Don't Know Why My Guineas Wont Come To Me

[Kizi & honey]

I'm at a confusing point with my 2 boars. Ive just read a previous conversation but havent been able to get anything new from it to try so wondered if anyone will be able to help if i start this one.

Ive had them since September 17, I think they are 10 or 11 months old as they were adopted at what I think was 12 weeks of age at most.

They will not come to me at all or let me pick them up.
I let them roam around every night for 2/3 hours and they play with each other and investigate.

When I open their cage Its impossible to pick them up and put them out without it causing visible stress as they will do anything to avoid it. So I just open it and call them out. This they have no problem with.

Getting them back in is really bad lol I have to let them go in when they want usually one will go in and I think oh I can get them back in now then when the other goes near the first one will jump back out again. :-D

I dont mind any of this but I do miss them letting me pick them up and stroke them. If I go to stroke in cage they run away. They sniff my hand but as soon as my finger goes to stroke they run. They eat from hand but still wont let me stroke.

Have they had too much independence and now dont want to be messed with or could I have put them off me if ive shouted at my children etc.
Ive never got angry with them or scared them intentionally. They dont even mind the vacuum now but I just cant figure it out. Any advice is appreciated so much.
They also talk to me so much so I dont think they could be that scared because I dont think they would want to interact so vocally with me when I talk to them. Could it just be their personality or that they have got used to being able to run around as much as they want and think its beneath them to be picked up lol

 

[Kizi & honey]

Also when I sit down they will smell my feet for ages but if I approach very slowly they still dart away

 

[PerceptorII]

You have not done anything wrong. What you are seeing is very normal guinea pig behavior. The guinea pigs' wild ancestors were at the bottom of the food chain. In the wild the only things that tried to pick them up were predators: coyotes, wolves, cats, owl and hawks. Their instincts strongly associate being picked up with the prospect of being eaten. They haven't lost this instinct in spite of being domesticated for thousands of years.

There are some things you can do to minimize their fear, or at least get them quickly so you don't stress out the poor piggie with a prolonged chase session. Here's a couple of informational threads on the forum that can help:

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I'm sorry to say that it might still be early days yet! They certainly aren't scared of you, but for a prey animal touching is hard wired into them as a negative action. It's really hard for them to over come this as it's built into them like software.

Out of my 5 piggies only 2 (one is 2 and a half and the other is a year and a few months) follow me around and allow me to touch them in their cage and/pick them up almost all the time, 1 (2 and a half) lets me touch her 75% of the time and doesn't really like being picked up. 1 (year and a half) allows me to touch her nose VERY occasionally and briefly now if I have food and runs away when I try to pick her up and then we come to Tonks... Also a year and a half. She will not be touched, hates being picked up and is terrified of every shadow. However once you have her and cuddle her she would stay on your lap forever and she loves it.

Piggies are all so different and they take a great deal of time and patience to trust us. Every new step is a big milestone! I think 4 of my pigs may get there one day but Tonks will probably always be like this as she is a special pig with one working eye. Initially it did upset me to think she wouldn't come to me but she can't help it. She's still a very sweet girl and I love having her here with me

 

[Reenie]

I can't add much to what @PerceptorII has said, but I can give a bit of advice re getting them back in the cage - throw in a handful of nuggets! My three boys are similar. When I hand feed them they will even go so far as to jump up on my lap, but off they shoot when they suspect they might be getting picked up. I let them run around the living room, but I could never catch them to put them back, so I have a small cage, and I just throw in some food (from a bag that rustles obviously, as that alerts them to it). The cage is only 2x2, so I can manage to catch them when they are in it and return them to their big cage. Mine are about a year old, and they are getting easier to catch, but they are definitely not keen. I also have another pair, who are much less averse to being picked up, but they are a lot older. I've always just put it down to the younger ones preferring to run around rather than have cuddles.

When you do manage to catch them, try petting them for a short time while you hand feed them. I think this is what's improving my guys.

 

[Merab]

I can’t add to what has already been said.
I have 2 girls who are now 3 years old.
I’ve had them since they were babies.
They hate being picked up.
I am allowed to stroke them in the cage but only when they want it.
Keziah will sometimes come and sit beside me during floor time so I can stroke her, but this is usually only for a few seconds.
I pet them on their terms and we are all happy.
My old lady, Merab, does let me pick her up but she’s too slow and blind to get out the way, she does have her moments though.
Enjoy your piggies on their terms and you will get a great deal of pleasure from them.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Not all guinea pigs will ever come to me and let themselves be picked; I can still have a good relationship with them and they still trust me. Be aware that all the cuddly videos are not necessarily a true representation of what a good relationship with your piggies is although they are unfortunately perpetuating a myth and raising wrong expectations from new owners.

Try to use our piggy whispering tips and avoid any predatory behaviours when interacting and especially when picking up your piggies (which is cutting VERY close to their prey animal instincts). Lure them to come to you for food with some fresh grass or a little favourite veg. Piggy love runs to the stomach!

 

[Kizi & honey]

Thank all of you for your replies for some reason I didnt get alerted about them this time.

They are very helpful and its really good to know that I havent put them off me.

When I can be lucky enough to catch them they do both allow me to stroke them then but I dont like to chase them in case it makes it worse. I'm happy to let them Carry on the way they are after reading all of the comments as long as they are looked after well they must be having a happy life. I'm still going to read the information for the link posted in a minute so I can learn more but other than that as long as they are happy I'm happy and glad they dont dislike me and ill be patient.
Thank you to everyone again for taking thw time to reply to me

 

[Wiebke]

Thank all of you for your replies for some reason I didnt get alerted about them this time.

They are very helpful and its really good to know that I havent put them off me.

When I can be lucky enough to catch them they do both allow me to stroke them then but I dont like to chase them in case it makes it worse. I'm happy to let them Carry on the way they are after reading all of the comments as long as they are looked after well they must be having a happy life. I'm still going to read the information for the link posted in a minute so I can learn more but other than that as long as they are happy I'm happy and glad they dont dislike me and ill be patient.
Thank you to everyone again for taking thw time to reply to me

Try our picking up tricks - they work around the being chased and being picked up by a prey animal instincts. How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig