Guinea Pig Won't Graze?

[Guinea_Lover]

Hi all,

I have 2 sows, when I put them out in their run on the grass one of them happily eats but the other one just sits there. She will only eat the grass if I cut it and hand it to her but she won't actually graze? It's like as if she's petrified the way she sits there. She happily eats grass in her hutch, again if I cut it and give her the cuttings. The other guinea pig is fine and eating the grass. Any ideas what this could be?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

I have 2 sows, when I put them out in their run on the grass one of them happily eats but the other one just sits there. She will only eat the grass if I cut it and hand it to her but she won't actually graze? It's like as if she's petrified the way she sits there. She happily eats grass in her hutch, again if I cut it and give her the cuttings. The other guinea pig is fine and eating the grass. Any ideas what this could be?

Your second girl feels very exposed and frightened. Please provide lots of hideys and stools etc. she can hide underneath and also cover the run with a blanket for added security. Guinea pigs are prey animals that have evolved in the cover of high grass; the instinct that they are vulnerable in open places is still wired deeply into many of them.
here are more tips: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/feeding-grass-and-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111844/

 

[Guinea_Lover]

Your second girl feels very exposed and frightened. Please provide lots of hideys and stools etc. she can hide underneath and also cover the run with a blanket for added security. Guinea pigs are prey animals that have evolved in the cover of high grass; the instinct that they are vulnerable in open places is still wired deeply into many of them.
here are more tips: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/feeding-grass-and-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111844/

I think you could be right, put a few hideys in and she's fine now, still stopping to look around but atleast she's having some grass this time thank you x

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

She will get more and more used to it, until eventually she'll be comfortable anywhere!

 

[BossHogg]

Once they get a taste for it, you can't stop them, take a look at my avatar!

 

[neuroticmum]

My young boar Stan is the same, he's only 8 months old and has only been out on the grass a handful of times but so far he seems to have a quick nibble then retreat to the hidey and stay there!
I'm sure he'll get more confident but it'll take some time, his older friend Clive on the other hand just sits munching away and isn't phased by anything!