Getting my guineas OUT of their run

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elvislives

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Hello :) We have two new guineas, they are approx 15 weeks old. We have a lovely huge run for them to use in the garden...however they are still very timid(I am handling them regularly) and I can only get them out of their hutch if I block most of it up to reduce the space they have to run in. SO, how can I get two very timid guineas out of their run? I ran out of go go gadget arms a few years ago, so I can't reach to the back of the run ;) So far I have had to lift the run and pray that with some gentle guidance they peg it for their hutch lol. Which has worked but isn't ideal and is somewhat time consuming :) Many thanks, and any other top tips gratefully received.
 
My guinea pigs are still timid and skittish one is 6 and the other a 2 year old. But you could try putting a small pet carrier (Pets at Home sell the small plastic type suitable for guinea pigs - mine is a fetching lime green) in the run. Put it somewhere you know you can pick it up fully loaded quickly. Put some newspaper on the bottom of the carrier and fresh hay. The guinea pigs can then go in there and if you are quick enough you can close the lid and lift your cargo up safely for transport else where. It helps if you put the guineapigs in the run from the pet carrier as they become more familiar with it that way.
 
AH! That is a great idea thank you! Very cunning..... :) I will give that a go when I can afford to buy a carrier...
 
Thanks, that has been tricky cos there's no easy way to get hold of a tunnel at both ends while it's in the run. It has one door on the roof at one end which is quite narrow and one door on the side at the other end. I will have a good look tomorrow and see if I can get something smaller near the door though.
 
Similar to the carrier idea you can just use a cardboard box and close the flaps/gently tip it up when they go inside it. You could also spend some time hand feeding them tiny pieces of veg when they are in the run so that they are more inclined to come over to you when you want to capture them and from there you can train them using veg as a lure to go into your chosen method of conveyance. :)
 
Thank you! I have bought a carrier which is improving the situation...when they eventually make their way over to it LOL. I will try the veg tip too, elvis is very greedy and will always come for a bit of food. Jaffa just looks at me and waits until I've put the food down and I'm not looking anymore :D I will persevere though....
 
Hmm....back to square one....if I'm about they won't go near the carrier for me to retrieve them from the run! I thought we'd cracked it with that but now they have been caught in it a couple of times they are wary of me being around it.Clever guineas.....but I need to be cleverer! lol....Any more tips please? :) the veg tip is a slow burner, either they take it and scarper(elvis) or they don't take it at all(jaffa)... :)
 
Everything takes time with guineas, perseverance is key, I target trained my two boys (using a target stick, clicker and veg rewards) so it is possible.

If you want a fast solution then simply herding them into the carrier is easiest, if they have nowhere else to hide they'll run for cover. If you've got more time then put the veg in the carrier and wait for them to go in for it (you can move one at a time) and then close the door.

As it is you won't have to worry about it for a while because it's going to be too cold and damp for them to be out in their run for the next few months!
 
I agree with Hermes. You have to be patient with guinea pigs. Mine did take some time to accept the carrier. But they eventually associated it with being taken outside to their run. Both of them lept in it. It got quite a squeeze the bigger they got. When it was time to go back I used to put it in the run they would make their way into it. If you get one in the other would follow suit.
 
Thank you! I did put some veg in the carrier and waited for them to go in. It worked for Elvis the first few times but Jaffa has always been more cautious. Now they know they will get shut in there, even though it is but momentarily and they get to go back to a delicious salad in their lovely hutch, they aren't going to hang about in that carrier for anything! Lol. Jaffa takes ages going backwards and forwards before setting foot in it and as soon as I begin to ever so slowly move my hand towards the lid(from behind to reduce him seeing it)he pegs it down the other end of the run. Elvis has cottoned onto it too and steals the veg out to take down the other end of the run. D'oh. Outwitted by baby pigs! At least they enjoy it in the run....I will keep trying. They do however pretty much go straight back to their hutch if I lift the run off them, why is that?! I don't want to rely on that as their method of returning home because I can see them giving me the run about the garden once they get more confident lol :D
 
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