Help... Why Does She Chatter Like A Rattlesnake

[Jojessgaz]

I have posted before as my 9th old girl has started this awful chatter but really loud like a rattlesnake when I try and pick her up. She has chattered a little when I'm holding her but a stroke n food soon stops it. But this is real back off and I don't know why. There has been no change..they like in a cage in a room no one goes in and she has just done it a 2nd time when I went to pick her up so I cold clean . I don't want my guinea pigs to hate me. I've had them since may but we don't seem to have that bond I thought would come with patience love and time.

 

[Jojessgaz]

Can anyone help or suggest anything. I have had to stop picking her up now in fear of being bitten. Getting worried why and how I can help

 

[Guinea Slave]

Sorry to hear you are concerned about your little one. She is certainly trying to tell you something with the teeth chattering. Mine do it if they need me to put them back if they need a pee. I have never had one bite me.

There are several things come to mind. Firstly, do you think she may be in season? When hormonal they can get pretty grumpy!
Secondly, it could be that she is uncomfortable, is her skin ok? Is she eating well? Is she off colour in any other way? If yes to any of these I'd take her for a check up at the vets.
Finally, she may just be telling you she does not want you in her space. In which case just persevere with her. Maybe get a fleece or cuddle cup for her to sit in and pick her up in and give her lap time with you that way? The more time you spend with her the better but maybe in short bursts that are positive experiences .. maybe involving her favourite food.

They are complex little things!
Tagging @Wiebke as she is great with behavioural advice.

 

[DM030819]

Does she do it immediately, or after trying to pick her up?

My boyfriend isn't very confident at getting my boys and tends to not be able to get them first time, and they can end up standing their ground and chattering at him.

 

[Jojessgaz]

Sorry to hear you are concerned about your little one. She is certainly trying to tell you something with the teeth chattering. Mine do it if they need me to put them back if they need a pee. I have never had one bite me.

There are several things come to mind. Firstly, do you think she may be in season? When hormonal they can get pretty grumpy!
Secondly, it could be that she is uncomfortable, is her skin ok? Is she eating well? Is she off colour in any other way? If yes to any of these I'd take her for a check up at the vets.
Finally, she may just be telling you she does not want you in her space. In which case just persevere with her. Maybe get a fleece or cuddle cup for her to sit in and pick her up in and give her lap time with you that way? The more time you spend with her the better but maybe in short bursts that are positive experiences .. maybe involving her favourite food.

They are complex little things!
Tagging @Wiebke as she is great with behavioural advice.

She is 9mths old so could be hormones as she seems quite bossy with the other one too. They are very complex arnt they! I thought they wud just love you when you fed n cuddled them haha was I wrong or what! She seems OK in her health eating loads. All normal but she has become very very jumpy. But I'm wondering if that's cos they have been brought into the spare room in Nov for winter which is very quiet no one goes in..maybe will put the radio on n see if that helps her too.thanks for your help though it's very re assuring but she has chattered tiny bits in the past when in her hutch and my hand goes in but I just used to talk to her n she stopped... this is really loud and really sounds like a rattlesnake. ..defo wouldn't put my hand near

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Has she been to the vets? She could be in pain so she might not like being picked up. Have you got a cardboard tube? That can be very handy for picking them up if you can herd her into it.

If it's a hormone/dominance thing towards you then you can pull on her ear a little and put her chin up to show that you're the boss. I've done that with my little ones before and it works well. Just reinforce it with some strokes around her eyes (like a piggy kiss) and some yummy food. This lets her know that you're the boss but you love her. Simulating their washing bonding technique can also help.

Don't be scared of her, I know it's hard. But if she can sense your fear it will scare her more. Try and approach her at her eye level, with the back of your hand and talk to her softly and try to give her a stroke.

It all takes time and patience but there are loads of fantastic threads on here on how to bond with your babies. Good luck

 

[Jojessgaz]

Does she do it immediately, or after trying to pick her up?

My boyfriend isn't very confident at getting my boys and tends to not be able to get them first time, and they can end up standing their ground and chattering at him.

She has done it a tiny bit when she was in her hutch. And I know it was because she saw my hand coming in the hutch but a stroke and natter n she was fine. They are now indoors for winter and my hand comes down to pick her up instead of front on which she defo doesn't like. I do find it hard to pick her up but she also won't go in a cosy. She's been indoors 2 mths now n been picked up loads ... it was last week when she did it first n yes your spot on I tried and failed to get her... so she hid and turned to me chattering saying don't even try that one again. But 2nd time I hadn't done anything but sit down next to the cage..ready to feed them n she started so I picked up the other one and left her for 5 min's then came back... gave her some food and got her via the food into a cosy then picked her up in that for floor run around time. Then again picked her up in cosy to go back but I had to take her out n cuddle her a minute or she won't have any interaction with me at all. Noticed her hair was a bit wet n long so she also needs a cut. .. not looking forward to that now! Funny it took me longer than I thought to get confident with them but once I did and even cut their hair n nails on my own I was over the moon with myself...this has set me back as I'm uneasy with her again now

 

[Guinea Slave]

It does sound more dominance but insecurity as well. Just be confident with her, it's highly unlikely she will bite you, it's often all for show! I would just talk to her in a calm voice and tell her not to be such a silly thing. Turn a blind eye, handle her firmly with no nonsense and without a reaction she will get better as she will know you are boss and gain security from it. Often animals big and small behave aggressively when they are unsure, it's their protection mechanism. Your confidence and positivity is key.

Can she sit on you lap with the other one together to gain more confidence?