Little concerned about our girls...

[TheThreeCavies]

Hello all,

Toffee, Truffles & Davina appear to be settling in well on the face of it. We've had them since early June so around 6 weeks now. They're fine being handled (once they're actually picked up) and Toffee will readily eat from my hand. Toffee will if she's being held.

The thing I'm concerned about is that they still spend a lot of time in the sleeping part of their hutch. They have access to a 20 square foot run 24 hours a day and I have seen them down there eating their pellets and grazing the grass from time to time.

Am I expecting too much still? Maybe it'll be a few months before they're out and about a lot? They're coming up to about 20 weeks old and they're fit and healthy and steadily gaining weight.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MilliePigs]

There’s no say in how long it will take for guinea pigs to be comfortable, some are weeks and some can take years. Bambi has a 3x4 c and c run attached to his hutch but he’s still a little nervous walking in the run when I’m moving about the room and he’s 3.
Guinea pigs are very skittish animals and it takes a while until they will gain your trust. I recommend hand feeding them in their cage so they are comfortable around your hands. If they don’t take the food, don’t be discouraged, just sit next to their cage and talk to them while they eat so they can get used to you. I hope this helps

 

[TheThreeCavies]

Thank you. We always talk to them and try to hand feed them so we'll keep doing that

 

[Reenie]

Guinea pigs are prey animals, and they don't like going out where they think they could be seen by a bird. You could try putting a fleece or something over part of the run, so they feel more secure. With time they will feel more confident.

 

[Jamston]

My girls spend a lot of time in bed or hidden especially during the day. They are more active at sunrise and dusk. Oh and any noise that might relate to food causes them to dash about!