So I recently got two new guniea pigs. They are both very skittish and I have let them be for the past couple of days, but I am unsure if one of them is eating. At night, I have heard and seen one of my pigs eating, but have yet to see the other one eat. This is difficult because if they know I'm there they will freeze in place and do nothing. Any tips? Thank you.
Hi!
You may find the tips in these guinea pig guides helpful. The best thing you can do to place a large sheet over the cage to give your piggies a sense of protection and security they need; it will also encourage them to use the cage more. They are prey animals that have evolved to live in dense undergrowth and tunnels and feel exposed in open spaces, especially when they are very much out of their depth.
That should help with the feeding. Make sure that you have some extra hay (which makes over 80% of the daily food intake is close to where they are hiding, as is some water.
Keep up a steady stream of chatter as soon as you come into the room. Predators that make their presency known are not hunting.
Turn your regular daily rituals like feeding, poo patrol, pick up etc. into something they can anticipate by announcing them with the same words/melody each time. Please be aware that shop and for sale breeder piggies have generally not had anything in the way of friendly human interaction before they have been separated from the their family and mates before they are thrust into the very alien and frightening world of a home environment. Some piggies are more affected than others. Give them time and take it slowly. Patience and persistence will get you there.
By using the piggy whispering tricks you can make friends with them in behaviours and a language that makes immediate sense to them and that will go quite a way to relax them.
Invite them to become part of your group and assure them that you want to be friends with them and that you love them.
There are many more tips via this link here:
Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide
The guides are part of our more extensive new owners guide collection, in which we address all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about, from housing, diet, care, safe and unsafe toys, understanding behaviours and learning what is normal and what not, and how to learn to spot illness early on.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Please save up for vet care right from the start as part of their weekly/monthly living cost. Emergencies and illness never happen at a good time and can quickly mount up.
