One of my guinea pigs seems overly nervous.

[Erinmartinx]

Hi all, recently I brought 2 female guinea pigs and have had them for around a month now. They are around 13 weeks old. However they still seem overly scared of me even tho I’ve been handling them every day. They are extremely hard to get out the cage but I don’t want to chase them around as I don’t want to scare them thurther. One of them however seems a lot more shy than the other. If I let them both out she’ll normally hide away in a corner and is very cautious when she comes out. Any advice? Thankyou.

 

[lilyandluna]

I have had my guineas for over a year and it it still EXTREMELY hard to pick up one of them. Keep on doing what your doing, and they will come around.
Good luck

 

[EltonLiberace]

Hello Erin,

I would not worry about this - remember they are prey animals and they are still fresh and green with youth! Make sure you do not loom over them, try and communicate to them on their level. Their eyesight is terrible so anything that comes from above they will immediately assume you are a predator! Move slowly towards them and no sudden movements. This will give them time to get used to you. One tip I highly reccomend is that I always play music and the radio softly to them so they are used to sounds of people constantly and thus not overly jumpy when someone enters the room. When you pick them up, hold them close to your heart, make sure they can hear your heart beating, and that they can see you, let them get used to your smell.

I hope this helps. Elt x

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hand fed treats have always worked for me and lots of gentle stroking and patience. She will come around, some take longer than others, they are all individuals, which is very interesting in itself. Have you read the link below. You will find lots of advice in the Guinea Pig Care Guides at the top of the page. Good luck x

Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all, recently I brought 2 female guinea pigs and have had them for around a month now. They are around 13 weeks old. However they still seem overly scared of me even tho I’ve been handling them every day. They are extremely hard to get out the cage but I don’t want to chase them around as I don’t want to scare them thurther. One of them however seems a lot more shy than the other. If I let them both out she’ll normally hide away in a corner and is very cautious when she comes out. Any advice? Thankyou.

Hi and welcome

Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals and not naturally born living cuddly toys. Pet shop and for sale breeder piggies have virtually not had any or much friendly human interaction before they are sold into a completely alien home environment away from their group and any mates. that means that their prey instincts are running high.
Avoiding to trigger those instincts as much as possible will help to calm them down. Using their own social behaviours that they are a welcome part of your group and that you love them will also help to build up trust because you make instant sense to them, unlike when you expect them to learn human behaviours first.

Take the time to read these two guides here. Building up trust is not a quick process and can take a few months, but you can speed it on with the tips in the guides. Keep in mind that trust needs to grow deep roots first before it can flourish!
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

These two guides are part of our New Owners guide collection which addresses all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about. You will hopefully find it both useful and very interesting! Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[denverguineas]

Young guinea pigs are almost always skittish. I would try getting them used to your hands and presence first - hold their favorite veggies or a handful of hay in their cage and let them eat from your hand. One thing that would help is putting them on a table because it would seem like you are coming from the side instead of towering above like a predator.

Best of luck!

 

[Freela]

It's normal for guinea pigs to be slow to get comfortable, as they are prey animals, and even pigs who are comfortable with you often don't like the sensation of being 'caught' and picked up. It may help to use a box or a cozy to pick them up so they feel more secure. They also all have their own personalities, so your more nervous pig may simply be more cautious/nervous, though they will get more and more comfortable with time and experience.