Advice / help with new piggies

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Eleanorld

New Born Pup
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Hi there, I’m new to this forum so I hope I’m putting this in the right place!
So we bought our first ever piggy 2 days ago, she’s called Daisy and she is 5 weeks & 2 days old. I know they’re social animals but we could only transport one at one time - but we have another gal arriving in the next few days, she will be young also.
I know she’s brand new and will still be getting to know her new home, I still feel that the advice of an experienced piggy owner would put me at ease.
Is she meant to stay inside her house all day? She does come out for her fresh veg in the day but only eats the pellets at night. I also haven’t seen her drink from her bottle yet..
Is this all normal? When her new house mate arrives will that inspire her to come out? Final question: does a willow bridge count as a hide? Any responses would be appreciated :)
 
Eleanorld said:
Hi there, I’m new to this forum so I hope I’m putting this in the right place!
So we bought our first ever piggy 2 days ago, she’s called Daisy. I know they’re social animals but we could only transport one at one time - but we have another gal arriving in the next few days.
I know she’s brand new and will still be getting to know her new home, I still feel that the advice of an experienced piggy owner would put me at ease.
Is she meant to stay inside her house all day? She does come out for her fresh veg in the day but only eats the pellets at night. I also haven’t seen her drink from her bottle yet..
Is this all normal? When her new house mate arrives will that inspire her to come out? Final question: does a willow bridge count as a hide? Any responses would be appreciated :)
Click to expand...

Hi!

This is normal behaviour. Please place a beach towel or sheet over the cage to give her feeling of safety. Guinea pigs are prey animals. Right now she is feeling very lost in a very threatening space.
You may find this guide link here helpful to understand how arrival in a home looks for a pet shop/breeder baby: Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs

Here are our tips for settling in new skittish new guinea pig, understand how their prey animal instincts work and how you can make friends with your piggies mimicking social interactive cavy behaviours - the latter is surprisingly effective as you are actually making sense to them!
Settling in, Human Interaction and Children

A log tunnel counts as a hidey but please have two hideys - one for each piggy.

Please be aware that unlimited hay is the mainstay of the diet (around 80%); a limited amount of mix of preferably green veg and fresh her herbs should make around 15% and a tablespoon of pellets per piggy per day the last 5%. The more hay and not pellets or too much fresh food piggies eat, the better. It is crucial for long term gut health, grinding down the all important back teeth and is key to a longer healthy life span. Hay actually contains some vitamin C; fresh grass is high in it. It is actually the reason why guinea pigs never had the need to make their own vitamin because they have evolved to live mainly on hay and grass with a little forage on the side.
Not drinking is not an issue - your girl will get fluid from her veg. In fact, if you overfeed veg, she won't feel thirsty. Bottle drinking is a learned behaviour.
Here is our comprehensive diet guide, which looks at all food groups in detail, including water and healthy treats: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
All About Drinking And Bottles

Here is advice for the when the newbie arrives. Please do not simply put her in the cage; she may be perceived as an intruder. You always introduce guinea pigs on neutral ground as they are territorial about their little home patch. But having company will make things a lot better for your little baby girl!
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

All these guide links are part of our comprehensive new owners guide collection, which specifically addresses all the most often asked questions and pitfally asked and encountered by them. You may want to bookmark the link and use it as helpful resource along the way. Unlike books, the guide format allows us to constantly update and extend our full information, which you can access via the guides shortcut on the top bar.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Thanks! Just needed to know that she’ll be okay, I’ll put a thin blanket over her now.
She does have lots of hay and she’s been regularly eating this (and lots of cucumber!)

So if I introduce them in a play pen then put them into the cage together, will they be okay?
 
Eleanorld said:
Thanks! Just needed to know that she’ll be okay, I’ll put a thin blanket over her now.
She does have lots of hay and she’s been regularly eating this (and lots of cucumber!)

Will she be overly alarmed when we bring her house mate or will she be more comfortable?
Click to expand...

She will be a LOT happier with a friend as long as you introduce them outside the cage. Please take the time to read the guide links. You may find them very interesting as well as helpful!
 
Hello Eleanorld and welcome to TGPF - you will find everything you need to know about guinea piggles here. Everyone is very friendly and very helpful. I have found out so much to reassure and help me look after my boys.
This is the best source of advice and support. Good luck with settling in your new gp and your newer gp 😊
 
Thanks!
I’ve read the guide to bonding and I’m not sure if I fully understand, if you could tell me this is right or not..
- So I put them into a playpen each, with touching sides so they can interact.
- Then if they don’t go for each other or make any chattering noises, I can put them into the same play pen
- if they get along still leave them to get to know each other for a while.. then can they live together?
Or do I need to keep doing this for a few days? It’s just I don’t think the cage that she’s in would be big enough for two being split
 
Welcome and well done for asking advise on here and @Wiebke had given you lots great one and links.
Piggies are great socal and loving.
Had mine years and it takes time to bond with them pls take yours also.
 
