Question about taming new guinea pigs

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Wilbert

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Hey guys! I just got my two first guinea pigs about a month ago. Two 18 weeks old boars named Wilson and Albert. I adore and love them so much and has really gotten attached to them. Before I got them I did alot of Reading on guinea pigs, behaviour, what they need and how to get them to settle in alright etc.

How do I teach two really shy and skittish guinea pigs that it is alright to be picked up? The only way to get them out of the Cage today is to remove all the hideys, and then unfortunately chase them around the Cage. I have tried feeding and luring them with veggies and tried to scoop them up, but they Always run and hide as soon as my hand starts getting closer. And they are sooo fast.. I have tried using a towel and a tunnel, but they still panic even though the towel seems to help a bit. I would love to be able to get them an hour of floor time each day to run around and also pick them up to cuddle. But I am scared that I will traumatize them by chasing them around. They Always seem a bit more suspicious towards me after I have done so. What do you guys have for advice? I hand feed them their veggies for every meal and I usually sit by the Cage everyday and read out loud to get them used to my prescence. I also Clean their Cage everyday with them still in it, and they are Always calm and fine with that as long as my hand is not too close. The Cage is also in my bedroom/office so I am around them alot when I am at home.

Should I have more patience and wait for them to feel more secure around me and stops running away or should I start pick them up everyday by chasing them around (which feels terrible) and in that way teach them that I mean no harm? I have asked friends who owned guinea pigs Before and got conflicting advice lol. Some say I should pick them up everyday regardless and some says that I should let them come to me first. So I am hoping you guys have useful advice and input :)
 
To be totally honest I've had one of my pigs for 3 months and I still can't pet her
 
Chasing them around is definitely a bad idea! Most piggies never like the being caught part even if they like or tolerate a cuddle and laptime treats afterwards. We always pick up our piggies by waiting for then to go into a hidey tunnel or house or basket then lifting them out in that to avoid any direct chase-and-capture which alarms their poor little "edible sausage creature" prey instincts. If you put a treat in a hidey tunnel or basket or box, wait for them to go in, then move them to where you want them and offer another treat, they should soon learn to enjoy or at least put up with the piggy-shuttle-bus method of picking them up!
 
If you have a hide or cuddle sack, you could encourage them to go in and then pick them up from there. As @PigglePuggle says don’t chase them around.

Also you can put your hand in the cage and just let them smell you.

A way to build up to ‘lengthy’ cuddles is to hold them a few mins a day and gradually increase the time you hold them. If possible, take them both out. They’ll find comfort in each other. And when you have them in the run, you could sit in with them and offer them food. Encourage them gently to come near you to get the food etc.

Here is a video on how to pick up piggies.

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

This thread on whispering is also good to get their trust and build trust.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

Be aware that not all piggies will like being cuddled and they may never get used to being picked up.

We like pigtures.
 
Only 2 of mine don’t mind being picked up and it’s taken many years! As others have said, getting them to go into a hide is the best bet. We use a fleece hide or a wine box (I powered through 6 bottles of wine just for them!). We call it the “magic carpet”, it transports them to many places in the land, most of the pigs understand something good will come of it and go in automatically. Except Andromeda, the heart of darkness. She will wait it out, presumably til I die of old age :))
 
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