• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details

New guinea pig and first time owner!

  • Thread starter Thread starter mikeweezer80
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mikeweezer80

never had a guinea pig and decided it was time to have a new friend. I bought a male 4 month old guinea pig from petco and got him the starter cage that includes a second level with a ramp. I brought him home on wednesday and have not tried pcking him up all, it has been almost so is it safe to start handling him now? seems skiddish

also, there is a ramp that goes up to another level that has food, toys, etc. However, he has not gone up there once since weds and all the food i laid out remains unchanged. should i consider taking this ramp and platform out?
 
Hi, congrats on your first guinea pig!

It would be a good idea, once your one settles in, to get a second male one to be his friend. They should get on fine. :) Guinea pigs are really social and get lonely on their own. Hopefully the cage is big enough for 2, they kinda recommend 4' X 2' for 2 pigs. If you live in England then www.zooplus.co.uk have a nice big cage that is only £35 and free delivery. :)

What is the ramp made of? If it is slippery plastic then he mightn't want to use it. You could attach something to it like maybe cardboard or sandpaper maybe so he can get up there better. I'd keep putting him on top of the platform so he can know there's food up there, and once he learns to make his way down, he might learn to go up too. Or if you have him at the bottom, you can put a few treats, maybe cubes of apple, at a few places along the ramp, so he will try to get them. Mine have ramps in their hutches and they go up and down no problem, it just takes them a few days to learn.

He is young so even though he's nervous, he should soon get used to handling. I would try to handle him for maybe 10 minutes a day at first, then after a few days handle him for 20 minutes, and keep working up. You can sit him on your lap and rub him and try offering him a treat like some apple (in moderation) :) He'll soon be friendly that way. If he just sits still and won't eat the treat them he is nervous. If he is sniffing around a bit, eating or squeaking then he is relaxed. And if he lies down on your lap then he's relaxed.

Good luck with him :) And feel free to ask any more questions you have here
 
Hello. :)p
Great that you have a new guinea pig. I hope that you decide to get him a friend as he'll love the company and it's great to hear them chattering away together.

I found parsley a good treat to get to know my girls. Also folding a towel or fleece into a pocket for your guinea pig to sit in whilst he's on your lap will give him the sense that he's hidden whilst getting used to you.

Good luck. x
 
Hello. I do hope you have a wonderful time with your new piggie. I just wanted to add that picking him up will be tricky.

Back him into a corner with one hand and, while keeping him there, slide the other hand underneath him. Grip firmly, but not too hard, and be prepared for little legs to pedal frantically as flying is not a normal piggy occupation! Bring him close to your chest as soon as possible. When putting him back into the cage, always put him in bottom first. If he sees the cage he may well try to leap for it which can result in accidents. Try to make sure to support the tummy at all times, never pick him up by the shoulders leaving the bottom swinging and know that something covering the head will calm him down. They are a bit like ostriches - I can't see you so I can't be seen.

A new piggie will relax close to your chin, let them feel your heartbeat and hear your breathing, talk to them in a happy calm voice about anything at all. Also be aware that new piggies usually have a bladder time of about 20 mins, although they can learn to hold it in for longer.

Have lots of fun forming a relationship with your piggy, you'll be amazed how much they can give back!
 
he will not let me hold him! he just keeps freaking out what do i do
 
He's probably still a bit nervous, when I first got guinea-pigs I sat by their run whilst they were in it and started holding out dandelions for them. Most of the time they wouldn't come over to me to get them but after a while one of them started coming over to get the dandelion and then all the others wanted one too so now they all come over for it and I can pick them up. I still have to get them in a corner though, they aren't easy to pick up but once they're on my lap they're fine. Did he panic when you were picking him up or once you were holding him?
 
I'm a pretty new piggy-convert and brought home my first trio of girls about 6ish weeks ago. They arrived here petrified and they'd all go skidaddling for cover the minute I even entered the room, 6ish weeks on and 1 of the 3 will still do anything to get away from me when it's laptime, but the other 2 will tolerate contact really well now - I have a hunch that they might even be beginning to enoy it;)

The main thing is that you try to keep relaxed (like a dog, a piggy will read the signals that you're subconsciously sending out and if you panic, they'll presume that it's 'cause there's something worth panicking about!) and persist - gentle, calm approach, steady voice and keep at it.

I even had one start to nod off on me last week x).... it really is worth it :)

Good luck

Oh, and the addition of another bod for him to play with and bond with etc might help increase his confidence too as well as giving him a friend and giving you the chance to listent to their lovely chattering :)

m x
 
i havent been able to catch him because i dont want to hurt him but i want to chill with him. i feel like if i put him on my lap he would run right off it. its hard to cotninue to pick him up when they look so upset
 
Bill Bailey said once that guinea pigs spend their whole lives looking as if they're thinking "Please don't kill me, please don't kill me" and all of their instincts are about fleeing predators so don't think it's personal - your piggie is frightened but it's not all about lunging in for cuddles - Noodle, my peruvian girl screams when I pick her up and has nipped me a coupld of times during lap time - but you have to keep at it - calm, steady and consistent. The alternative is picking your little piggy up less to avoid stressing him out in the short term - but he'll be with you for upwards of 5 years and, if not for the bonding stuff, you need to feel confident in handling your GP just to keep an eye on his health...

Honestly - most people on here will tell you that piggies don't come bounding up to people.... but they do learn to trust and accept you and you might find that they even learn to seek you out...

Don't be disheartened......

m x
 
Flips suggested folding a towel - make a pouch/pocket for him to hide in and simply snuggle him in that to start with. It really does help as they don't feel so exposed to predators. Best of luck.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top