biting

[Angelah]

We have had our two Guinea pigs just over two weeks they are roughly four months old, we have been handling them nearly every day, and are getting better and not as scared on our hands, (they are both boys) i have noticed Smudge taking a nibble at the tips of my finger if i put them near him but its never been sore and often sniffs my finger. Well last night i picked him up and he bit me and it was really sore, it never broke the skin but it was close to, i told him no and he went to do it again so i put him back in the cage so he knew that he is not to bite. When he is also out we let him walk outside of the cage and have noticed that when he is out he likes to climb and bite the side of the bars. Today my husband went to pick him up and after a little bit Smudge went to bite him but my husband could see what he was about to do and managed to stop him. he seems happy in himself and has a friend and they get on well (so far), he is eating well, and drinking well. we just dont know why he is biting us and how to stop it

 

[Silly]

I have had my guinea girls for about 4 months now and don't let them near my fingers as they can't be trusted near them I'm afraid. Can they smell food on your fingers perhaps?

I have had a couple of guineas who would just sit and lick my hand for the taste of salt but I could trust them to do it, they were very laid back though. I think their personality has a lot to do with it.

Some guineapigs seem to want to chew things more than others.

My last guineapig would lick your hand nicely but when she went near my nails I pulled away, she seemed obsessed with nails.

Do they go to bite when you pick them up or is it just when you have them on you? I would be inclined to just keep my fingers away.

Do they have wooden chew toys to get their frustration out on?

 

[Angelah]

Hi we bought a toy that is designed for them to chew on, they go to bite us when we have already in our arms,
maybe he just like the sensation of biting our skin lol

 

[Mother Hubbard]

In my experience there can be a number of reasons for biting, smell of something tasty or just testing you out and they don't know to to do it.

When my jack was nipping me, I made sure my hand wasn't in front of his face, and when he still went for me, I used a noise to startle him, like a hiss and then nipped his back of his neck very softly. He learnt very quickly...

It didn't hurt him, but he didn't like it either and he stopped.

When carrying my piggies from the cage to lap time, I used a fleeceso they can't get at my hands, it's only when we're having lap time they get to sniff me properly and give me piggy kisses.

Hope that helps, worth giving it a go.

 

[Angelah]

thankyou, think the fleece is a good idea - will try that