Can I change their habits at 9 months old?

[babyandtheo1]

My 2 guinea pigs (both boys) are around 9 months old and I was just wondering is it too late to change what they are already used to? When I pick them up for lap time and put them back down again, I always give them veggies straight after. I want to change their feeding timetable though so that I feed them once in the morning (with a bell sound that they can get used to) and once in the evening. And then in the afternoon, I can pick them up for play. Or is it better to just pick them up in the evening before I feed them? I feel like they will wheek a lot if I'm picking them up and not giving them any veggies. How long would it take for them to get used to the new routine? aLSO is it normal for my guinea pigs to still run away when I want to pick them up at this age? But once I got them, they will climb onto me so they don't fall.

 

[Betsy]

It is perfectly normal for your piggies to runaway from you. They are prey animals. I have had my lot for 2 and a half years and they still run and try to get away or else they hide in a hidey waiting to be picked up. 3 of them I have had since birth. The prey instinct in guinea pigs is very strong and they live each day trying not to get eaten! I am sure they will be fine with a change in routine. They won't take long to get the hang of it.