So I got two new guinea pigs and I don’t know when I should start handling them (it’s the second day btw). If I should start handling them, do I just slowly grab them? And what happens if they hide in a hideout and never come out? Should I wait 2 weeks before thinking about this?
Handling
- Thread starter Guyinea
- Start date
It’s such a lovely feeling getting new members of the family 
However, piggies need their time and space to become accustomed to their new home. Give them time and it will be rewarded. @Wiebke is the uk number 1 guru on anything associated with piggies and no doubt she’ll be along shortly to give advice. In the meantime, leave them be, enjoy watching them and let them make themselves at home.
Oooh by the way,
However, piggies need their time and space to become accustomed to their new home. Give them time and it will be rewarded. @Wiebke is the uk number 1 guru on anything associated with piggies and no doubt she’ll be along shortly to give advice. In the meantime, leave them be, enjoy watching them and let them make themselves at home.Oooh by the way,
Okay thanksIt’s such a lovely feeling getting new members of the family
Oooh by the way,
I saw this one thread awhile ago saying that she started to handle them on day 2
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Give them a week to settle in before you think about handling. Having said that, you have to be aware that they may not like being handled. Most don’t ever like being picked up so you can use a cuddle cup or herd them into something then pick that up.
Just poo pick and feed for now. Then in a weeks time you can start the weekly weigh-ins and checks. Have a read of the guides in the link below. We’d love to see photos of your piggies. Are they boars or sows?
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Just poo pick and feed for now. Then in a weeks time you can start the weekly weigh-ins and checks. Have a read of the guides in the link below. We’d love to see photos of your piggies. Are they boars or sows?
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
hrsrdr
Junior Guinea Pig
There's no set date to use. You have to judge it based on how they act. They're likely to be pretty skittish the first few days, and you can attempt to grab them a few times, but if they keep hiding, then try again in several hours. With the past few pigs I've had, as well as my new ones, I gave them three days before attempting to handle them. It's best to work into holding them though.
The whole point is for them to associate your scent with safety. And, especially if they came from a pet store, they're likely to be skittish around people in general, because pet store employees aren't always the most gentle. They also smell a lot of different people interacting with them everyday, whether its employees, or people wanting to hold them, so they often get nervous around any people, until you've had them for a few days, and they grow used to your scent always being around, rather than a dozen new ones everyday.
Good ways to work into holding them include hand feeding them, putting out a hand, and keeping it 4-5 inches away from them, allowing them to become comfortable with your scent being close, without putting them into panic mode. I'd also advise holding them with a towel the first several times, that way they feel safer, and are able to hide, and you're safer, in case they get nervous and try to bite.
If at any time, your piggies attempt to bite you in a vicious way (not like they mistook your hand for food) then you should put them away, if you have them out, and back off for the rest of the day.
The whole point is for them to associate your scent with safety. And, especially if they came from a pet store, they're likely to be skittish around people in general, because pet store employees aren't always the most gentle. They also smell a lot of different people interacting with them everyday, whether its employees, or people wanting to hold them, so they often get nervous around any people, until you've had them for a few days, and they grow used to your scent always being around, rather than a dozen new ones everyday.
Good ways to work into holding them include hand feeding them, putting out a hand, and keeping it 4-5 inches away from them, allowing them to become comfortable with your scent being close, without putting them into panic mode. I'd also advise holding them with a towel the first several times, that way they feel safer, and are able to hide, and you're safer, in case they get nervous and try to bite.
If at any time, your piggies attempt to bite you in a vicious way (not like they mistook your hand for food) then you should put them away, if you have them out, and back off for the rest of the day.
To be honest I let them decide when to be handled. I’m an impatient person myself, but it’s important to earn trust between you and your piggies. It took two of my boys two weeks before they earned trust to take veggies from my hand. To be fair, they were rescue piggies and they came from a school. I knew they were petrified because children were constantly wanting to hug them. It took time and it was rewarding in the endOkay thanks
Hi!
