Need advice - very skittish new piggies.

[Abzz130297]

Hi, I got 2 male guinea pigs about 2 weeks ago, I’ve had tunes pigs before and it’s been 6 years since my last one passed away. My new ones don’t seem to like me, I’ve done everything I can with them on the bonding terms, I’ve searched every book and thread but everything just seems the same. They refuse to come near me at all, I can’t handle them and they’re very scared. Every little move my I make, they run for the hills. I talk to them and let them have floor time twice a day for an hour each time. They only like lettuce as a treat so that’s what I’ve been giving them to help us bond but still nothing. I know it takes time but I’m just wondering how I can touch them some more,or even just move about without them running away. Any help would be very appreciated, thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I got 2 male guinea pigs about 2 weeks ago, I’ve had tunes pigs before and it’s been 6 years since my last one passed away. My new ones don’t seem to like me, I’ve done everything I can with them on the bonding terms, I’ve searched every book and thread but everything just seems the same. They refuse to come near me at all, I can’t handle them and they’re very scared. Every little move my I make, they run for the hills. I talk to them and let them have floor time twice a day for an hour each time. They only like lettuce as a treat so that’s what I’ve been giving them to help us bond but still nothing. I know it takes time but I’m just wondering how I can touch them some more,or even just move about without them running away. Any help would be very appreciated, thank you.

Hi and welcome!

Please have a look at the tips in the settling-in section of our New Owners guide collection. You will find them very helpful - including some piggy whispering tricks. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals living in groups. Until they turn into teenagers, young guinea pigs very much rely on the guidance of their elders. If yours are coming from commercial mass pet shop supply breeders or private for sale breeders, they haven't had anything in the way of friendly human interaction before they are ripped away from their groups and thrust into a totally foreign and frightening home where they are expected to function as an instant cuddly pet while they feel very lost and very much in the power of smelly giant predators that are picking up them to play with them, but that can kill them any moment if they get fed up.
Avoiding triggering their prey animal instincts by not behaving like predators on the hunt and making friends with them by using friendly interactive guinea pig behaviours (which they automatically understand) is key to settling piggies in. it still needs patience, as it is a slow and gradual process of one step forward and often two back. Just take a step back if you have pushed them too far, give them time to regroup and start a way back again. They should come round more quickly each time. Trust is a tender plant that needs to make deep roots before it can grow. You can access an explanation of how guinea pig instincts work via the link above.

You may also find the other information helpful as so much has changed in the last few years in the guinea pig world.

 

[Swissgreys]

Welcome to the Forum.


Don't loose heart - some piggies take longer to settle than others, so you may just need to be patient.
There is an excellent guide here on settling new guinea pigs:

Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide

You can also try to make their cage s safe as possible for them by covering it with a blanket or towel.
I would also probably leave the floor time for a while, and let them settle in their new environment first.
What sort of cage are they in and where in the house are they located?

 

[RicoandRocky]

Hi, I got 2 male guinea pigs about 2 weeks ago, I’ve had tunes pigs before and it’s been 6 years since my last one passed away. My new ones don’t seem to like me, I’ve done everything I can with them on the bonding terms, I’ve searched every book and thread but everything just seems the same. They refuse to come near me at all, I can’t handle them and they’re very scared. Every little move my I make, they run for the hills. I talk to them and let them have floor time twice a day for an hour each time. They only like lettuce as a treat so that’s what I’ve been giving them to help us bond but still nothing. I know it takes time but I’m just wondering how I can touch them some more,or even just move about without them running away. Any help would be very appreciated, thank you.

When I got my boys they were similar to this here are a few little things u can try to really boost there confidence:
Wear and old shirt for a few hours then put it in there hidy in there cage so they get use to your scent.
Feed them through the cage mine found comfort being fed through the cage instead of my Hand being in the cage.
Spend time in the room where there cage is talking to them and giving them treats

 

[VickiA]

Patience, kindness and bribery will win over even the most skittish piggies but it does take time. 2 weeks is only a very short time if the piggies are very scared and haven’t had much positive human contact before coming to live with you. The guides above are well worth a read. Always think about their prey instinct. Talk to them gently as you approach, don’t move suddenly or throw a shadow over them or they will run for the hills thinking “eagle” (or such like). Help them associate you with nice things like treats. Avoid attempts to catch or handle them for a few weeks to allow them to become used to you as much as possible before you need to handle them for nail clipping etc. In time they will come round.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
I can’t add to the advice you’ve been given.
It really does take time.
My youngest girl took about 2 months before she stopped diving for cover so patience and gentleness do work. It’s worth taking the time with these adorable creatures.
Pledge can we have pictures

 

[AlphaUrd13]

Seems everyone gave the most helpful tips and I can barely participate. For me I got 4 piggies, 2 that were with me for 3 months and 2 who are five weeks and the alpha piggie's kids. All are skittish even after so long and by now only they can touch me, I still can't touch them loool. They're vocal so I learned to communicate by sound and talk to them like babies (high pitch and all) and use a phrase for feeding time everytime (mine is "Kochi kochi kochiiii!" and then shake the hay bag) and they all learned what that phrase means in a week or 2 and start wheeking like crazy, that was my start so u can start with that.

 

[Abzz130297]

Hi and welcome!

Please have a look at the tips in the settling-in section of our New Owners guide collection. You will find them very helpful - including some piggy whispering tricks. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals living in groups. Until they turn into teenagers, young guinea pigs very much rely on the guidance of their elders. If yours are coming from commercial mass pet shop supply breeders or private for sale breeders, they haven't had anything in the way of friendly human interaction before they are ripped away from their groups and thrust into a totally foreign and frightening home where they are expected to function as an instant cuddly pet while they feel very lost and very much in the power of smelly giant predators that are picking up them to play with them, but that can kill them any moment if they get fed up.
Avoiding triggering their prey animal instincts by not behaving like predators on the hunt and making friends with them by using friendly interactive guinea pig behaviours (which they automatically understand) is key to settling piggies in. it still needs patience, as it is a slow and gradual process of one step forward and often two back. Just take a step back if you have pushed them too far, give them time to regroup and start a way back again. They should come round more quickly each time. Trust is a tender plant that needs to make deep roots before it can grow. You can access an explanation of how guinea pig instincts work via the link above.

You may also find the other information helpful as so much has changed in the last few years in the guinea pig world.

Thank you for replying sorry I took so long to read this all xx

 

[Abzz130297]

The big grey one is Bennie and the little brown one is Chester (named after Chester Bennington) well they seem to be doing really well, they wheek like crazy for food and at the sound of my voice, still very scared when handling them and can’t touch them when they are out for floor time and even when they’re on my lap, they love the treats but hate touching. Still I love them with all my heart and wouldn’t change them for the world, thank you everyone who has helped me xx

 

[GeorginaD15]

My 2 boys were the same when I got them 2 year ago. Took them months to let me stroke them but they hated being picked up. It’s only just the last few weeks where they’re starting to let me pick them up x