I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I hand feed them but they scurry away. They love it when I come near, they squeak and do popcorns but I can't seem to even pet them. I want to carry them but they run off. I have watched every video and looked up every article but a majority just say patience and hand feeding. I've been doing that but nothings changed, what am I doing wrong?
Guinea pigs like me but are scared if I even move an inch or try to pet them
- Thread starter Talin
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2009
- Messages
- 54,406
- Reaction score
- 39,521
- Points
- 3,350
You are doing nothing wrong at all. Piggies are prey animals and it can take a while to gain their trust
We always start off trying to hand feed a few veggy treats in the cage by offering some nice veggies to the new piggy when they are in their hidey, hopefully they will take it off you as you hold it in for them... after a while try offering it a little further from the hidey so they edge out and take it from you.
Food is the best way to bribe, use food when you get round to lap times also. Start lap time for a short amount of time at first and build up. We started off we laptimes for 1 minute with new piggies then pop them back, slowly increasing the time. They will soon associate you with food and good things but at first it takes a while to gain their trust.
We always start off trying to hand feed a few veggy treats in the cage by offering some nice veggies to the new piggy when they are in their hidey, hopefully they will take it off you as you hold it in for them... after a while try offering it a little further from the hidey so they edge out and take it from you.
Food is the best way to bribe, use food when you get round to lap times also. Start lap time for a short amount of time at first and build up. We started off we laptimes for 1 minute with new piggies then pop them back, slowly increasing the time. They will soon associate you with food and good things but at first it takes a while to gain their trust.
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2009
- Messages
- 54,406
- Reaction score
- 39,521
- Points
- 3,350
How long have you had them?
About 2 months
D
DMS260820
They will get used to routine eventually and all the sounds around you're household, time will make them less scared. 
They will realise you are a provider and not a predator
They will realise you are a provider and not a predator