Taming Skittish Guinea Pigs

[mckenzies]

I have three guinea pigs, and I got them about a month ago. The first week or so, I mostly tried to let them get used to their new home. Since then, I have gotten them to eat food out of my hand. One is very bold and will always come to eat bits that I hold out, and she will come up to me and smell my fingers. The other two might reluctantly eat food out of my hand if they can stay in a safe hidey hole at the same time. However, none of them wants me to pet or touch them, and they jerk away.

I have only tried picking them up once. It was very frightening for the guinea pigs to be chased around and then picked up. Once I had them, they tried to run off my lap, so I had to put them back.

They are all extremely skittish. The problem is, I'm not sure if trying to pet them/hold them more will help or just make them more scared of me. Am I just being overly sensitive to scaring them, or do I need to move more slowly? I have a big cage, so I could try getting inside it?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[DM030819]

Guinea pigs are prey animals so their natural reaction is to run away and hide.

You need to give them time and be patient. Interact with them in the cage but feeding them and when they're okay slowly move your hand to them and let him learn who you are.

When you want to pick them up try herding them into something like a snuggle bed, or a house and then pick them up from there. Chasing them around just makes them run more.

Each pig is different. Some of mine would happily let me pick them up, others ran every time. Some let me stroke them, some didn't

 

[sport_billy]

Hello Welcome to the forum

This is totally normal behaviour, it can take a while to gain some piggies trust.

Picking piggies up can be stressful and create more stress for them and you so it can help to use a technique like in video below

It may be worth starting lap time of slowly and build up. I started just having our biting piggy out for 20 seconds fed her some coriander and put her back I would do this 2 times a week, 20 seconds no more... After 3 weeks I increased to 30 seconds and so on very slowly.

We have a piggy that won't let us pet her in the cage rarely. The other two will but only with certain petting. One likes a chin rub the other a head rub. Deviate from this and they run off so it is about finding out what the piggies like. But that will come later... Concentrate on building the bond first at laptime with food as a bribe
.
I can also recommend getting something like a cavy cosy for laptime this will help the piggies feel more secure too

Food is a great bribery so keep trying to tempt you two piggies in the cosy to take from you hand. We have all been in your position, you will get there

 

[Hank288]

I have found that most guinea pigs will not let you pet them in the cage without running, there is of course exceptions to the rule. Most of my pigs will now let me just pick them up in the cage and quite happily sit there while I get them. I have had them for several years though and it took a while for them to get used to it. I still have one pig who I have had for a year and a half and she still absolutely hates me picking her up. I have sometimes herded them into a corner and then put something to 'trap them' while I quickly pick them up.
Try sitting them on you lap in a snuggle pouch or wrapped in a blanket so that they feel safe. I have one pig who will not sit on my lap unless she has her head covered as she is so so nervous. By letting her hide she feels safe and then she will happily let me stroke her.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

You may find our new owners' guide bundle helpful in understanding your guinea pigs; we have a section specifically for lots of tips on how you can settle and make friends with your guinea pigs and one about how to understand their behaviour.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[Kylie80]

I have two piggies that I have only had for three months and bonding with them has been a slow process and ongoing but totally rewarding. Herding them into a snuggle sack really works for getting them out of the cage for anything. This is what I do. It makes me feel more comfortable because I'm not afaid that I will drop them which I'm sure makes them more comfortable that I'm not nervous. I just leave them in the sack on my lap and give them a treat which is usually coriander and they will come out for pats when they feel comfortable. One of them isnt a lap time fan as she is still abit timid so she gets her treat and a few minutes of pats when she comes out and a bit of a health check and back in the cage. I talk to them alot too.

 

[VickiA]

Hello and welcome.

What you are describing is entirely normal. No two piggies are exactly alike but at first they all need time to acclimatise and to get used to you. Only one of my girls readily allows me to pick her up. The others all require a bit of a chase. So to prevent stress I simply usher them into a cosy and lift them out that way. We are all happier that way!