Do Guinea Pigs Do Love Bites?

[MichelleM]

My 14 week old guineas who I've had for four weeks now have become very comfortable with my hand in the cage. They let me scratch under their chins a bit and they're beginning to let me stroke their cheek. They've started becoming really fascinated with my hand it seems. They love to sniff it up to my forearm and they've started very very gently nibbling it.

Now my question is do guineas nibble to show affection? Or do they just like the smell of my hand soap? Or are they just trying to figure out if my hand is food or not?

Thanks!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Guinea pigs can nibble to 'test' things but a nibble with a bit of a lick is usually done to show affection rather like a kiss.

 

[Betsy]

My piggie Betsy shows me affection by a very gentle nibble which feels like a scratch followed by a lick. The other 4 just lick but then they are related and Mum Velvet has always licked like mad ever since we got her. We thought it was because she was 'with pig' but she has continued to lick and the babies are nearly a year old now.

 

[Wiebke]

My 14 week old guineas who I've had for four weeks now have become very comfortable with my hand in the cage. They let me scratch under their chins a bit and they're beginning to let me stroke their cheek. They've started becoming really fascinated with my hand it seems. They love to sniff it up to my forearm and they've started very very gently nibbling it.

Now my question is do guineas nibble to show affection? Or do they just like the smell of my hand soap? Or are they just trying to figure out if my hand is food or not?

Thanks!

Guinea pigs explore the world by nibbling; it is most likely your smell: " Biting" And What You Can Do

Piggy kisses are expressed by licking around the eye area.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

 

[Freela]

Many of my guinea pigs have been prone to licking/nibbling the humans, either from affection or curiosity or simply because you smell good. I have found that as they get older they are more docile and affectionate about it, whereas younger pigs would sometimes get a bit nippy in the hopes that I was edible, particularly if there was food around or I had been handling food and thus smelled edible!

 

[MichelleM]

Dibbler has calmed down a bit now and mostly licks my hand. He occasionally nibbles lightly now (only sometimes biting a bit too hard!).

They're pretty chill most of the morning when they're home with my fiancé. But now they come out and start popcorning when I get home! Hoping this means they're happy to see me and not just expecting a treat.

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

Aw my late Minja was the one who mainly licked, my late Teddy did lick but only when she wanted to be put down. Ginny doesn't really lick, nibble or chew. Peppa licked my arm today, out of testing or affection I'm not sure, Porridge doesn't really lick