New piggies

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kel22

Hi! I've been on before and we now have our two male guineas, born 24th May 2008:). They're mainly for my daughter although I'm obviously doing most of the care. They're living in a Lazybones hutch and run - two story. I have a couple of questions!

  1. We got them yesterday morning and they've hardly left the sleeping area. Everytime we walk into the garden, they scuttle back inside. The lady in the pet shop said they needed to be handled every day. She stressed that I shouldn't try and get them out from the top level, only the bottom. However, as they won't come out to see us, I'm having to open the lid of the hutch and get them from there - and it's not easy! Is it best to just try and touch them and not get them out?
  2. They've not been eating much of the gerty guinea food or drinking. They have been eating the veg I've given them and the hay. Is this normal? How much hay should they have, especially for snuggling into to sleep?
  3. I also bought a triangular run for them. I did put them in it today on the grass. Again, they didn't venture out of the enclosed area at all. They stayed inside. When I tried to get them out to go back into the hutch, I nearly lost them! I probably ended up really frightenening them trying to capture them to put them back in. Should I leave the run thing until they're more used to us?
Sorry, so many questions but I don't want to distress them in trying to get them to like us!

Help appreciated once again!:{
 
I mean this is a common question, even I asked it.....they will probably be extremely shy to start with, new surroundings, new smells new people, its all very scary and they are evolutionarily at the bottom of the food chain, so they will be wary whatever...

This also answers their eating and drinking, my guineas use to come out when I wasnt there and eat food or eat loads at night, unless they are ve relaxed or trusting they might not come out to eat when u are there.

They will grow to trust you, spend lots of time around them, cuddling them and talking etc....
 
All guineas are naturally skittish to start, be confident patient and make a point of handling them daily so they get used to you, try hand feeding them treats to win them over also. Hope your daughters enjoying them more then the Ds
 
I think she's getting frustrated that everytime she goes out into the garden, they scuttle away from her! I keep trying to tell her to give them time but she's only 5 so she thinks that if she goes inside for a few mins and comes back out, they'll be fine!

Do you reckon I should lay off putting them in the run on the grass? Especially as it was blooming hard getting them back into the hutch without them trying to escape from me!
 
If you're nervous they too will be ,perhaps you could use a pet carrier or strong cardboard box to transport them from one place to another to avoid dropping etc, I know kids find it frustrating my little one cried and thought our latest edition didn't like her at first but i've always found that once caught they generally settle. You could try wrapping one in a old towel or blanket and placing it on her lap and let her feed it some parsley or something , it takes time and patience and the rewards of a good cuddle and a squeaky greeting are worth it in the end
 
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