new cage, new behavior?

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as the name says, they have been in the new cage for a good 2-3 days now

but are extremely skittish now, before when they were in their cage they were just hanging out and would come to the edge to say hi (i had the cage on a chair so they had some elevation and they could see out the sides.

but now i have them in a big area beside my sofa so they get lots of human contact, but now every time i stretch my arms or even stand up they make a B-line for their little warm tent.....

is this normal for moving in to a new cage (thats on the floor) how can i make them feel more comfortable, they used to be a lot cooler around me... but if i stay still and keep calm they will go about and popcorn around, but as soon as i make an action thats somewhat sudden and unexpected, bang, they are right back under the tent...

I'm a bit confused...i thought i was making decent progress in taming the little guys...
 
thought id also mention that once he is out of the cage and with me on the sofa he is much less skittish infact he jumps about and popcorns sometimes not to mention reduces the resale value of my sofa.....i think at this point i would probably have to pay someone to take it there are so many guinea pig accidents on it :P

anyone know why he has 2 different personalities in and out of the cage?
 
It's probably because they are in new surroundings and are seeing the world from a different perspective (they are now on the floor instead of on the chair). Also if they are on the floor, the movement of your hand over the top of the cage could look like a predator to them. They may benefit if the cage could be lifted off the floor so they are more at your level, rather than beneath you.

Plus, when he's out of the cage, he's probably more familiar with the surroundings, as I'm sure you will have taken him out of the cage when it was on the chair.

Hope this helps :)
 
yes very much so, thank you

now i need to find a way to elevate a refrigerator box a bit hehe.
 
My two are in a cage on a stand right next to my sofa, they have been right next to us since we got them, 11 weeks and 9 weeks ago. I think it is their natural behaviour to run and hide when there is a sudden noise or movement. Mines do the same thing but they come right back out again. I think they are at the worst when one of us sneezes, boy can they move :))
 
It may remind them of contidions before they came to you. They may see only bits of you looming over them from their perspective.

I find that any sudden movements can send off new rescue piggies. Always move deliberately and slowly, and start talking to them before you move. A predator that announces itself openly isn't out hunting.
 
yeah my youngest he just comes back out, but my oldest he stays in there for some time.....probably because its also very comfortable....but yeah, when hes hungry or wants attention he doesnt care and just sits still whilst i scoop him up, i think he just needs to get used to the idea nothings going to grab him away and if someone does he wont be harmed.....but treated to fine treats :<>

by the way....the older a guinea pig gets....do they still do their business whenever they are on your lap....i think mine make a point of waiting until they are out of the cage and its always on my lap, never on my girlfriends....

actually the only hang out on my lap, they wont go near her for very long unless they hide behind her, but they openly lay on my lap or belly.
 
My youngest has never peed on me (touch wood) But my older girls do it on purpose I'm sure :))
That's just part of being a piggy parent :p
 
haha does that have any "special" meaning behind it?

i cant see it being good if my boys see me as a toilet :))
 
You could try pegging or draping a towel/ piece of fleece over a corner to creat a covered area. I have done this for my foster boys and they seem much happier with this arrangement. :)
 
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