First time worries

[Pup780]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone can help!
I bought a new Guinea pig on Friday evening! I left her till Saturday evening before handling her and cuddling her! She seemed happy to sit on my lap although she was squeaking it wasn't very high pitched! She was there for about 40 minutes and was eating from a piece of carrot I had in my hand!

Once back in her cage she hides and very rarely comes out when we are in! But of an evening she does to eat and has a wonder! My concern is that I have not seen her drink from her bottle so I put a bowl of water near her food but again not seen her drink! The problem is the bottle leaks slightly so it is hard to judge!

I got her out this morning and again she was on my lap and was very interested in exploring and eating what was in my hand, she does a slight squeak but towards the end she had started a high pitches squeak!

Is this normal or is it me worrying far to much?

Many thanks

 

[piggyfan]

Guinea pigs are social animals and get very lonely living alone. Having a same sex friend will give her confidence. She is not used to you and her new home and she is frightened. Holding her for forty minutes is quite a long time as she is not used to you. To help her to drink you can bring the bottle to her mouth to show her what to do. You can also have a bowl of water as she may like to use a bowl.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please be aware that guinea pigs are herd animals and not wired to be on their own. Your little girl is missing company in a new and potentially hostile territory; she is running on her prey animal instincts right now and will likely come out only when nobody is around and she is feeling safe. Most piggies will take some time to settle in. Just talk to her gently as soon as you come into the room.
As long as she is eating veg, you don;t have to worry if she doesn't drink. It is something she will have to learn first. Make sure that she has got plenty of hay nearby; it should make 80% of the daily food intake.
Here is a collection of tips for settling in shy new piggies: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?36239-FAQ-How-do-I-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs

Please consider getting her a same sex companion for the long term. You will also enjoy the lively vocal interaction that makes piggies so unique.
http://www.guinealynx.info/companionship.html
We can provide a list of recommended good standard rescues for the UK, where your little girl will be bonded under expert supervision with either a another sow or a neutered boar of her liking.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209994852075231951564.0004b8fd9391b4257d8eb&msa=0

PS: We would be very grateful if you added your country, state (US/OZ) or general area (UK) to your details so we can give you the appropriate advice for your part of the world straight away. You can do so in forum/private messages (on top bar)/my settings/edit profile/location. Thanks!

 

[Pup780]

Thank you very much,
she has plenty of food and she has started to come out while we are in the room but any big movement she goes back etc
I would love another one, the problem is the cage (i was told would only hold one) it is 80 from Pets at home! Also a larger one wouldn't fit in my place! I have no issues with letting them in a run and plenty of exercise but was told that they wouldn't sell us two etc!

 

[Rodentopia]

an 80's small for one guinea pig let alone two sadly. My pairs are all in 120 cages and if I get lone boars they are in 100 till I find them a friend. Pets at Home are known for selling the wrong stuff but I suppose least they was honest it wouldn't fit two guinea pigs which is a first in my book Guinea pigs need as much space as possible, have a look at C&C grid cages maybe you could fit something in like that You little girl is acting like piggies do she is in a new home which is alien to her and using her wild instinct to hide when she feels there is danger. In the wild they live in large groups which is why its important for her to have company of her own kind, they will look after each other. The more she settles the more she will come out of her shell but even more so with a friend