Help with new Piggies!

[BiscuitSole176]

Hello Guys, I have 2 new piggies, both are females and I got them 3 days ago. They are in a rather small area in which I'm trying to get upgraded to a larger cage. One Guinea is extreamly territorial despite being sisters. She hides in her hidey 24/7 and she runs away and freezes when I picked up until I put her back down. My other one pushes my hand away sometimes, bites my shirt and skin occasionally and also freezes for the most part. Both Guinea pigs run away and they squirm to get back down when they can. They wont even eat treats when I am holding them, although I have manage to hand feed them from the cage. Now I have done a lot of research, some people say this is because they are new and have to get use to my presence and others say that they may never be the holding/petting type but I was hoping to get both of them tamed so they both could be held, petted, cuddled, etc. But because they seem so resistant, and honestly I have no idea what I should do here, does this mean these pigglets might not want any attention such as being held and petted? Or is this a situation where I have to just give them enough time until they are ok to be around me? Should I put them down as soon as they start bitting and pushing my hand away or should I keep holding them? Or should I not mess with them at all and just leave them alone? Lastly If these Guinea pigs dont like the be held or petted how am I suppose to provided them with the attention they need?

Thanks Guys! I really want them to have a good home!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Hi, welcome to piggy parenthood!

Firstly I would highly recommend not handling them for at least week, maybe 2 if you can. Leave them to settle in As they’ve only been with you 3 days they’re likely terrified, your best bet would be to earn their trust through giving them snacks in their cage and talking softly to them. After a week you could offer your hand to them in the cage etc but they’ll probably run away. Two of my adult pigs still do that

Even now none of my pigs like to be caught, it’s in their nature as prey animals. 2 of my pigs (I have 5) do ask to come out for a cuddle but still bottle it when I come to pick them up. How old are your babies?

The minimum recommended cage size for 2 girlies is 4ftx2ft but bigger is always better! Make sure you have two of everything, eg: two hay areas, two water bowls and two food bowls etc and spaced far enough apart. That will calm the whole dominance thing down and they should start to settle well

If your more shy pig hides a lot you can put a towel or something over half the cage so she feels more secure and a little braver

 

[Tangle]

Hi, and welcome to the forum

Have a look through the New Owner Guides, in particular the guides on Guinea Pig Whispering and Settling New Guinea Pigs.

Very few guinea pigs ever actively want to be picked up. Its too reminiscent of an eagle diving and pushes all their prey animal buttons. But lots learn to be quite happy having a cuddle once they've been stolen from their den. 3 days is still very very early days for new girls - we've had our two for a year and whilst it hasn't taken that entire time for them to relax they're very different, more confident, pigs now to the ones that arrived Easter 2018. You'll get there

 

[PurpleGiraffe]

Hi, I’ve got two girls that I got just over a month ago. New pigs need time to get used to everything, new home, new smells, new voices. It’ll all be a lot for them to cope with. Let them settle in at their own rate. I started with just talking to my girls until they got used to my voice and didn’t run and hide every time I spoke, then I would offer food from my hand, sometimes they took it and sometimes they didn’t. Once they were happy taking food from me then I gently stroke them while they ate from me, one pig liked this and the other didn’t so I took their lead. They run and hide when I pick them up but once they are on my knee eating vegetables they are fine until they’ve finished eating and want to go back. It’s all still very early days, they’ll be here there whole lives, no need to rush and stress them, just take it at their pace

 

[Caris]

It really is just a matter of time. It’s still very, very early days. The amazing thing about piggies, though, is you don’t have to hold them to give them attention, and they can be very entertaining just to watch (I’ve spent hours just watching mine sleep. I swear it’s not as creepy as it sounds).

I’ve had my boys for just over a month, and I didn’teven hold them in the first two weeks. Now I probably hold them once a day for less than ten minutes. The moment they start moving, I put them back, because that’s what I want them to do. I don’t want them to sit frozen on my lap. They’re picking it up very quickly.

To begin with, I would just sit by the cage and talk to them so they get used to your presence and smell, and because no predator is going to make so much noise. With my two, I used poo picking to get them used to me, too. I leave them in the cage while I tidy up, and let them initiate the contact. Curiosity seemed to get the better of them, and it was during these times that they first took food from me, let me pat them, and now I have a very hard time keeping them out of the dustpan, and they follow me around the cage because my hand means pellets and hay and veggies, and they really, really like all those things! After a week or so of them taking food from my hand (I held it clasped between my fingers), I put some pellets on my palm and held that out. They now take that (Arthur will use his own paw to keep my hand down, because I better not be taking those delicious pellets away!)

