Are they happy? they don't wheek!

[Teanite]

Hello, weve had our Gp's for 6 weeks now but we are not sure if we are doing the right things as they still seem very nervous and run away when they see us. No wheeking at tea time and are quite shy to say the least during the day time.

They do seem happy and they are healthy and eating well, we feed a great variety of foods and try to handle them as as much as we can, they love floor time and zoom round the front room like mad. But any movement from us and they are gone loike a shot!

They don't like to be picked up and avoid it like the plague, but once picked up they don't mind being held and stroked, allthough sometimes they are vary nervous, tryin to hide an burrow in our clothing.

I've seen alot of people's comments on here about how friendly there pigs are and how much interaction they get, as well as how much noise they make, were just looking for any advice or constructive comments aon the above mentioned.

Thanks DCE x

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

hiyah, aww dont worry, personally i think its still early days.

It sounds like you are doing the right things, just give them more time and they will come round, but i think a lot of piggies will disappear when they hear a slave coming, its just in their natures, but if you hang around they will come out eventually.

Maybe try going to where they are and not always going to them, so they get used to hearing you about in the room and they will feel safe that you arent always going to dive in and pick them up?

Also, one of mine sqeaks for England, the other doesnt make a sound.

My last two pigs, one sqeaked for England, the other never made a sound.

My first piggy, never sqeaked in his life!

My mums pig never ever makes any noise.

They are just all different, but you will be able to tell if they are happy, and if they are well fed and looked after well and have mates they will be happy no probs x

 

[Jac62]

I have had mine for a year now,and they both run from me when I go to pick them up.One is much tamer,and will let you stroke her chin and will take treats from you but the other is so timid.Sometimes I think it just depends on their personalities.Mine will sit for around 10 mins for a cuddle but they nibble and fidget when they have had enough and need a wee.
Be patient,it is early days yet,it will come.

 

[4piggiepigs]

I got three piggie's first, Peanut Pepsi and Porridge 5months ago 6 week's later i got Polo and Pepper. Porridge and Polo are really friendly like to be picked up don't run away when i go to the cage just lay out and let me stroke them, Peanut purred for the first time when i stroked her in the cage yesterday (and it might of been annoyance) pepsi is ok when on your lap and there is no chance of getting pepper she is always scared so don't worry sometimes it takes a while and they all have different personalities

 

[Tupeny]

Like others have said it really depends alot on the guinea pig - how nervous or secure they feel, their past experiences before they came to you + also their personalities. My girls are all really relaxed and love a stroke, although one is a bit tetchy + runs off when she doesn't want stroking.

I have one piggie though who took about 10 months to settle in - in the end it was having lots of available hideys, and putting his cage near a comfy chair where I could sit and feed him long leafy parsley several times a day - won him round in the end! He still doesn't like being picked up but will tolerate it. He still looks at me a bit suspciously at times but he isn't frightened anymore!

So stick with it, you will win them around in the end!

Mine have foung being picked up + carried around up really scary, so I've always only picked them up as a means to take them somewhere to sit down iyswim - I've seen people stand up + hold/stroke guinea pigs but mine don't like that- I always sit down with them. In the early days with new guinea pigs I always make sure that I have some tasty grass for them when I pick them up too... as they settle in I'm less good at doing that and right now it's all frozen so they will be very pleased when it warms up a bit + they can have grass again.

Having a fleece blanket or bed for them to snuggle into might help too, I think the softness of fleece beds might remind them of snuggling up to their Mum!