PeggyAndBettysMum
Junior Guinea Pig
In October 2019, I managed to get my hands on two very skittish, ex breeding girls.
They had been used for constant breeding and were now surplus to requirement.
They had never been handled, didn’t know how to do most things (use a water bottle, Graze in the garden, destroy things
, even run about in an open space etc) and would almost have a heart attack if any of my family walked past their cage, let alone pick them up. Things like weighing them, cutting their claws or checking them over was impossible.
Over the last 7 months I have just let them be. I brought them out for floor time occasionally but they just hid and appeared to be petrified of the open space. They obviously had vet visits and had some health issues so handling was a necessity then but the trauma was huge for them. So I watched them, observed them and just gave them lots and lots of time to adjust.
The lockdown has been kind to them with us all being around. They wanted attention but it has been a very slow process and we’ve had the time to do that. They now squeak for floor time, they popcorn and zoom and even chirp away quite content. They’re not cuddly pigs, they like to know your an arms length away but that’s fine because I’ve never seen two happier guinea pigs! They sleep on their sides and sometimes you can step over them without them fearing for their lives, they squeak for everything and anything, Betty will love a good scratch if you don’t pick her up and they have (I’m a little embarrassed for them) piled on weight!
I'm not an expert, I’m just offering my advice.
Watch them from a hiding place and see what they seem to like doing when you’re not around.
Peggy likes to burrow so I made her some fleece tunnels and throw fleece blankets down for floor time and she loves to burrow in them.
Betty likes small boxes stuffed with hay. She likes to bury her head in them
Ive learned their little food preferences.
I know they are much calmer during floor time if the TV is on in the background.
They like the same place for floor time, put them elsewhere and they just sit like potatoes totally stunned and confused!
I took away their hideys, after a while of them not moving, for floor time to encourage them to play (boxes, tunnels, newspaper, toilet rolls etc) and this helped but they still had a small, contained corner to run to if they wanted extra comfort.
I lay a single quilt cover, next to their cage, and this is the space they feel safest in. I don’t change that because they’re happy and safe with routine.
They lay around and doze with full tummies and know that they are safe now and that is all we ever want as pet owners!
If I stood up now, out of the blue and walked towards them, they’d run a mile so I always approach slow and squat down and talk to them before. Like I’m announcing my arrival!
mom back to work full time on Monday (I’m a teacher) so I’m going to miss them a lot. But... they do need a little diet as like their mum, they’ve over indulged the past few weeks
When people on here say ‘be patient’ it really is the secret to happy and content piggies! It took me just over 6 months to see a change in their behaviour! I’m so happy for them right now!
They had been used for constant breeding and were now surplus to requirement.
They had never been handled, didn’t know how to do most things (use a water bottle, Graze in the garden, destroy things
, even run about in an open space etc) and would almost have a heart attack if any of my family walked past their cage, let alone pick them up. Things like weighing them, cutting their claws or checking them over was impossible.Over the last 7 months I have just let them be. I brought them out for floor time occasionally but they just hid and appeared to be petrified of the open space. They obviously had vet visits and had some health issues so handling was a necessity then but the trauma was huge for them. So I watched them, observed them and just gave them lots and lots of time to adjust.
The lockdown has been kind to them with us all being around. They wanted attention but it has been a very slow process and we’ve had the time to do that. They now squeak for floor time, they popcorn and zoom and even chirp away quite content. They’re not cuddly pigs, they like to know your an arms length away but that’s fine because I’ve never seen two happier guinea pigs! They sleep on their sides and sometimes you can step over them without them fearing for their lives, they squeak for everything and anything, Betty will love a good scratch if you don’t pick her up and they have (I’m a little embarrassed for them) piled on weight!
I'm not an expert, I’m just offering my advice.
Watch them from a hiding place and see what they seem to like doing when you’re not around.
Peggy likes to burrow so I made her some fleece tunnels and throw fleece blankets down for floor time and she loves to burrow in them.
Betty likes small boxes stuffed with hay. She likes to bury her head in them
Ive learned their little food preferences.
I know they are much calmer during floor time if the TV is on in the background.
They like the same place for floor time, put them elsewhere and they just sit like potatoes totally stunned and confused!
I took away their hideys, after a while of them not moving, for floor time to encourage them to play (boxes, tunnels, newspaper, toilet rolls etc) and this helped but they still had a small, contained corner to run to if they wanted extra comfort.
I lay a single quilt cover, next to their cage, and this is the space they feel safest in. I don’t change that because they’re happy and safe with routine.
They lay around and doze with full tummies and know that they are safe now and that is all we ever want as pet owners!
If I stood up now, out of the blue and walked towards them, they’d run a mile so I always approach slow and squat down and talk to them before. Like I’m announcing my arrival!
mom back to work full time on Monday (I’m a teacher) so I’m going to miss them a lot. But... they do need a little diet as like their mum, they’ve over indulged the past few weeks
When people on here say ‘be patient’ it really is the secret to happy and content piggies! It took me just over 6 months to see a change in their behaviour! I’m so happy for them right now!
and from the mess it looks like they had great fun! 
So chuffed for you and them
