JordanaDG
New Born Pup
So I got my boy, Squirrely Dan (character from a goofy show our house watches, the robust lovable ginger) yesterday, he is 12 weeks and already quite large (I have to purchase a scale so I can begin his weight recording). Unfortunately, I can only take in a single critter, but am home quite literally 24/7 and was planning (with patience and time) to have it so he could be out in an enclosed space with me, exploring. Of course that will likely be quite a while from now, as I want to make sure he feels comfortable with me and his new surroundings.
He is currently set up right beside my chair, so I'm frequently beside his cage speaking to him, trying to gently coax him to come out and see his new home, however is very timid. Understandably, it has only been a day in all of these new sounds and smells, but I am looking at what I can do to help make him feel extra comfortable seeing as he is a single pig and it must be an overwhelming process for a pair, let alone an afraid little piglet on his own.
Currently his cage is quite plain, he has a food dish with pellets, a strung up toilet paper tube with timothy hay stuffed in them, a large hide hut (I am planning on finding a small sheet of fleece, balling it up, and placing it in there with him to fill that empty void and make him feel more comfortable.
I made the mistake of accidentally picking him up and handling him a little last night. Unfortunately the woman at the pet store had misinformed me and said it would be good to begin handling him as soon as he seems fairly settled but it should be that night, and too keep him out for quite a while as he will be frightened at first, but if you hold him close, and let him settle down, after about 20 minutes he should be comfortable enough to go in the cage. She said it showed that even though things may be scary that just because new scents, sights and sounds are around you doesn't mean you'll get hurt. It sounded reasonable, but I've been used to the, allowing them to acclimate with my previous rats, mouse, hamsters before I were to begin the bonding process.
I had his food dish placed across the cage from his hut (again, my error) in hopes that he would slowly come out as things were quiet or nobody was in the room and got to explore his cage more, getting used to eat. After noticing not many of his pellets were gone by morning (he wasn't fed fresh foods regularly at the pet store unfortunately so he has a straight timothy hay and pellet diet last night), I placed the feed dish right outside of the hut's hole, and tossed in a slice of cucumber and a grape. Tomorrow I plan on introducing a bit of romaine and kale tomorrow, given this introduction doesn't affect his stomach. I placed his hay right beyond his dish, so he will have to come out more for his timothy hay but is still close enough to dart right back in if scared. His water bottle is across the cage, but have noticed that his water levels have gone down, but the ground is completely dry so I expect in the night he found his way to the water bottle.
He hasn't fully left his hut as of today, however, there are three of us out in the living room with him. He has been popping his head out to munch on his pellets, the cucumber and grape. So there's some progress. I am thinking about tossing a towel over the top and two sides of his cage so as to give him more comfort and feel more protected. Would this be too secluding for him or make it easier for him to explore?
I'm extremely new to guinea pigs, though I've had other rodents, each species has its own way about them, and I really am excited to get to learn and bond with Squirrely Dan, and learn the pig way of life.
Is there any recommendations on what I can do to make him feel especially comfortable, and how others who were only able to bring in one began the bonding process? I'd love to learn all I can about how those who brought home singles, and how they began the bonding process. As well as of course any newbie tips you may have! I have read the stickied threads, but if there are any extras you have come across!
Feel free to ask any questions, the more you guys know, the more advice may come to mind! I will be posting pictures soon of the little fella, and his tank (again it is still quite sparse, but I plan to get him some more toys and chewing activities).
He is currently set up right beside my chair, so I'm frequently beside his cage speaking to him, trying to gently coax him to come out and see his new home, however is very timid. Understandably, it has only been a day in all of these new sounds and smells, but I am looking at what I can do to help make him feel extra comfortable seeing as he is a single pig and it must be an overwhelming process for a pair, let alone an afraid little piglet on his own.
Currently his cage is quite plain, he has a food dish with pellets, a strung up toilet paper tube with timothy hay stuffed in them, a large hide hut (I am planning on finding a small sheet of fleece, balling it up, and placing it in there with him to fill that empty void and make him feel more comfortable.
I made the mistake of accidentally picking him up and handling him a little last night. Unfortunately the woman at the pet store had misinformed me and said it would be good to begin handling him as soon as he seems fairly settled but it should be that night, and too keep him out for quite a while as he will be frightened at first, but if you hold him close, and let him settle down, after about 20 minutes he should be comfortable enough to go in the cage. She said it showed that even though things may be scary that just because new scents, sights and sounds are around you doesn't mean you'll get hurt. It sounded reasonable, but I've been used to the, allowing them to acclimate with my previous rats, mouse, hamsters before I were to begin the bonding process.
I had his food dish placed across the cage from his hut (again, my error) in hopes that he would slowly come out as things were quiet or nobody was in the room and got to explore his cage more, getting used to eat. After noticing not many of his pellets were gone by morning (he wasn't fed fresh foods regularly at the pet store unfortunately so he has a straight timothy hay and pellet diet last night), I placed the feed dish right outside of the hut's hole, and tossed in a slice of cucumber and a grape. Tomorrow I plan on introducing a bit of romaine and kale tomorrow, given this introduction doesn't affect his stomach. I placed his hay right beyond his dish, so he will have to come out more for his timothy hay but is still close enough to dart right back in if scared. His water bottle is across the cage, but have noticed that his water levels have gone down, but the ground is completely dry so I expect in the night he found his way to the water bottle.
He hasn't fully left his hut as of today, however, there are three of us out in the living room with him. He has been popping his head out to munch on his pellets, the cucumber and grape. So there's some progress. I am thinking about tossing a towel over the top and two sides of his cage so as to give him more comfort and feel more protected. Would this be too secluding for him or make it easier for him to explore?
I'm extremely new to guinea pigs, though I've had other rodents, each species has its own way about them, and I really am excited to get to learn and bond with Squirrely Dan, and learn the pig way of life.
Is there any recommendations on what I can do to make him feel especially comfortable, and how others who were only able to bring in one began the bonding process? I'd love to learn all I can about how those who brought home singles, and how they began the bonding process. As well as of course any newbie tips you may have! I have read the stickied threads, but if there are any extras you have come across!
Feel free to ask any questions, the more you guys know, the more advice may come to mind! I will be posting pictures soon of the little fella, and his tank (again it is still quite sparse, but I plan to get him some more toys and chewing activities).