Let them work on their own terms. You’ll be surprised how much they change, and any new thing is actually very, very rewarding. For example, last night Arthur decided to fall asleep out in the open while I was in the room (okay, okay, I had a moment of panic because I thought he was dead because he was just lying there with his eyes shut, and guineas don’t do that, but then he gave the biggest yawn, stretched out, and fell back asleep), which shows he’s comfortable. And then I went in to check on them this morning and Arthur didn’t run and hide (when I stand, I’m still a bit scary). Instead, he let me approach, get their pellets, and came and took some from through the bars (I’ve never tried that before), and Merlin soon came running from where he’d been sitting in the tunnel. I felt like popcorning around the room myself, I was so pleased!

Just take the time to get know them, and let them get to know you, and it really is surprising how much they’ll come out of their shells. And there’s so much more to piggies than just holding them.

 

[artcasper]

Welcome to the Forum! Give them time to settle in... it will be all new and scary for them.. let them get used to the new environment and your house, your voice etc. I used to sit next to mine and just talk to them so they knew my voice.. Even after 4 years mine still have their moments of freezing and running away from me... Good luck and be patient.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello Guys, I have 2 new piggies, both are females and I got them 3 days ago. They are in a rather small area in which I'm trying to get upgraded to a larger cage. One Guinea is extreamly territorial despite being sisters. She hides in her hidey 24/7 and she runs away and freezes when I picked up until I put her back down. My other one pushes my hand away sometimes, bites my shirt and skin occasionally and also freezes for the most part. Both Guinea pigs run away and they squirm to get back down when they can. They wont even eat treats when I am holding them, although I have manage to hand feed them from the cage. Now I have done a lot of research, some people say this is because they are new and have to get use to my presence and others say that they may never be the holding/petting type but I was hoping to get both of them tamed so they both could be held, petted, cuddled, etc. But because they seem so resistant, and honestly I have no idea what I should do here, does this mean these pigglets might not want any attention such as being held and petted? Or is this a situation where I have to just give them enough time until they are ok to be around me? Should I put them down as soon as they start bitting and pushing my hand away or should I keep holding them? Or should I not mess with them at all and just leave them alone? Lastly If these Guinea pigs dont like the be held or petted how am I suppose to provided them with the attention they need?

Thanks Guys! I really want them to have a good home!

Hi and welcome!

Please read the guides in the link below. They explain how guinea pigs see arrival in a home, how their prey animal instinct work and how you can avoid triggering them and make friends with them in their own language and in ways that make sense to them with a spot of piggy whispering. The link also contains tips on safe picking up and lap time.
Please give them time to settle in and get their bearings. Guinea pigs are not naturally born living cuddly toys and they are not ideal children's pet; that is a sadly wide-spread human misconception. Trust is a plant that needs to grow deep roots first before it can flourish and grown.
Click here: Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide

These very helpful guides are part of our New Owners guide collection, which covers specifically all the areas we get the most questions and concerns by new owners about, including care, diet and lawn time, understanding behaviour and learning what is normal and what not.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[BiscuitSole176]

Thanks for all your help guys! I have not had to many pets myself, so taking ownership of anything just hasn't been apart of my life style as far as taking care of another living animal. I just hope that I can give them everything they need! Just spent quite a bit of money ordering hideys, new bedding, treats, and even a tunnel and a play pen! I just hope they become ok with my presence and become tame enough to be able to be held and cared for. I certainly would not want them to be restricted to their cage all the time and no one else be able to enjoy caring for them. I guess I see what people mean by "My children are my pets".

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thanks for all your help guys! I have not had to many pets myself, so taking ownership of anything just hasn't been apart of my life style as far as taking care of another living animal. I just hope that I can give them everything they need! Just spent quite a bit of money ordering hideys, new bedding, treats, and even a tunnel and a play pen! I just hope they become ok with my presence and become tame enough to be able to be held and cared for. I certainly would not want them to be restricted to their cage all the time and no one else be able to enjoy caring for them. I guess I see what people mean by "My children are my pets".

It sounds like you’re going to be a fabulous piggy parent! They will definitely get there, eventually they will be demanding snacks from you and bossing you around

Yep I call my piggies “the kids” and people often get confused when I say I’ve taken one to the vets

 

[Siikibam]

Just remember they may not necessarily lose the freeze or flight instinct, and may also not like being cuddled much. You can still enjoy seeing their personalities coming out, and how they interact with each other and behave when they get used to you.

I’ve got four and admit that even with our first pair, I didn’t take them out of the cage much except to weigh and check. I like to watch them going about their business and being piggies.

Have patience and you’ll see results. And as said, you’re making a good slave already Don’t worry if you find yourself thinking of them when you see something they may like or may ‘need’. I’m like that with them and my kids, but keep it under control!