Any Links Or Tips To Easing My Boars Into A New Routine?

[MelyH]

Hi there,

Currently my 3 boars get fresh veggie breakfast at 11AM when my husband gets home from work and stays with them all day (he works 4AM-10AM). I work from 8:30AM-5:30PM. So my guinea pigs are used to only being alone very minimally (maybe 2-6 hours tops every day). I am currently bonding a third boar into my existing pair. They eat their fresh veggies dinner at 9PM on the dot, they even start to act up around that time because they are expecting their lettuce. Here's my concern: My husband starts a new job next week in which he will be working "normal hours." This means that breakfast will be moved to 8AM and they will be home alone for at least 7 hours while we are at work. I'm starting to get major anxiety about this because they aren't used to being alone. Also, Reptar, my alpha occasionally has hormonal swings in which he picks on my bottom piggy Maximus. Luckily my husband is always home to separate and calm them down when this happens. I know guinea pigs are very much creatures of routine and I'm wondering if they will be affected by this change. Also, can they become sad from being without their humans for longer than they are used to?

Thanks in advance,
Melissa

 

[PiggyJustice]

We're having to do the same thing with our dog, so I'm assuming it'll be the same principles. We're just leaving her alone for short periods of time and gradually increasing the time we leave her for. The food would probably be the same - pushing the time back 5-10 minutes every few days. The first few days may still be strange for them but as long as you give them a lot of love & attention when you get back home they should be fine.

I don't think there should be any long-term adverse effects on their physical health from being separated from you - you'll just have to make up for the lost time which shouldn't be a problem as I'm sure you'll miss them as much as they'll miss you!

Good luck

 

[Wiebke]

Your guinea pigs will adapt to the new timetable. Ideally you do it in half hour steps over the course of several days.

My guinea pigs are usually coping well when they are fed only once a day by a pet sitter while we are on holiday, and that is a very sudden change. As guinea pigs are browsers, they are fine as long as they have got access unlimited hay, which should maky up to 80% of the daily food intake.

As your boys have each other, they will also cope with being on their own; they are not as dependent on humans as dogs, for instance. Mine are - I may get the cold shoulder treatment when I come back home from a family visit in another country, but the piggies are relaxed and well in themselves despite less feeding care and less human interaction while I have been away.

 

[MelyH]

Your guinea pigs will adapt to the new timetable. Ideally you do it in half hour steps over the course of several days.

My guinea pigs are usually coping well when they are fed only once a day by a pet sitter while we are on holiday, and that is a very sudden change. As guinea pigs are browsers, they are fine as long as they have got access unlimited hay, which should maky up to 80% of the daily food intake.

As your boys have each other, they will also cope with being on their own; they are not as dependent on humans as dogs, for instance. Mine are - I may get the cold shoulder treatment when I come back home from a family visit in another country, but the piggies are relaxed and well in themselves despite less feeding care and less human interaction while I have been away.

Thank you Wiebke, Maybe I like to think they love us more than they do since they all three squeal in synchrony when we are home but that could just be because humans=food. Haha

 

[MelyH]

We're having to do the same thing with our dog, so I'm assuming it'll be the same principles. We're just leaving her alone for short periods of time and gradually increasing the time we leave her for. The food would probably be the same - pushing the time back 5-10 minutes every few days. The first few days may still be strange for them but as long as you give them a lot of love & attention when you get back home they should be fine.

I don't think there should be any long-term adverse effects on their physical health from being separated from you - you'll just have to make up for the lost time which shouldn't be a problem as I'm sure you'll miss them as much as they'll miss you!

Good luck

Funny you mention that, I always tell people guinea pigs are like little dogs, they have personalities get excited about food and being let out for floor time.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you Wiebke, Maybe I like to think they love us more than they do since they all three squeal in synchrony when we are home but that could just be because humans=food. Haha

I have noticed that my guinea pigs will only wheek for the front door when we are not at home; but they will start squeaking as soon as they hear me getting out of bed and coming downstairs. Don't underestimate them - they are clever and will adapt their behaviour accordingly!

 

[PiggyJustice]

Our girls used to wheek when they heard someone coming up the stairs, but since we've moved them downstairs they usually listen for the crumpling of the plastic bags that their kale etc. comes in. The whole house erupts into wheeking if you even accidentally brush your hand against a bag of kale

 

[MelyH]

Our girls used to wheek when they heard someone coming up the stairs, but since we've moved them downstairs they usually listen for the crumpling of the plastic bags that their kale etc. comes in. The whole house erupts into wheeking if you even accidentally brush your hand against a bag of kale

So true! I will find myself opening up the fridge to make dinner and I'll hear load wheeking coming from the cage in the living room. Then I will feel guilty about getting them excited over nothing and I'll give each one a baby carrot as a treat They really know how to work their Mom to their advantage!