New to guinea pigs and lost please help!

[Apesoldi]

I bought a female baby guinea pig 2 days ago. I have been looking up all kinds of bonding information but not one of them
Says how I should get her out of the cage? She is scared of me and doesn't want anything to do with me just runs and hides. I have offered her different foods from my fingers inside her cage but she just turns her head away and if I move she scrambles to get to another corner of cage. I'm not sure what I should be doing? Should I just pick her up and take her out and hold her? Or is there another approach I should using? I want her to like me! Also she will not eat anything from her bowl of pellet food only Timothy hay!?


Please help!
Any advice would be great! I am brand new to guinea pigs

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

Hi, welcome to the forum. You got your guinea pig 2 days ago? They are prey animals by default, so it may take a few weeks for him/her (can't remember if/what you said the gender was?) to get used to you. Just be patient. Is there a hidey house for her/him to go into to feel more secure? I would let it settle down, and then after a few days, begin to pet and speak quietly. Eventually, try to hand feed vegetables. Just remember every pig is different, and it may take longer than you want it to to win the affection of the pig. Also, it might help if you get a same-sex companion for your pig. They are naturally herd animals, so having a friend will make it more bold. Just have patience, and rest assured that we've all had to deal with timid piggies! good luck! xx

 

[Pepperdog]

Hi and welcome to the forum

When I first brought home the three girls they were very skittish and would hide in the corner every time I went to feed them. I did pick them up when I could, it wasnt everyday but whenever I could. I also provided them with places to hide around the hutch so they didnt feel so exposed and after a few weeks when they were getting more confident I did take a few hides out so they had more space as they also grew (they were young and smaller than they are now). I would stay really still while I held out a piece of cucumber and wait for them to come and take from me. It took months before one eventually did pluck up the courage.

Be patient, being prey animals their natural instinct is run and hide, but talk to her and keep trying, get her a female friend to help build her confidence as with a pair, they will feel much more relaxed as a group. You will get there, I am still finding mine are coming more confident each day even though they are much better now over a year on, they take food from me, they wheek at me and come up to the front, but they still run when I want to pick them up and would rather be left alone, yet do enjoy cuddles.

 

[Winnie-woo]

it normal, mine have been here 3 weeks and still run when I go into the room, but now they quickly come back out again when they hear my voice x) it takes time as they are prey animals and their instict is to run. Keep talking to them softly when you give them yummy fresh veg, they will soon realise you are a good person to be around!lol

 

[suzie1131]

new piggy owner

hi, i got 2 male piggies yesterday , Rufus who is 18wks and Toby who is 16wks. I got them from a local petshop who handled them daily and said leave them for a night to settle then you can pick them up tomos they will be fine. I went in their hutch this morn and managed to pick up Toby and gave him a cuddle and he was fine once he realised I wasn't going to hurt him. Rufus on the other hand has no intention of being picked up! I'm off out today to buy lots of fresh veggies for them (as they just have dry food at the mo) and to try and find them a run as they have lived their life so far in a glass cage iv been reading lots of threads this morn on here and found some great advice, thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Which country are you located in? Please add this to your details so we can give you appropriate advice more quickly (User CP/edit profile/location). We have members from all over the world and our advice can differ according your situation.

Please be aware that guinea pigs are
a) prey animals that need to get accustomed to their new surroundings. Single babies will feel extra vulnerable as they have lost the security of their mates. Here is a collection of tips on how to settle in piggies. BE PATIENT!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

b) guinea pigs are group animals that should not be kept alone. If possible, get her a same sex friend for company! You will love the lively and vocal interaction that makes guinea pigs so unique!
Be aware that one guinea pig needs ideally 7 square feet minimum space (100x50cm cage), 2 guinea pigs need 8 (2x4 ft/120x60cm cage); that is not much more due to them being ground roamers! If you can, please think rehoming from a good rescue!
This is what the best medical website for guinea pigs has to say: http://www.guinealynx.info/companionship.html