Should I just back right off?

Pigboyslim

Pigboyslim

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We’ve had our piggies since Thursday - I know it’s not long but I feel like I’ve failed already!

They’re in a 6ft hutch outside, separate run. In the essence of trying to do the right thing I think I’ve been doing the wrong thing. We first got them out on Friday evening, I put them in the run where they just hid. We did have a bit of a pet where one of them seemed ok..... Saturday out again with them both on laps for a few minutes, one even looked like he was enjoying a chin rub! Out in the run it was back to hiding.
I cleaned out the hutch on Sunday so again an absolute ordeal getting them out, I feel so bad. I can just about manage to get them in a box. They seem terrified. I’m trying to do the right thing by giving them exercise, Shall I just abandon run time for a while?
What about hutch cleaning?
I go out in the garden and talk by their cage a couple of times each day, chat when I put food in etc.

I just need a bit of guidance!

They are baby boys (well 16 weeks old)
 
My three 2year old boys took a week to come out on their own
I had to put fresh grass on the ramp.
I have had them for able two months now, and they are still a bit scared and skittish.
I was so impatient, but now I realised I needed to give them time, with a little help from the grassy ramp!
 
Have you thought about placing a large sheet over the run as they probably feel very exposed, they are prey animals and it’s in their instinct to dart and hide if they feel ill at ease or what they perceive as a dangerous situation.
I would let them settle in their hutch for a while. They will come around, but in their own time. It takes patience and trust from both sides. When you have them on your knee place an old towel over them so they feel safe and try hand feeding little bits of food. Move very slowly and keep everything as calm as you can
Have a read at the guides
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Pigboyslim said:
We’ve had our piggies since Thursday - I know it’s not long but I feel like I’ve failed already!

They’re in a 6ft hutch outside, separate run. In the essence of trying to do the right thing I think I’ve been doing the wrong thing. We first got them out on Friday evening, I put them in the run where they just hid. We did have a bit of a pet where one of them seemed ok..... Saturday out again with them both on laps for a few minutes, one even looked like he was enjoying a chin rub! Out in the run it was back to hiding.
I cleaned out the hutch on Sunday so again an absolute ordeal getting them out, I feel so bad. I can just about manage to get them in a box. They seem terrified. I’m trying to do the right thing by giving them exercise, Shall I just abandon run time for a while?
What about hutch cleaning?
I go out in the garden and talk by their cage a couple of times each day, chat when I put food in etc.

I just need a bit of guidance!

They are baby boys (well 16 weeks old)
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

Please give your piggies time to get their bearings in their new home first, i.e. their main hutch level. Only give further access to other levels when they are confident and only after that to the run, which you best cover against the full sun anyway to give your boys a feeling of protection. It is a very frightening place for them right now!

Please take the time to read the guide links below. they tell you how things are looking from a guinea pig perspective, how prey animal instincts work and how you can with time work around them.
Please also make sure that you protect your guinea pigs who are not used to the outdoors from hot weather/cold nights, predators like fence climbing foxes, cats, rats and mice etc.
Especially read our hot weather guide. Hutches and runs can quickly become a killing zone even in warm weather, not to mention the extreme heat we had last summer; and they need to be brought under cover during the winter months.

Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide

Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

Here is the full information bundle for our new owners to help them to as smooth a a start as possible and to avoid the most common pitfalls. The collection specifically addresses all the areas we get the most questions and concerns from by new owners. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Thanks for replying - I read loads, I guess I extrapolated what I thought was right.... 😕

The problem I have is the hutch I think, it’s just a stand alone hutch with no run (chartwell 6x2) it’s next to our shed in the shade as the rest of the garden is a bit of a sun trap. I bought a small animal pen to go on the grass thinking I could just lift them out as and when but the transfers have been so traumatic for them and me!
Looking at it now I’m wondering if I could fashion a pen around the hutch and buy a ramp.
I just want to do right by them, they are gorgeous little piggies!
 

