New Guineas - Story so far and advice please!

[Massi&Massir]

Hi!

We have new two Guinea pigs, our first pets together (but i have owned Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and a dog when younger) and we are looking to learn more about the settling in process, and get some advice from more experienced owners.

So far we have a hutch outside with lower level grass access, all set up ready to go. But they are in a smaller inside cage as we found research to suggest we have to almost "leave them alone" for a week or so, so they can settle in.
We have done this, we talk to them whenever we are in the living room with them, and when we feed them (at set times) we talk to them and never invade their hidey hole as its a safe space.

They do scatter when we walk in the room still (we are 4 days in) and our biggest task now, is when to move them into the huge outside hutch without undoing our good work so far.

1. How do we get them out the cage and into the hutch, without "invading" the safe space
2. How long do we let them settle?
3. When is it good to start handling time/bonding

They squeek and mumble which appears good and are eating well (when they think we arent in the room). However we have in the evenings noted they venture out even if we are in the room talking, we are 5 foot away, so out of their eye sight range i assume. Which i assume is good?

Ideally in the long term we want piggies which are happy, dont run away and actually enjoy spending time with us. Any advice/tips/processes you guys have would be amazing.

I look forward to your responses and engaging in this Piggie community!

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. You won’t be able to put them in to their outside hutch now until the end of April / May time until night time temperatures are above 18 degrees as it’ll be too cold for them.

Start by offering them food from your hand and stroking them whilst they’re in their cage. When they feel comfortable with that, you can then have lap time with them. Just be warned that not all guinea pigs enjoy lap time hardly any guinea pigs like being caught. If you have one, use a fleecy bed or tunnel to herd them in to

You may find the following links helpful New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

 

[Piggies&buns]

As they are indoors and presumably youngsters, then it is not the right time of year to be able to move them outside at all. Its too cold and they need to stay inside until night times are warmer and frosts have stopped - around April/May time.
Plus, with a run being on the grass, they cannot use it until much further into spring time as it’s too damp at this time of year (generally they can only be on grass between around April to around September/October). Access to grass also needs to be built up slowly so as to not cause a digestive upset - 5-15 minutes at a time increasing it gradually over a period of a couple of weeks.

Do make sure the hutch itself is big enough as the downstairs run area doesn’t count as living space. 5ft for two sows and 6ft for two boars are the recommended sizes.
It would also be a good idea, if you haven’t already, and the piggies are to live outside year round to spend the summer ensuring adequate insulation arrangements and covers are made for the hutch as well as ensuring you have heatpads ready as outdoor piggies need a lot of protection.

The biggest tip is taking it at their pace and allowing them to get comfortable with you in their own time - this is most likely to be weeks if not months of slow and steady with them, but also accepting that there are some piggies who may never not run away when you approach

So, yes, leaving them alone for a week and then after that sitting by their cage, talking to them and offering food from your hand. It took one of mine 6 weeks to take food but it took the other 18 months before he felt comfortable enough. It was a long process but so worth it in the end!
Four years down the line, they will happily sit in front of me and take food from me but won’t let me touch them, they don’t like cuddles but will happily be herded into a carrier and picked up for their health and weight checks every week

 

[Massi&Massir]

As they are indoors and presumably youngsters, then it is not the right time of year to be able to move them outside at all. Its too cold and they need to stay inside until night times are warmer and frosts have stopped - around April/May time.
Plus, with a run being on the grass, they cannot use it until much further into spring time as it’s too damp at this time of year (generally they can only be on grass between around April to around September/October). Access to grass also needs to be built up slowly so as to not cause a digestive upset - 5-15 minutes at a time increasing it gradually over a period of a couple of weeks.

Do make sure the hutch itself is big enough as the downstairs run area doesn’t count as living space. 5ft for two sows and 6ft for two boars are the recommended sizes.
It would also be a good idea, if you haven’t already, and the piggies are to live outside year round to spend the summer ensuring adequate insulation arrangements and covers are made for the hutch as well as ensuring you have heatpads ready as outdoor piggies need a lot of protection.

The biggest tip is taking it at their pace and allowing them to get comfortable with you in their own time - this is most likely to be weeks if not months of slow and steady with them, but also accepting that there are some piggies who may never not run away when you approach

So, yes, leaving them alone for a week and then after that sitting by their cage, talking to them and offering food from your hand. It took one of mine 6 weeks to take food but it took the other 18 months before he felt comfortable enough. It was a long process but so worth it in the end!
Four years down the line, they will happily sit in front of me and take food from me but won’t let me touch them, they don’t like cuddles but will happily be herded into a carrier and picked up for their health and weight checks every week

Hi to both of you

Thank you for your replies.

Moving them outside is going to happen before April may, we dont have the room or ability to keep them inside 24/7 - this is only a temp untill the settle.
The hutch is huge, plenty of space.

How do i get them out the cage to clean it, without going into their covered space? I cant entice them onto a pillow or pad as mentioned as they are not yet at the stage where they will come out to my hand etc. Historically (when i was a kid) i just opened the door and got them out, but I'm reading that this approach isnt good for them - but i cant see any other way of getting them out in order to clean or move them.

Thank you both for your replies! Really appriciated

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you must move them outside (and of course it’s understandable that not everybody can keep them indoors), then ensure you keep them plenty warm enough - heatpads and lots of hay inside the hutch, hutch insulation and hutch covers including thermal covers. A thermometer on the hutch also. Sudden temperature changes aren’t good for them so keeping them as warm as you can is going to be important as they are now used to indoor temperatures. Piggies ideally need to be kept between 18-22 degrees and below 15 is too cold for them.

You may need to carefully spot clean around them at this stage.
Herding them them into a box or carrier is the best way as it is least scary for them.

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

 

[Massi&Massir]

If you must move them outside (and of course it’s understandable that not everybody can keep them indoors), then ensure you keep them plenty warm enough - heatpads and lots of hay inside the hutch, hutch insulation and hutch covers including thermal covers. A thermometer on the hutch also. Sudden temperature changes aren’t good for them so keeping them as warm as you can is going to be important as they are now used to indoor temperatures. Piggies ideally need to be kept between 18-22 degrees and below 15 is too cold for them.

You may need to carefully spot clean around them at this stage.
Herding them them into a box or carrier is the best way as it is least scary for them.

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

Heat pads! that sounds cool - we will look into that.

Ok, spot clean the cage and replace the bedding / hay etc for the time being to allow them to settle more sounds a good idea.

Hearding them will be interesting. I just dont want to undo any of the progress we have made (if any). Thanks for your tips (keep them coming!)

 

[Piggies&buns]

Heat pads! that sounds cool - we will look into that.

Ok, spot clean the cage and replace the bedding / hay etc for the time being to allow them to settle more sounds a good idea.

Hearding them will be interesting. I just dont want to undo any of the progress we have made (if any). Thanks for your tips (keep them coming!)

Heatpads are essential for outdoor piggies! Called Snugglesafes. They go in the microwave for a few minutes and last for 8-10 hours, although I find it’s more like 6-8 hours depending on the outdoor temperature.
My two boys live in my shed and have four heatpads between them over winter.

Yes, spot cleaning around them.

Herding does take time. Use treats (coriander always goes down well with mine!) to get them used to it. Mine didn’t like it at first but now all I have to do is put the carrier down in their pen and they walk into it.