestly I totally understand how you feel.
I was so nervous when I first bought ours home and was convinced they were probably going to die that first night!
I made lots of mistakes too - I kept creeping up to their cage to check if they were alive, instead of gently announcing my presence so they wouldn't think I was a predator.
I also checked on them far too often, but they all grew up into happy healthy confident piggies, so we got there in the end.

Aw yeah, I've had guinea pigs before, it's just I was young around 12 years old [now i'm 19 turning 20] and a lot more educated then I was before. And that's amazing. I know it does take a lot of patience for them to trust people.

 

[ashurly]

Here is a really good place to start:

New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

I also wanted to add that depending on the weather in Melbourne at the moment (I am from the Dandenongs) instead of covering their cage with a blanket you might want to use a thin cotton sheet instead. For those of us in Europe is is currently rather chilly, but I suspect it is a lot warmer where you are.

Thanks for the tip! It is definitely getting a lot warmer in Melbourne. I will try that, thanks.