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Have you tried getting them out using a snuggle sack? They are great to usher them into and it might not feel as traumatic for them... ( I do make them but thats not the reason for the advise - I found mine to be great when they were little and still use them now) x
 
That’s probably my next purchase! Bloody piggies costing me a small fortune!
I did try and repurpose some fleece lined bobble hats today, they were having none of it! They may be small but they’re savvy little piggies indeed 😁
 
Pigboyslim said:
That’s probably my next purchase! Bloody piggies costing me a small fortune!
I did try and repurpose some fleece lined bobble hats today, they were having none of it! They may be small but they’re savvy little piggies indeed 😁
Click to expand...
Clever piggies ! Dont give up... hide some herbs in one 😉😉 x
 
I put their favourite yellow pepper in it, I had a peek earlier and the pepper had definitely been eaten 😁
I’ve leaned that they don’t like carrots, spring greens or celery.
I’ve got some of the dried dandelion stuff that I’ll put in tomorrow.

As an aside, where I live is on a busy flight path, do you think that could have an impact? It can be quite noisy.
 
I live under a flight path and first of all my piggies ran for cover at the noise. They soon realised that it wouldn't hurt them and they just ignore the noise now.
 
It's been a very short time, so don't lose heart. You're doing the right thing spending time near them. This will get them used to you. You can then try hand feeding. You've had loads of good advice, so I can't add any more, just wanted to lend support..... Pics would be good :cool:
 
I am part of a rescue and regularly we take in very skittish piggies. The best thing to do is to establish a routine, let them settle and feel safe before you start trying to handle or move them (unless like us you have sick ones who need instant medication in which case the social niceties go out of the window!). For the first couple of weeks I just try cleaning them out in their hutch. It’s a pain, but in a 6 foot hutch you can encourage them down one end and block them in there while you do the other end. If you are worried about them falling out of the hutch that shouldn’t be an issue if they have separate doors in the sleeping section from the main living area.
Sing, talk and chatter away in baby voice while you do what you are doing. The first couple of times they look like they are going to freak out but they do soon get used to it.
Run time and lap time should wait for a couple of weeks until they are settled in.
Once they are settled piggy whispering tips are great Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
As for runs, these are big scary open spaces for piggies unless there are loads of tunnels, hideys and shade. I drape a sheet over the run to give additional shade and they will almost always head for that area as they feel safer.
There are specific systems to join hutches to runs. This system (runaround) is used by several members on here with success Runs, hutches, rabbit and guinea housing with freedom and flexibility. I will see if I can find threads where they have done it to help demonstrate.
And yes, piggies will eat a huge hole in your wallet. And a big place in your heart.
 
Reenie said:
It's been a very short time, so don't lose heart. You're doing the right thing spending time near them. This will get them used to you. You can then try hand feeding. You've had loads of good advice, so I can't add any more, just wanted to lend support..... Pics would be good :cool:
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I reccomend giving them time because guinea pigs are prey animals. In the wild they worry about getting picked up by a bird from the top. So talk to them in your normal voice and (if you are, try not to grab them from the top). Even the tamest of guinea pigs will run away! :tu:
 
futurefame said:
Can you post more pictures of your runaround system for my benefit, because we might need to make something similar in future ;)
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here are some photos, it can be locked at each end of the tunnel for safety with a little bunny key or you can just push the white plastic boards down. The tunnel is very solid and hard plastic, it’s secured to cages with wing nuts. We added a piece of wood at the hutch end to make it firmer than mesh. They love it, charge through it all the time!

Website is www.runaround.co.uk
 
It will get easier. They will get used to you, though they might always run from being picked up - mine still do after nearly 3 years and we still often have to catch them in the big tube to transfer them to the pen for lawn time or even a cuddle (which they love!)
 
I now carry my two outside in a garden trug as my boys are so keen to get into their run outside Ted has started to try and jump in before I’ve managed to lift the lid, little monkey!
 
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