Scared of the 'big outdoors', is this normal?

[Teejay]

Hi all, my two boys have never been outdoors. They currently live in the living room with us! We have two outdoor runs.......a huge metal one (about 5ft x 4ft), and a smaller one directly underneath their outdoor hutch (about 5ft x 2ft).

As it was a lovely day yesterday, we decided to put them out for some lovely grass......we opted for the hutch/run combo, so a smaller area, to restrict their access to the grass (didn't want them to pig out, excuse the pun!).

Anyway, we left them out for an hour and a half, and we watched them for the whole hour and a half, and they didn't come out of the sleep section in the hutch even for a second! All that lovely grass just down the ramp, and they stayed tucked up indoors!

I was really surprised by this.....yeah, I know they must've been a bit shocked by being outside all of a sudden, but I would have thought that all that yummy grass would have tempted them out from the hutch. They're also familiar with the hutch (they lived in it - indoors - for a while when we first had them). They're both very confident, cheeky little chappies and this obvious nervousness really took me by surprise.

Is this normal?

Unfortunately, it was a bit cold for them to go out again today, so I'll have to wait for another nice day to try them out in the run again.

Tracey

 

[PopcornPigs]

It is normal yes I had this the other day. Frazzle has never been outside while I've had him, and he's got such a bold personality. Put him out and he ran straight into the indoor bit. I waited twenty minutes.. still no sign of him. Opened the housey bit and shooed him out. He ran into a tube and stayed there for the rest of the time! I think he was a bit miffed as to where he was and why he was there. He does like grass though cos I picked some for him and he ate it :{ Hopefully they will get used to it after a while eh!

 

[flintstones]

Did they know the nice yummy grass was at the bottom of the ramp? Have they used the ramp before?

 

[Sodapops]

My newest addition Wexford was exactly like you described when i put all the pigs out yesterday.. He spent the whole time inside his pigloo

My other 6 absolutely love being outside on the grass -= especially the boys as they can talk to one another through the bars of their run!

Have your boys ever had grass before? Wexford was unsure of grass when he had his first taster nearly 3wks ago - but now he loves the stuff - although he's still restricted to a handful every few days

All my piggies were shy at first - i spent most of my time sat next to their runs speaking to them and encouraging them to come out and play - once they realise it's not so scary they'll come out to play!

 

[Lisajazz]

It is normal and it will take a few go's before they get the hang of it.

I would put them next time straight on the grass, restrict them so they can't go up the ramp and give a hidey on the grass so they can hide. If it's really warm leave for as long as you can.

 

[tylerina]

I tried my 2 in a small temporary run in the back garden yesterday.

Was really funny - Scruff, the usually timid one, was popcorning all over the place and eating grass and sniffing around! He had a great time!

Patch however, who is the confident one usually, was petrified and kept trying to climb out and onto my lap! I eventually gave up and snuggled him up so he was much happier and ate some dandelion leaves from the safety of Mummy's lap! Silly sausage!

 

[Wiebke]

Make sure that they have hideys and cover at first at first.

Remember, guinea pigs are prey animals, and any new space is potentially dangerous, so it will take a few visits to get their bearings then to explore the new space. Make sure that they can go upstairs at first until it's time to go up. That helps with getting them used to the lawn. However, don;t let them out for too long if the ground is cold, or worse, damp!

 

[Teejay]

Hi all, thanks for all the replies. Seems like Pud & Squeak's behaviour is quite typical for 'first time outdoors' piggies!

To flintstones, yes, they lived in the hutch (indoors) for a few weeks when I first got them (before we bought in indoor cage), so they're well used to the ramp.

To Sodapops, yes, I've been giving them a bit of grass most days for the past couple of weeks (cut from the garden), so they know what the strange green stuff is (and they love, love, love it!)

To Lisajazz and Wiebke, I think next time, I'll do as you say....put them onto the grass and put a nice cosy hidey down there with them. I think I'll still keep the ramp down for them, I don't want to panic them.

To tylerina....awww, bless little Patch! Sounds like Scruff enjoyed himself though!

Tracey