New Guinea Pig seems terrified!

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Hmason_uk

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So we got a guinea pig at the weekend. She is on her own as she had an operation on her eye and was separated for the last 2 months - long term we will get her a friend. She is about 4 months old.
We've got her in an indoor cage with hiding place but haven't seen her at all. We are feeding her of course but she has barely emerged from her hiding place. Is this normal? She seems fine if you handle her but we are trying not to do that yet.
 
Welcome.
That sounds like how my boy Finn was when he first came home as a baby. Finn is much bigger now, eats well, runs around well, and plays with his toys. He really likes Lara who lives in another cage close by.

I would give her some time to get used the environment, and in no time, she will demand food, run and play with her toys. She won’t be hiding forever I am sure.
 
I've had my babies about 3 weeks now - they're only 2 months old. They have just started gaining lots more confidence and not running away from us all the time. I'm sure yours just needs a little time to settle in and get used to her new environment! I took their hidey away for half an hour every evening after the first week to encourage them to come out into the open (they still had some hay to hide under so weren't completely exposed) and have found that helped. :)
 
It takes time. I’ve had my guinea pigs for five weeks tomorrow. One is almost six months old and the other is almost five months old. The dominant one, dexter, has only just started - and I mean in the last two or three days - to have a bit more confidence and stays out when I go to them. Dex will take flight if there are any sudden movements though, they are prey animals after all. I am now able to touch him without him turning into a quivering wreck! The other one, Popcorn, will hide as soon as I go to them but if I sit there long enough he gains confidence from dex and comes out. He really doesn’t like being touched yet though but I am hopeful that with time they will both come round.
 
You have to put yourself in the position of your little piggy. She has been torn from her family, given an operation, taken somewhere to recuperate, now she is living with you on her own with nobody who understands her language. No wonder the poor girl is terrified not to mention lonely! Prey animals take a lot of time to trust. Their main aim in life is not to get eaten. She doesn't know you are not going to eat her. To her you are a huge smelly predator who could kill and eat her at any time. You know you won't do that but she doesn't. You have to show her with love and understanding that you won't. The best thing you can do is put lots of hideys in the cage so that she can dart from one to another and feels safe and not take them out as has been suggested. Have you tried covering the cage with an old towel/blanket? Have a read of these guides. They will help you to help your little girl settle in Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide Oh and the best thing you can do is to get her a friend.
 
Thank you for your comments so far! The guinea pig was an unexpected addition to the family at the weekend - she as at a pet shop (large brand) and I was worried about leaving her there for various reasons. I have had pigs before - but not for a long time.
How long should I wait before getting her a friend ? I don’t want to overwhelm her.
I’ll cover her with a towel and add some hideys.

What type of hutch is best - single or double decker?
 
I am in no way experienced - I’ve only had mine for five weeks - but if she is fit and healthy, I’d get her a friend ASAP.
Whether you get single or double is piggie dependent. Some piggies won’t use the ramps so a double could be a waste.
My boys are currently in a 2x4 c&c cage (they’ve only been in it since last Thursday and already I’ve got eyes on an extension!) in the shed at night time and in their run in the garden during the day. The cage may well come in during the winter if it gets too cold though which is the another benefit of c&c - it’s easier to move than a hutch and can be brought in if necessary. It’s a single level c&c because mine don’t appear to be interested in anything resembling a ramp!
 
Hmason_uk said:
So we got a guinea pig at the weekend. She is on her own as she had an operation on her eye and was separated for the last 2 months - long term we will get her a friend. She is about 4 months old.
We've got her in an indoor cage with hiding place but haven't seen her at all. We are feeding her of course but she has barely emerged from her hiding place. Is this normal? She seems fine if you handle her but we are trying not to do that yet.
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Totally normal. All of mine took around a month to trust me. They will come out at night when your not looking. They like the cover of darkness when they are scared.
 
Mine have a 2x4 single storey cage, but I've just bought them an indoor run so I can extend the cage at bit :)
I should have made myself way clearer about taking the hidey out! I used to lie down by the cage with food in my hand super super still, remove the hidey and wait for them to take it. Sometimes that took half an hour! However they had loads of hay to hide under at the time and if they ran away I'd put it straight back in and leave the food. They got curious in the end! The towel covering it is also a great idea - I still do that with mine even now they're a bit more confident.
 
Perfectly normal.
Piggies are very cautiously timid.
Take yer time and use that time to bond together. pls don't panic or rush.
Defo yes to a mate. lots of advise on here to help. :nod:
 
No need to worry it's normal. Frodo was like that when I got him first but you should have seen Dexter! I got him 2 months after Frodo and kept him in a separate cage for the first week. I never saw him come out at all in that time unless I was extremely still and didn't speak. If I went anywhere near his cage he would literally be trying to climb the cage bars to get away from me. He was honestly liked a trapped wild animal. He'd go berserk jumping up at the bars and screaming. It was upsetting to see him so immensely terrified. Over time he got used to me and his new surroundings and made goods friends with Frodo. I've had him 5 months now. He is still my more skittish pig but not by much and because he's long haired he's had to put up with grooming and trimming. He's not had much choice in the matter and therefore is a lot better behaved whilst being held and will tolerate a lot more than Frodo will. Both will clamber all over me during play times and neither have given it a thought that maybe I'm not just a climbing frame. I was only saying last week that Dexter seems to have progressed a little further in his friendliness. He now let's me stroke him whilst he's out of the cage and while there's plenty of places to run and hide he chooses not to. My point being that even the scardest pig will get there eventually. It just takes time and patience. Frodo took about a month and Dexter about 5 months to get where he is now.
 
Welcome to the forum.
I agree with everyone else's comments and advice.
Time. Patience and Gentleness are required.

Please let us see pics
 
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