Popcorning Worries

[Katie87]

Hi there, I am a fairly new owner having only had my pigs for a month. I am worried that I never see them popcorn and this means they are unhappy. I have seen one of them popcorn once after he had been in the garden in his run but have not seen them do this since. They squeak when I am feeding them and eat from my hand but mostly they hide in their little houses. Is there something more I could be doing? Help please.

 

[AuntyC]

Hello Katie. A month is quite early days, they are probably still settling in with you. Some piggies popcorn more than others. Just because they don't doesn't mean they are unhappy. You are seeing some progress already in that they wheek at feeding time and will take food from your hand. Give them a bit more time and gradually, once they feel 100% secure, they will spend more time outside their hiding places.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

By far not all piggies popcorn like mad; a lot depends on their background, their age, how safe they feel and their individual nature. Settling in as pets often takes much longer than you'd think if your piggies come from a place where they have hardly ever had any human interaction.

You may find these guides here helpful in making your piggies feel more at home:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-pick-up-your-guinea-pig.126359/

 

[Malice]

Hi and welcome! As others have said, although popcorning is a sign of happiness, a lack of popcorning doesn't mean sadness! My girls used to do it when they were younger, but now they're nearly a year old they have stopped. I can tell they're still happy though, as they're always excited when I feed them, come right up to the bars, are generally inquisitive and they run around and play lots when they're let out.

I've had some guinea pigs who would popcorn every time they were let out of the cage, and others who I don't think I ever saw do it. So I wouldn't let it worry you too much. ^_^

 

[gizzy]

I suppose it ma have something to do with the weight of the pig , my Robin is getting on now , but he is a slender build
and he pop corns like crazy