Distressed newly bought pigs

[Chris Punter]

I've just purchased to sows one is a 14 month Peruvian and the other Peruvian cross aged about 14 weeks.They came from the same breeder who was great and gave me good advice.She said the two had never lived together and was not sure how they would get on.They seem fine although they tend to stay apart most of the time.Ive had them 2 days so I know it will take time for them to settle and adjust.The young cross is very nervous.Today I put them in the run and they seemed fine until I had to get them out.The Peruvian I caught ok and sat her on my lap and combed her well.So calm.I then had difficulty catching the other.I know she's young but she was terrified squeaking highly and running all over to escape.Distressing for her and me.Please,what can,should I do.I know I have to handle her as much as possible of which we will do.Will they be ok together or sometimes to you have to move in new pigs?

 

[piggyfan]

Guinea pigs are prey animals and being picked up scares them. All you can do is help them by being patient. You can try holding them under a fleece. I would have left it a few days for them to settle in before picking them up though. They need to get used t each other as well as their new home. The one who sat on your lap may have just been to scared to make a noise. It takes guinea pigs a long time to trust you. I have had one of mine five years and she will still run away when I go to pick her up.

 

[sharonS]

Sounds as if she just needs time to adjust to you and her new friend. You should see a diference in a couple of weeks time when they have had time to get used to the new surroundings.

 

[Stewybus]

Try to give them maybe 15 to 20 minutes knee time each everyday. Put them on a puppy pad on your knee just in case of accidents. Maybe feed them some treats while they're on your knee & they'll begin to associate you hands with good things. I'm fostering 4 young boars who were almost feral when I got them & were very difficult to get hold of. It's 3 1/2 weeks on and they're much different. They still run away but are much easier to pick up. It takes time and a bit of TLC but they'll come round eventually.

 

[Silly]

I think they probably weren't handled very much at the very beginning of their life.

They will get used to you, I think it's good to leave them in their cage and get used to that rather than a run as well, well that's me anyway.

Maybe rather than trying to get her you could cover her with a small throw then carry her with it so she doesn't get too stressed.

When you have her on your knee a treat will be a good bribe so she knows it means something lovely is going to happen. There is no rush though just having them out ten minutes or so will get them lovely and tame and you will look back in time at posting your worry.

Mine hadn't been handled at all and were very frightened, my smaller of the two was so wild, wouldn't be caught and played dead on my knee I'd never seen that before in a guinea. They are really tame now though. So don't worry, they will love you dearly in the end.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please give your girls more time to settle. Most shop and breeder piggies have not had much in the way of human interaction and can be very skittish, running on their prey animal instincts. Establish a firm daily routine by using the same words/melodies, so the girls can learn what is coming next.

Whether you handle them regularly straight away or try to earn their trust in feeding from your hand first is up to you. I find that it usually helps to get them used to you being around them first and coming with nice things. Giving piggies time to learn to trust you and be proper pets takes more time than you would expect, but it is always worth it.

Here are more information threads that you may find helpful:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?36239-FAQ-How-do-I-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?38561-Sow-behaviour

PS: As we have members from all around the world, we would be very grateful if you added your country, state (US) or general area (UK) to your details; that will make it much easier to give you appropriate advice, links and if possible local recommnedations straight away.

 

[mandykat]

Welcome! As you can see, there are lots of great people on here who are kind and super-helpful and know EVERYTHING about guinea pigs! Thanks for posting this! I have been having similar concerns. My first two guinea pigs were very shy at first, but now come charging to the front of their habitat when I come in the room (usually seeking food!) but they are still not very keen on being picked up, despite being careful and following suggestions. I talk and sing to them and play piano music for the all the time, which I think helped them get used to me. I just got two more, and they are presently very shy, but I hope they will adjust as well. If you find any ways to make them more comfortable with being lifted, please let me know! They love floor time and lap time when I can catch them, but they certainly do not make that part easy!

 

[Deb H]

I've had my Caramel nearly 5 years and somedays she still runs away. On her good days I can put my hand in the cage and she will put her front paws on my hand and be happy to be picked up. A lot, I think, depends on their mood

They take a lot of time and effort to tame but it is worth the effort

 

[madguinealady]

just got to this thread. My quartet hate being picked up but as i have a large cage i sit in it when cleaning them out and they are coming to see me now rather than hiding. They take food out of my hand and when i open the fridge they all wheek like mad and stand on the fiddlesticks bridge waiting for me. They eat where they take their food so getting more and more confident although i do think they would tame quicker if our house wasn't so loud. Gobby 12 and 14 year old and two dogs with loud barks. Luckily they are short haired so can see if there are any problems with them. My texel and peruvian have no choice - I have to pick them up to check their fur and make sure no lumps and bumps and bathe them regularly. They are seperate from my quartet as they seem a little tamer and don't want to send the quartet backwards. Also they are in a smaller cage to make it easier to catch them - quartet in 5x3 c&c, duo in 3x3. Nice to know it can take years for them to tame down properly. Will be extatic the day they let me cuddle them.

 

[Loutopia]

Hit here! It's took me just short of 3 years before my male guinea will come to me voluntarily for a chin tickle and will put his paws on my knees for a nosey whilst I sit in the shed and prepare their veg on the floor with them. Patience is a virtue but then one day it will just click. My new young guineas who I have just rehomed are extremely skittish and I was only asking advice myself about their behaviour just the other day! So hang in here, gentle handling for short periods each day and it will eventually happen :-)