New Guinea Pigs

[SteveChambers]

Hi,

I'm new here and have read lots of really useful tips on the forum but thought I'd ask some questions too

I've got some new Guinea pigs, they are about 11-12 weeks old, 2 girls. I've had them for 3 days now and have had plenty of contact with them. I bought a big dog bed/mat for them to run round on in the house as we have wood flooring and also I thought I could control them better.
They are still pretty quiet, when I first put them on the mat they dont really move for ages, if I move them myself to another part of the mat they tend to explore for a second or 2 then stop again, they also like to hide in my jumper whenever they get the chance.
After a while they have started to munch a bit of carrot that I put on the mat, they sometimes peck at each other too. They make really quiet squeaking noises when looking around.

They are getting better but I just wondered if all of this sounds normal. They take alot of convincing to move around and I have to be careful how much I have them inside as they live outside in the shed so don't want them to get too warm then cold again. There is also 3 dogs and 6 people in the house so I have to wait until midday when everyone is out to get them out.

Does everything sound normal to you guys? and is there anything else I should be doing?

Thanks alot
Steve

 

[sport_billy]

Hello Steve, Welcome

Yes, sounds normal to me.. Guinea Pigs are naturally prey animals so by nature are wary creatures. The lack of movement is a fear response, they are still quite nervous. Piggies do however gain your trust fairly quickly with time, patience and will get very used to you and you can form close bonds with them.
As regards to run time in the house - piggies don't like wide open spaces as a rule, we have our girls in a run made from c&c grids. Within the run make sure you include some houses so they have places to hide if they don't feel safe. You can make a run area with anything that would fence them into an area.

The chuntering noises they make while exploring are normal it's just them going about their business and having a chat

Here is a link to a great sticky thread on how to settle piggies http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

We've all been there with new piggies and sometimes you feel they will never tame but they do I promise. Keep talking to them in a soft voice and use food to gain their trust.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Guinea pigs are prey animals and will feel very exposed in open areas at first, so they will either sit without moving or make a wild dash for cover. Please give them hideys to use as safe bases to explore their world from. Cardboard boxes will do. They have evolved in grasslands, so they need to stay through sound in contact when they are roaming their territory. Chuntering means that they are on the move and that all is OK.

You can find more information at the top of our Newbies Corner and the Daily Care section.

 

[SteveChambers]

Thanks for the swift reply

I always put carrots or broccoli on the mat for them to munch if they feel upto it, would it be better to just try to hand feed it them instead?
They're definitely getting more confident over the past few days but i guess it takes time New hutch coming tonight and i'm hoping it doesnt disturb them too much

 

[MerryPip]

Sitting on the mat with them and talking quietly to them helps them get used to your voice. Avoid towering over them if you can so when picking them up etc try to get down to their level as a big things scooping you up from above is pretty scary for any small rodent.

Hand feeding is a great way to build up trust. it can take them a while to get up the nerve to come and eat from your hand but if you sit patiently and don't make any sudden moves you'll find they come up to you and have a good sniff round before going for the food.

One of my boys is so confident now he lies to sit on your feet as you are cooking in the kitchen (not a good things as he won't get out the way and risks getting stood on!) but it just takes time and patience. Slowly does it and eventually you will have piggies that love to be around you.

 

[SteveChambers]

When I bring them in I just pop them on the dog bed in the middle of the room and me and my partner just sit either side and watch them, should I put something for them to hide in on the mat or should I scrap the mat and make some form of pen?
The only reason I bought the mat is because of wood flooring and thought they might not like to walk on that :p

 

[MerryPip]

The mat is a great idea. Most pigs don't seem to like hard floors. My boys much prefer a mat to the kitchen lino.

I would pop them somewhere nearer a wall so they feel safe. Having tunnels, cardboard boxes and hideys to explore and hide in if they want to will help too. Wide open spaces are intimidating and risky for a piggy, in the wild they would avoid spending a lot of time out in the open, preferring to use grass or shrub cover so we have to make an environment to simulate that.

 

[Laurenade]

We have had guinea pigs (three males, bought at 9 weeks old) for 5 days. They have a large indoor run and an even bigger outdoor run, and they have gone through the first 5 days of having them fine, occasionally explorative noises and general behaviour. Today, however, this evening they have been squeaking quite loud and they will have a 5 minute period where they will all squeak and it sounds quite panicky. They have plenty of space to run away if they get tired of each other. The first, Stampy, tends to be the most outgoing and eats a lot (at least in the time we see them for, during the day), however he doesn't really like to be picked up, but is fine when on your lap. The second, Milo, tends to stay in the hay and is a little bit nervous to be handled, and is happy to be on your lap, but a little bit fidgety. Sherlock, the third, tends to stay in the dome, and during the day, we rarely see him come out, only to get food he is happy to be lifted and put on your lap although now and then he will panic and squeak loudly.
Does everything sound normal?
What does the earlier mentioned squeaking mean?
Thanks

 

[Azi]

We have had guinea pigs (three males, bought at 9 weeks old) for 5 days. They have a large indoor run and an even bigger outdoor run, and they have gone through the first 5 days of having them fine, occasionally explorative noises and general behaviour. Today, however, this evening they have been squeaking quite loud and they will have a 5 minute period where they will all squeak and it sounds quite panicky. They have plenty of space to run away if they get tired of each other. The first, Stampy, tends to be the most outgoing and eats a lot (at least in the time we see them for, during the day), however he doesn't really like to be picked up, but is fine when on your lap. The second, Milo, tends to stay in the hay and is a little bit nervous to be handled, and is happy to be on your lap, but a little bit fidgety. Sherlock, the third, tends to stay in the dome, and during the day, we rarely see him come out, only to get food he is happy to be lifted and put on your lap although now and then he will panic and squeak loudly.
Does everything sound normal?
What does the earlier mentioned squeaking mean?
Thanks

Is the loud squeaking perhaps him calling out for his friend?