I’m just curious as to how long it normally takes (so I know if I’m doing anything wrong) it’s a little confusing, so she could accept a new house mate in 5-30mins but after that are they compatible for living together, without a separator? I don’t want to sound like I’m going to just see one good sign and put them together straight away, I just want to know the ins and outs so they don’t get hurt :)
 
Eleanorld said:
Hi there, I’m new to this forum so I hope I’m putting this in the right place!
So we bought our first ever piggy 2 days ago, she’s called Daisy and she is 5 weeks & 2 days old. I know they’re social animals but we could only transport one at one time - but we have another gal arriving in the next few days, she will be young also.
I know she’s brand new and will still be getting to know her new home, I still feel that the advice of an experienced piggy owner would put me at ease.
Is she meant to stay inside her house all day? She does come out for her fresh veg in the day but only eats the pellets at night. I also haven’t seen her drink from her bottle yet..
Is this all normal? When her new house mate arrives will that inspire her to come out? Final question: does a willow bridge count as a hide? Any responses would be appreciated :)
Click to expand...
I have this issue as well with my new Guinea pigs Gilbert and goose Gilbert is 5 weeks old and goose is 5 months old so it is complete normal as they have to get new to their new home what I have been told is to put a blanket over the cage and this will make them feel safe as they are prey animals and scared of movement and noises, the blanket will also help with the eating as well as they will also feel safe to eat.
 
Eleanorld said:
Thanks!
I’ve read the guide to bonding and I’m not sure if I fully understand, if you could tell me this is right or not..
- So I put them into a playpen each, with touching sides so they can interact.
- Then if they don’t go for each other or make any chattering noises, I can put them into the same play pen
- if they get along still leave them to get to know each other for a while.. then can they live together?
Or do I need to keep doing this for a few days? It’s just I don’t think the cage that she’s in would be big enough for two being split
Click to expand...

First you need to check that both piggies are definitely the same sex
You can put them in separate cages but side by side for a few days for them to get to know each other through the bars.
Then when it comes to the actual introduction and bonding day, You put them into the same playpen together. They will need to stay in there for several hours.
If they are happy being in the playpen together and there haven’t been any problems, then you can completely clean out the cage they are going to live in so that it is neutral and doesn’t smell of either piggy
You can then move then info the cage to spend their lives together. However, as the bonding process and establishing a relationship takes around two weeks, you will continue to see dominance behaviours during this time
Once you put them together, leave them together. Piggies don’t do play dates so can’t be introduced and separated over and over again - that causes them stress

Two female piggies need a cage of a minimum of 120cm x 60cm but the bigger fee cage is the better, we recommend 150cm x 60. Cage Size Guide
 
A few days to a week to let them settle and feel secure. You can slowly start to remove it and see how they are managing being more open.
 
I've really benefited from all your advice, my little Daisy has become slightly more comfortable with me - even taking food from my hand and coming out to eat while I'm there! But I have a new issue that will soon arise.. now that she is mostly past the first stage of settling in, when and how should I introduce her to floor time? We have a separate indoor run for her but she's still very skittish when you get too close - shall I try to pick her up to carry her over to the run for lap/floor time or wait until she's settled in further?
We also have our little Maisie coming to us (hopefully) on Thursday/Friday so shall I wait until she's also settled and do some floor time together?
Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
You can do floor time as soon as you think she is ready.
I think I would let them both do floor time together as they will likely comfort each other. Mostly for the first few times of floor time, they don’t move!
Of course, you need to have properly bonded them (neutral territory etc) and ensure they have a good bond (the whole bonding and establishing a relationship takes around two weeks after they are put together) before you let them have floor time together.
 
We were thinking of taking Daisy to this rescue and seeing which piggy she prefers then taking them both home to start them bonding. So once they've been in contact (through a divider) for a day or two, I'll put them in the pen for 5-6 hours to see if they get along. Then leave them in their cage for the next 2 weeks before the next floor time. Does that sound about right?
 
So if you are taking daisy to a rescue to see which piggy she likes, then who is Maisie? Is she not being bonded with daisy?
 
Right ok!
If daisy chooses her own friend via dating, then there is no need to keep them separated for a few days when you get them home. Once they have had their initial successful introduction at the centre, then keep them together once you bring them home.
Just ensure that the cage is thoroughly cleaned down and furniture moved around. You won’t want daisy to see a new piggy put until her territory as it can cause problems.

I’d then leave them both to sort themselves out (hierarchy and relationship wise) for a couple of weeks before introducing floor time.
 
Oh that's great! Because we're new owners we didn't want to do the initial bonding at home because we don't really know the signs :|
Also what about hidies.. I've read that the hidies need two entrances so they can run if they're being chased, is this necessary? Just because Daisy's fave house only has one door :)
 
Eleanorld said:
Oh that's great! Because we're new owners we didn't want to do the initial bonding at home because we don't really know the signs :|
Also what about hidies.. I've read that the hidies need two entrances so they can run if they're being chased, is this necessary? Just because Daisy's fave house only has one door :)
Click to expand...

Yes two entrance hideys is necessary. Even if the initial introductions go well, there is always the possibility of failure within the first weeks if they can’t establish themselves and having enclosed hideys increases the risk of a piggy being cornered.
 
I feel like I should make a new thread fro every issue that arises.. someone please tell me if I should!
Daisy is so chilled now, she eats from my hand without running, she sits and stares at me through the bars without running (only scoots when I go to open the cage up :)) )
The only thing is she is VERY vocal, she doesn't shut up. Its like a mixture of wheeking and complaining. Like the wheek doesn't get to full volume and she keeps doing it! Is this a happy noise?
I don't think its a hungry noise - she eats bucket loads :D
 
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