Nervous Guineas

[ilovepets]

Hi. I have two female guineas, Lola and Daisy. They have been with me for just over a week. I have let them settle in and they are now feeding from my hand but i have only managed to get them out of thier cage once. they both run around really scared, Lola is the worst. I hate to see them so afraid but i really want them to get floor time and have bought them lots of guinea toys and tunnels to play in. Does anyone have any good advice for me please? I have read lots of info on the net. Not sure if i should be leaving them be or trying harder to get them out. Thanks for any replies!

 

[klee]

Will they come to your hand if you put your hand in the cage? It may be worth trying that and just letting them get used to you and they may let you pick them up if you're patient.
Do you have a closed bottom pigloo so they feel safe or something that you can lift them out in without handling them?

You've only had them a week so they are bound to be nervous, don't worry about it just allow them to get used to you and they will let you pick them up in no time

 

[Piggiepigpigs]

I would say that is pretty normal, if you've only had a piggy for a short while they will be nervous. But just keep checking up on them and talk to them in a soothing way. this should calm them until they get used to their new surroundings.

 

[Bobby&Frankie]

Mine are slightly worse, i have had them just over a week too and mine aren't eating out of my hand yet as they were soley outdoors - i've bought them in for taming though. They're used to my voice and i can watch them eat without them being too jumpy.

I'm just going to watch them for a little more, i can pick them up but they get scared so i'm only really doing it to weigh them but they're getting there

 

[Wiebke]

You are not doing badly considering the short amount of time!

Most guinea pigs don't like being picked up; it cuts too close to their prey animal instincts. You can try and train them to come into a pick up conveyance of some sort - cuddle bag, cosy, tunnel (fabric or hard), an upturned house or pigloo, a suitably sized cardboard box with an extrance at one end or even a folded towel. It takes some patience, but it can be done and is much less stressful.

Please praise your piggies lots for every little step forward, like they were miniature dogs! You can also entice them in with little bits of their favourite veg.

 

[ilovepets]

Well i do feel much better now, knowing that i am doing the right thing. i can see more progress with them each day. I did get a cuddle bag for them to run into but it didn't work, might give it another go though. Be great to find a stress free way to bring them out. I was worried that they were spending too much time in the cage, even though it is spacious, not much fun for them. Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated. x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

As I said to someone else on here, try feeding them first then when they are having a little nap when they are full, then that is the best time to try to pick them up as they are less excitable then. Try to get them to go into a Chube or tunnel then cover both ends with your hands & lift them inside the tube/tunnel. If they are already eating out of your hands, you are doing extremely well already! It can take months for them to become friendly, even now out of 3, only one of mine is very human friendly, the other 2 don't mind cuddles but hate the pick up part!

Once you get them into a little run, sit in it with them & speak quietly to them, & offer them food. The way to a piggie's heart is truly through it's tummy!

 

[Lilly]

My 2 boys never did like being picked up to be taken out of the cage even months after having them, although they were quite fine once I got them out.

I always had to take all the furniture out and corner them. But what really worried me was the squirming in my hands until I could get them close to my chest and one of the boys is a jumper. So, for safety's sake I started to train them to get into their cuddle cups whenever I wanted to get them out of the cage or put them back in. These were not cuddle cups kept in their cages, but a different set that I would put down for them. Enticing by putting their fave veg in there did not work as they were much faster at grabbing the veg and jumpiong back out than I was at grabbing the cup!

So back to the cornering thing again but scooping them into the cuddle cups and picking that up instead of just using hands. I also ensured that this resulted in some sort of treat so they would associate getting into those particular cups as something to look forward to. It worked. Took several months but now they usually get into them without a fuss when getting taken out of the cage. And when it's time to put them back I just put the cups down on the floor and they immediately rush into them knowing they are going back to their cage.

As piggies are all different, what works for one doesn't alweays work for another. And yours are still getting used to their new surroundings. Even if they never like being picked up out of their cage I wouldn't let it put you off getting them out anyway since floor time, grass time, lap time, etc are all important.

 

[Glynis]

Hi and welcome to you, Lola and Daisy to the forum
Yes like everyone has said, you're doing fine........ lots of time and patience and you'll be rewarded with lots of beautiful snuggles
I also found that by getting them out and sitting on the ground with them, they then will get used to your smell and voice. Have some little treats and offer them......... chat all the time to them even when in their little house
Hope you pop some pigtures into our stories section soon, whee adore piggie pigtures on here drool

Glynis, Velvet and Onyx x

 

[Bobby&Frankie]

With the cuddle bag thing, what i did was put half of their crate (cat carrier) in the cage with their blanket in it, when they went in i pick it up and give them a bit of a fuss

 

[neuroticmum]

I've had my boys for 5 months now, they started off very scared like yours. But now we've got to the point where I get them out for lap time each evening, one at a time. Patches my more dominant Boar will happily have a wander around a good sniff of me, lick my hands and then settle down for a snooze, completely stretched out. Bubbles, the more timid of them both will sit on me and eat a green bean or two but hasn't yet felt safe enough to snooze on me.

When I think of the progress we've made in 5 months I'm amazed!

Keep at it, talk gently to them and each time you handle them give them a small treat, they'll get to realise that handling time = treat time!

Good luck x

 

[ilovepets]

Some great advice from you all. thanks! As i said i did manage to get them out the one time, they were quite still because they were so scared. i cuddled them in a blanket and offered treats, then after a while they started to explore. I was so pleased but the next day when i tried to pick them up they were running around looking terrified. I just hated to see thier little scared faces. I will try tomorrow to get them out when they are sleeping as suggested or coax them into a cuddle bag. if not i may have to buy something else. x