Learner with piggies

[chkymoo]

Hi everyone, I am new to all this, so like to come on and check I am doing it all correctly
I adopted two male piggies about a year and half a go, they had an outside cage but I kept them in a small conservatory. A year ago one of them died so I bought a new indoor cage for my remaining pig, they were never handled so were very hard to touch. even now (bubbles) still likes to run away although over time I have been able to bribe him with spinach and i can now stroke him with a hand rather than a finger. I decided to get a large rabbit hutch so I can get a friend for bubbles, but on various advice decided it would not be good. so having this spare cage I decided to get 3 new (female) piggies, not sure the breed but they have various hair length. so my main question is... I it normal for them to me so still, they have just huddles up together in their bedroom, they dont even move when i open the door, I can pick then up without fuss and they remain very still. Is it just *** they are scared. how long to you think i should just leave them to settle ?

 

[Wiebke]

They are very scared! Please put a towel over part of the cage or give them a carboard hidey to get more protection as a safe base to get their bearings from and forage for (preferably) nearby food, hay (should be up to 80% of their diet) and water. later on, you can rearrange the layout again. Talk to them as often as you can and don't loom over the cage. They don't sound like they have been handled much or in a friendly way!

Here are more tips for how to settle shy new guinea pigs.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

PS: How big is their cage? Three guinea pigs should have a minimum of 2x5 ft (60x150cm) space, according to the RSPCA/animal league.

 

[chkymoo]

ok thanks for advice,, yeah the cage is around 5.5ft x 2.5ft