Guinea Pig Bites Hard In The Morning!

[PigapooMom]

My Gatsby aka Pigapoo, because (side note) when we took him through security in the airport they all thought he was a Yorkie poodle mix and wanted to pet him. Until my husband informed then he’s a guinea pig. The woman security guards who had been previously fawning over him were horrified lol. He’s a Peruvian and a little mop!
Anyway, Gatsby is sweet as can be. A little more rowdy and less patient as he’s coming into adulthood. But a happy boy. He’s got about a 4ft cage, but we also let him free roam in the morning and evening. He happily popcorns and sings the song of his people.
But when I pick him up in the morning (he waits in the same spot to be let out) he bites me on the way to “freedom” sometimes a nibble, sometimes draws blood! I know he’s excited for his morning run and fresh veggies. But is there a way to stop this? He’s never nippy otherwise. I’m assuming it’s excitement? Definitely no mites. My husband works from home so sometimes he even gets an afternoon run. I'm just at a loss. Evenings he’s more docile. Especially since I got him a shark cozy. He sometimes prefers to stay in!
I’m consideribg a fuzzy cup for morning movement? or maybe it’s a phase? I had a guinea pig growing up. Female, she never bit me! Do the males tend to be more nippy? Thanks for any advice. I adore my little pigapoo.

 

[Siikibam]

Males don’t tend to be nippy, it may be he’s trying to tell you something.

Please seriously consider getting him a friend. They are highly social and shouldn’t live alone. And no matter how much time you spend with him it’s no replacement for companionship of his own kind. You would not be able to understand the nuances of their communication, or be able to fully communicate in a way he understands.

Have a read of the guide below on biting. You could start using a box or something to move him out for free roaming.
" Biting" And What You Can Do (Biting, Tweaking, Nibbling and Nipping)

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

The nipping is not gender bound, it is a message for you. Please be aware that when you keep guinea pigs as singles, they transfer their own social cavy expectations onto you by default; it is not just one way from human to cavy. this can come at price.

You may find our singles guide helpful (especially the last chapter) as well as the other two guides:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

If you would like to consider companionship where Gatsby can have a say who he wants to live with before you bring a piggy home on spec (which may not necessarily work out), then Wee Companions are a highly renowned guinea pig rescue in your area.
Website: Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption, Inc. - Home
Facebook: Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption

 

[alpacasqueak]

My Luigi has always been a bit nippy, more when hand feeding etc when he can smell food or thinks he does! But never hard, he’s a softy really. And has lived with other pigs who have most definitely told him off when he’s done it!
My newest addition Cleo (who’s pretty terrified as just a baby at around 10ish weeks) has bitten me twice this week, pretty hard and broke the skin a few days ago. She’s living alone at the moment, the world’s pretty scary and she’s only got next door company for a couple of weeks until safe to join Jasper my neutered boar, so I can imagine it’s the same for your Gatsby!
I think of it the same as with puppies and kittens etc, if they grow up alone they don’t have others to tell them that it hurts and it’s not normal behaviour when it’s too hard!
I’d definitely consider getting him a friend, they really need piggy companionship and to know ‘piggy ways’! Think humans and only humans can confuse these piggles sometimes!
Cleo hadn’t really seen others eat hay because of a bad background, so that was very strange for her and barely touched it for her first couple of weeks here, but she’s learnt from watching Jasper it’s actually food! Pigs definitely love and need friends around!
And sex has nothing to do with biting at all, pigs are just very different personalities!