New Guineapig Owner?

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rocco&harrysmum

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Hi

I just got 2 make piggies for my daughter and I'm at a lost how to deal with them. There very cute and little( not sure on age as wasn't told). But I left them all day yesterday and tried to hold them at night, very scared of getting bitten so u can figure outvgoe to hold then and nervous about it. So they end up running awsy and hiding. And the last thing I want is to scare them. So I end up giving up. There also very nervous and rarely cone out.

Any advice. Should I leave them longer? How do I pick them up or even catch them? Will they get used to the household? And my 2 year old?
 
Hi, Welcome to the forum.

Piggie's are prey animals by nature so will run away from you and won't like to be picked up at first... it can take a while to gain their trust and takes patience. But with time and using food as a bribery they will soon get used to you. Here are a few links to sticky threads to help you learn more about them

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

Here is a link on food and diet http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

Make sure they have hidey houses in their cage this will help them feel secure. Best to give them a few days to get used to everything before you pick them up for laptimes etc...
Piggies can be very hard to catch so it is often best (we still do this with ours) to herd them into a chube http://www.amazon.co.uk/Critters-Choice-Small-Animal-Chube/dp/B00GEZ5KK0/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1390232252&sr=1-7&keywords=chube guinea pig or cosy, anything they can be safely herded into and carefully then removed onto your lap.
A good link to handling can be found at guinealynx http://www.guinealynx.info/handling.html
Until you are comfortable holding them I would suggest sitting on the floor and holding them on your lap so there is no chance of them falling anywhere.

Here's another link to a great Guinea Pig site on what to expect when they first arrive http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/bringingaguineapighome.html and handling also http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/handlingyourpiggy.html

As for your 2 year old, always supervise interaction and let them interact with piggies while they are on your lap. Children are very fast moving and sometimes a little heavy handed so please be careful, piggies are delicate creatures.
 
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hello and welcome to the forum.

Baby piggies are very nervous by nature, they're prey animals so if you "dive" at them from above they are just responding as if you are infact a predator that is totally normal. As they grow up they get used to their humans and learn that you arent a threat and become easier to pick up. For now if you can get them to walk into a cosy and then pick the cosy up that can be an easier way to get them in and out of their cage. In time they get used to being handled and should be fine to be handled by your little one :-)

Edit: posted at the same time as @sport_billy :D
 
Ex
Bekki said:
hello and welcome to the forum.

Baby piggies are very nervous by nature, they're prey animals so if you "dive" at them from above they are just responding as if you are infact a predator that is totally normal. As they grow up they get used to their humans and learn that you arent a threat and become easier to pick up. For now if you can get them to walk into a cosy and then pick the cosy up that can be an easier way to get them in and out of their cage. In time they get used to being handled and should be fine to be handled by your little one :-)

Edit: posted at the same time as @sport_billy :D
Click to expand...


Thanks i might look in to a cosy. I just wantes to let then get used to us abd also go in to the indoor run.

What about biting? Is ut common. Think I'm more scared if a bite to pick them uplol x
 
I have edited my post above to include more links to you. We've all been were you are now.. We set up a video camera on our 2 piggies when we got them because we never saw them lol
 
Biting is uncommon but will happen if they are very very scared. That's why using something like a cosy will be best as they wont be able to nip you as you collect them.
 
I am going to move your thread to Guinea Pig Chat it will get more views there
 
Just add pets and paws up and several other companies sell cosies, you can find them on facebook :-)
 
Thanks that's great. As soon as I leave I can hear them squeaking and rustling.. They just don't like me haha
So how do I use a cosy? Do I leave it in or use it when I want them out only
 
You can do either. We just put our cosies in at run time as their cage space is taken up with lots of things already. Pigiges love cosies and comfort like that
 
What do I need in there cage? Got food bowl water. Tube. Hay bed and a ball. And they hide under a ramp( the ramp Loo's very steep though, so far they haven't got up it?) And sawdust and hay. Just a small dusting of it? Is that right or do I need more
 
What do I need in there cage? Got food bowl water. Tube. Hay bed and a ball. And they hide under a ramp( the ramp Loo's very steep though, so far they haven't got up it?) And sawdust and hay. Just a small dusting of it? Is that right or do I need more
 
What sort of cage is it?
 
Does the ramp lead up to a small floor? You could remove the ramp if so and put a house at either end so they have a house to hide in... that'll give them more space.
 
Quote="sport_billy, post: 1499955, member: 5332"]Does the ramp lead up to a small floor? You could remove the ramp if so and put a house at either end so they have a house to hide in... that'll give them more space.[/quote]
I'm not sure I can remove the ramp. They hide under the small floor. Not got a bed as such to hide in.
 
Is there sides and girip on the ramp to make then feel safer.you could put veggies on the ramp to encourage them to use it.When you pick then up in the cosy leave them in it while on your knee and wait for them to come out themselves.Goid luck, ot just takes time
 
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