Avalon
Junior Guinea Pig
I have had my gorgeous boys 3 weeks now and I love them both more and more each day but they really don't seem to like me at all!
They are VERY skittish and spend all their time when I'm around huddled together in one corner under their loft. I done some research on skittish GPs and how to tame them so I have been spending lots of time talking to them, approaching their cage quietly, offering food and their favourite leaves (spinach!) But they don't seem to want to interact with me whatsoever. They either ping around the cage to get away or ignore food even if I hold it right in front of them. I sat there for 3 hrs talking to them, offering food and they just seemed to go into a trance and ignored me.
I know getting used to me and their new environment IS going to take time and patience and I'm more than willing to give that to them. They have a forever home with me no matter what, I just don't know if I'm doing the right things to make them happy.
The first cage I had them in was far too small so they now have a 150x60 c&c with a huge loft which has made them much happier. They have plenty of hides and beds so they feel secure and warm, they have lots of ad-lib hay, they get veg treats hidden in toilet rolls for enrichment which they seem to have fun rummaging in.
Reading up there are conflicting views on handling skittish GPs until they trust you completely. I do pick them up daily as I feel I need to make sure they are well in themselves which you can't always see when they are huddled under their loft, but should I be picking them up if they are still so skittish? Is this counter effective to trying to tame them? This is a really difficult issue for me as a new GP owner as having rats previously it was always better to handle them to get them more used to you.
They have a mad half hour sometimes when I'm there, bouncing about the cage with each other, chattering away so I know they are in some way happy but most of the time they just look scared hidden away under their loft.
I want so much for them to lead a happy and fulfilling life. I just need to know I'm doing all I can to make it so.
Any tips or suggestions much appreciated x
They are VERY skittish and spend all their time when I'm around huddled together in one corner under their loft. I done some research on skittish GPs and how to tame them so I have been spending lots of time talking to them, approaching their cage quietly, offering food and their favourite leaves (spinach!) But they don't seem to want to interact with me whatsoever. They either ping around the cage to get away or ignore food even if I hold it right in front of them. I sat there for 3 hrs talking to them, offering food and they just seemed to go into a trance and ignored me.
I know getting used to me and their new environment IS going to take time and patience and I'm more than willing to give that to them. They have a forever home with me no matter what, I just don't know if I'm doing the right things to make them happy.
The first cage I had them in was far too small so they now have a 150x60 c&c with a huge loft which has made them much happier. They have plenty of hides and beds so they feel secure and warm, they have lots of ad-lib hay, they get veg treats hidden in toilet rolls for enrichment which they seem to have fun rummaging in.
Reading up there are conflicting views on handling skittish GPs until they trust you completely. I do pick them up daily as I feel I need to make sure they are well in themselves which you can't always see when they are huddled under their loft, but should I be picking them up if they are still so skittish? Is this counter effective to trying to tame them? This is a really difficult issue for me as a new GP owner as having rats previously it was always better to handle them to get them more used to you.
They have a mad half hour sometimes when I'm there, bouncing about the cage with each other, chattering away so I know they are in some way happy but most of the time they just look scared hidden away under their loft.
I want so much for them to lead a happy and fulfilling life. I just need to know I'm doing all I can to make it so.
Any tips or suggestions much appreciated x