JaimeGraceUK
Junior Guinea Pig
at the end of this week its been 2 weeks since i got my boys. I want to get them used to me. taking them out of their cage is it best to do 1 at a time or both together?
Owner bonding
- Thread starter JaimeGraceUK
- Start date
Do they take food from your hand yet?
Do they run away when you approach them?
If they don’t take food and still run away from you, then it’s best to start there in gaining their trust. Sit by their cage, talk to them, offer food from your hand. They may not take food straight away, it could take weeks before they do but it is one of the first steps to gaining their trust. It took one of mine 6 weeks to take food from me and it took the other a year and a half.
In terms of taking them out for lap time, take them out together. As teenage boars you want to avoid separating them as much as possible. Always ensure you deal with the dominant boar first so that you respect their hierarchy (not doing so can cause problems as it can make the dominant feel the need to over exert dominance).
In order to get them out of their cage, it’s best to herd them into a carrier first and ideally together. Piggies don’t like being picked up and certainly you don’t want to chase them around their cage trying to get them, but some will enjoy a cuddle after that. You also need to take it at their pace and accept that they may not actually like laptime or being cuddled.
The guides below will help further with tips on how to gain their trust and how to pick them up
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely
Do they run away when you approach them?
If they don’t take food and still run away from you, then it’s best to start there in gaining their trust. Sit by their cage, talk to them, offer food from your hand. They may not take food straight away, it could take weeks before they do but it is one of the first steps to gaining their trust. It took one of mine 6 weeks to take food from me and it took the other a year and a half.
In terms of taking them out for lap time, take them out together. As teenage boars you want to avoid separating them as much as possible. Always ensure you deal with the dominant boar first so that you respect their hierarchy (not doing so can cause problems as it can make the dominant feel the need to over exert dominance).
In order to get them out of their cage, it’s best to herd them into a carrier first and ideally together. Piggies don’t like being picked up and certainly you don’t want to chase them around their cage trying to get them, but some will enjoy a cuddle after that. You also need to take it at their pace and accept that they may not actually like laptime or being cuddled.
The guides below will help further with tips on how to gain their trust and how to pick them up
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely
Black piggies
Senior Guinea Pig
I've had 2 new babies for a week and I'm absolutely dying to have them on my lap, but I'm just sitting by the cage and hand feeding. They now don't always run away.. which is great! 
Black piggies
Senior Guinea Pig
When it's the right time I put a hidey on my sofa beside me, and take 2 piggies, and so they have security while I try to tempt them to visit me. Some will spend months never coming out the hidey and some will climb onto my knee for a treat. This is my routine for weighing weekly, so they get used to that.
JaimeGraceUK
Junior Guinea Pig
yes they take food out of my hand. sheldon likes to pick what he wants first even before i put the bowl down lol they are very noisy in what i am doing (mainly when they know i have food lol
That’s great - taking food from you is a very good sign.
Follow the guides I linked in regarding how to pick them and hopefully they will enjoy some lap time!
Follow the guides I linked in regarding how to pick them and hopefully they will enjoy some lap time!
JaimeGraceUK
Junior Guinea Pig
they like me stroking them and they like it when i talk to them lol
dhill_cb7
Junior Guinea Pig
My boys finally take food from my hand. Still skittish after a month post rescue. They HATE being picked up and even dislike the carrier. You have to have patience and cannot let frustration get the best of you. Good luck!