Scared adult guinea pigs

[Orbit]

Hello everyone. I apologize for not making an introduction topic first. There will be a bit of a story here but I'll try to make it short... warning for animal death. Go to the last paragraph to skip the backstory on how I got these.

In February we left our red texel guinea pig Echo in her outdoor cage while my mom, siblings and I went to a festival. (I usually have multiple guinea pigs; her companion had recently passed of old age). Dad was at home.
Some person's pet dogs somehow got into the backyard by going under the house... we have gaps under the house wired up by they got through the stairs.
Dad heard them but by the time he got to the backyard it was too late.
The cage was destroyed, Echo was slayed, my quail cage was dragged into the middle of the yard and my budgerigar cage was smashed in...
Luckily dad chased the dogs before they could kill my birds.
The owner came to get the dogs, dad told the owner what had happened. The owner offered one of the dog's puppies as compensation (no thank you...). Dad said no of course. Owner offered to buy some new guinea pigs... Dad also said no.
Had to buy a new budgerigar cage and move them as well as the quails. Have added boards to close the gaps under the house just in case.
A week later the owner returns offering to buy us new guinea pigs again... we say no.
A few more weeks later I see a darling little guinea pig at the pet store and I decide to take him into care. I was still deeply distraught and still am by Echo's horrific passing, but I fell in love and wanted to give him a safe and happy home. He's a chocolate sheba mini yak with random white patches!
The very next day, the dog owner came by and gave us two big sows... he complained that he had to drive a long way and pay $30 for the pair of them. Ok then... I lost my precious pet and had to pay $80 for a new bird cage. And we already said not to try to compensate!
We did not want to anger him or risk him doing something bad to these guinea pigs... so we took them in.

About these unexpected guinea pigs themselves... they are both coronets, one lemon agouti and the other saffron. I do not know about their age but they are obviously fully grown; really big and heavy, but they acted like they've never seen humans in their life. It has been almost 3 months of trying, and they still struggle and squeal in terror when held. Is it possible to tame such terrified adults? Any advice on helping them calm down? I do not mind not handling them, but I of course need to do so when cleaning their indoor cage or transferring them to the lawn cage (in which I always make sure myself or someone supervises now...) I do not want them to be stressed out.

I am also sorry for no photos-- but I hope to share pics of all 3 of my current guinea pigs soon.

 

[Emz1999]

So sorry for your loss and this broke my heart to read, but it's lovely to hear that you are still happy enough to give these others a lovely home too.

These adults may just be suffering from initial settling in nerves, or they may just be nervous piggies in general. One of my pigs has been anxious from the start and still jumps at the slightest sound but loves to snuggle up in a towel on my lap. These may need a little longer to settle and get used to their surroundings, and may remain generally anxious for the rest of their lives regardless.

Maybe hearing and smelling the dogs next door has stressed them out. I would recommend moving them inside if they aren't already so they cannot hear them at all.

 

[Merab]

What an awful experience for you.
Sounds like your neighbour felt really guilty about what happened.
I’m no expert on piggy behaviour but if your new adult does have never been handled or well cared for it will take a lot of time and patience.
Sadly they may never fully relax but with a loving home at least they are going to have a good life now.
Welcome to the forum and it will be lovely to see pics when you can post them

 

[Hetja]

It’s absolutely possible to tame adult guinea pigs. I have a piggy, which ran into walls and hidies when I got her because she was so scared of humans. Now she can give paws and some other tricks. It neededmuch patience and time.
The best thing is to talk to them and to be around them often. As soon as they become more courageous you can put some food in the cage and watch them eating while talking with them. Later you can try to feed them from your hands.

When you have to handle them for some reason, just act like it’s the most normal thing. They will soon learn that nothing bad happens.

That’s my now a bit more confident piggy.

 

[Eriathwen]

I have 2 similar, Treacle and Cinnamon. Treacle chatters her teeth at everything and everyone and Cinnamon just screams whenever anyone, human or piggy, goes near her.
They're coming along with time, patience, gentle reassurance and of course food! It's certainly possible to tame them. They might not ever be the most docile, but hopefully they wont be so terrified after a while.

 

[Betsy]

My Betsy was terrified when I first got her then with love and lot of patience and bribes with food she became really tame. Now she has cataracts developing and sometimes gives a little nip when she can't see and doesn't understand what is happening to her. I talk to her all the time when I am holding her so she knows I'm not a predator (as they are silent) and I also give her a dandelion leaf, or something else to nibble on. This serves 2 purposes 1. she can't nip me if she's eating something and 2. She associates being picked up with a treat.