Please take the time to read up on our settling in tips for guinea pigs. You will find them very helpful; especially understanding how guinea pig prey animal instincts work and how you can avoid triggering them. We have also included a little course in 'piggy whispering' - making friends with your piggies in their own language helps to speed up the process a little as you don't have to wait until they have learned to figure out humans.
I would wait with picking up until your piggies are coming out for food and ideally take it off your hands, so they associate them with something positive. Please never grab a piggy; that cuts VERY close to their prey animal instincts.
If there is a potential health issue then you will have to handle them sooner. Start the weekly life-long and weigh-in when they are familiar with their surroundings so you can learn what is normal for your piggies early on and can spot changes sooner when they are still easier to deal with. Please start saving up for vet care right from the start as part of their weekly/monthly maintenance cost.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
All these really helpful guides are part of our New Owners information collection, which makes a great resource as we specifically address all the issues that new owners most commonly come up against. It is worth bookmarking, browsing and re-reading at need as you discover/understand different issues while your experience gradually grows. Here is the link: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Okay thank you, they are boars!
hello Wiebke, I knew you’d show up some time
Okay I will start reading that, thanks for your help!
hrsrdr
Junior Guinea Pig
Edit: 3-7 days for my piggies, past and current. and I meant to say several days. I need sleep lol
I’m VERY impatient as well, but thanks for the info, now I waitTo be honest I let them decide when to be handled. I’m an impatient person myself, but it’s important to earn trust between you and your piggies. It took two of my boys two weeks before they earned trust to take veggies from my hand. To be fair, they were rescue piggies and they came from a school. I knew they were petrified because children were constantly wanting to hug them. It took time and it was rewarding in the end
Well we’re both in the same boat, from tomorrow when my boys arriveI’m VERY impatient as well, but thanks for the info, now I wait
Let’s make a deal, we both make time for our piggies and they will make time for us, deal? 
It’s the new norm for us!I've been multitasking between holiday festivities, work, and new piggies. I'd be worried if I wasn't
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Just be aware they may not like being stroked. So work with them in terms of what they’ll like. Patience is very important when it comes to piggies I’m afraidI’m VERY impatient as well, but thanks for the info, now I wait
How big is their cage and how old are they?
Free Ranger
Adult Guinea Pig
George now trusts me to handle him but also knows hubs doesn't ever pick him up. He'll accept food from anyone in the house but hubs can stroke him in the cage and tickle under his chin because he knows he won't be scooped. I always use 2 hands to scoop him - that way if he sees 1 hand coming in he doesn't get tense. He's pretty savvy now he's mature! Yours will soon learn your ways ☺
4boipigs
Junior Guinea Pig
One of the most important things is go THEIR pace, not yours. You don't want to rush it and you don't want to scare them. Looming over them and trying to pick them up makes you the predator to them. Just respect their prey instincts and let them call the shots. I have some animal shelter boys who I got in July that took months to let me stroke them (when they feel like it) but don't like being picked up still.
I think there 1 month old and there cage is a 4x2. I had females but I had too return them, and I know males need more space. Because I’m home all day I was going to let them free roam most of the day.Just be aware they may not like being stroked. So work with them in terms of what they’ll like. Patience is very important when it comes to piggies I’m afraid
How big is their cage and how old are they?
Okay, I have a blanket over there cage so they won’t be in the open. Hopefully it won’t take too long, but I’m up for the wait!
Thanks! That sound pretty fun too do, I’ll get there one day
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Free roaming is good. Their cage needs to be the minimum for boys because you will be closing them in. So a 2x5 is best. Especially so when they reach their teens. When changing them over try and keep some of their dirty bedding to put in the expanded space.
piggies are ground roaming and while a lot of piggies will use a second level, it doesn’t count towards the cage size. It is just considered a bonus space only . As two boars ideally need a 5x2 (particularly for when they hit their hormonal teens), could you take the second level down and use the grids expand their cage out to be a 5x2. It’s great they can free roam but you do really need to make sure their cage is the big enough for them for times when they are locked into it as boars do need more room. My two originally had a cage the equivalent of a 4x2 and it just wasn’t big enough for them when they were teenagers.