Hello I have a couple questions about my new guinea pig that I got about 3 days ago. Right now she is alone, but we are thinking about getting a companion. I was wondering if I should take the towel off of her cage. I put a towel on the cage because she wouldn't come out and it, but now she is. Whenever I come in the room, and take the towel off she runs away though still. Some people say its a good idea to let her get used to the room, and her surroundings. Also I was wondering if I can try and hold her tomorrow, or if this is a bad idea because she's still not eating from my hand, but she does sniff the food a little. Any help is appreciated.
New Guinea Pig Question
- Thread starter Birdy
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PiggyProdigy
Junior Guinea Pig
Well she's very new. I would recommend putting the food down in front of her for now. Try not to handle her until she is comfortable with you. Also, a buddy is highly reccomended. You might want to visit the bonding section of the forum for some advice on that. As for the towel, I would say leave it for now. Piggies love to have a canopy or cover of some sort to feel safe. Also, you say cage... is it big enough for piggies? Often store bought cages are too small. We also have forum posts on that. You could also visit guineapigcages.com
I mean the cage I made my self which is 5 ft by 2 ft. I will try to get her to eat from my hand first. So far she comes to see what i'm doing in the cage, and sniffs my hand, but won't eat the food I try to give her. Is there any food that is irresistible for her?
emilyjk
Junior Guinea Pig
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It is best to wait on handling until she doesn't run away or hide when you enter the room and when she's comfortable taking food from your hands. I recently got two new babies and before handling I would sit by their cage and talk to them so that they would get used to my sound, hand feed them treats and veggies, and then finally, once they would start coming up to me to take some sniffs without food as an incentive, I began the process of handling them. I would start with the towel swaddle first, so that they feel a little more secure while sitting in your lap :-). Best of luck xx
Hi! You can take the towel off the cage partly at first. Please let her get used to you first before handling. As hard as it is , take your time. The sooner you can get a companion, the better. Make sure that you double check the sex in both piggies before you put them together on neutral space. Having company will bring her out sooner and build her confidence; it is actually quicker if you fill her overwheening need for a companion and THEN make friends rather than the other way round, which is what most people who start out with a single piggy think. She will feel a lot less exposed and bereaved of her piggy family with a friend and will bond a lot easier, too, because the need for company is at its strongest now.
Try to not see her as your pet, but as a prey animal and a feeling being with her own needs, which differ from yours. You will get to the same point in the longer term, but with much happier piggies that trust you more if you concentrate on making her happy before fulfilling your own desire for a cuddly pet.
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Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
I was going to say similar to Wiebke with moving the towel, pull it to one side a little bit every few days leaving the cage a little more open. This will then not be such a big shock for her. Best of luck settling her in
She actually comes up to me, and takes vegetables from my hand now. She seems a lot less scared, and barely runs away when I come in the room. I need to mover her soon though to clean her cage, and i've got to do some work in my room that involves a lot of noise. I think i'll be able to get her in a box and move her for a little while. Is this a bad idea?