Help needed - new guinea pigs

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emmalou

Hi
I have had our two girls since Sat and have tried really hard to let them settle them into their new indoor cage without picking them up. My daughter, son and I have spent lots of time talking to them through the cage, even with the cage door open now. Last night Mollie let me stroke her on the back and today she has let me and my daughter stroke her again, although she still flits around the cage. my daughter really wanted to get closer to them just before her bedtime, so I tried to catch one of the girls. I managed topick Mollie up for a mere 2 seconds before she ran away.
I am asking if I am rushing the guinea pigs as we have only had them 5 days.But I'm worried if we don't touch them they won't get used to us and then we won't be able to play with them etc. PLease please can someone tell me the right thing to do!
Thanks, from an anxious new guinea pig owner
Emmalou
 
Young guinea pigs, especially ones that haven't been handled by humans before are often VERY skittish (one cannot blame them!), so you need to be quick to catch them without them going into full flight instinct mode. Best try to get them into a corner or a pigloo with bottom (and rag cum treat at the end) to entice a piggy in.

If you try the pigloo pickup, it is advisable that you just leave the pigloo in the cage for a few days, so the piggies are fmailiar with it and relaxed before you even start moving it with a piggy in it. I have a special phrase for that, so that my piggies know what's up and evetually cooperate because it is a lot less stressful!

When you cuddle a shy piggy, it feels better in a confined space - bird of prey are one of the main predators, so open spaces and looming people scare them. A fleece or towel to sneak under or a cuddle bag will help to relax a piggy that is just learning to be touched gently.

Please brace yourself for the occasional pee. Piggies can bite in defense when they are very frightened, so always move your hands slowly and deliberately and talk to them gently the whole time. Praise them lavishly for every little bit they are doing right, like you would with a little dog. Never shout at a piggy - that doesn't work.

Try to turn the pickup into a ritual like feeding time and later nail cutting; your girls will soon catch on and know what to expect - even if they prefer to make a dash for it like so many piggies. But they won't be frightened out of their wits that way!

Best of luck!
 
I wouldn't worry. i've had my boys for 16 months and I still have to chase them around the cage to catch them. Some pigs will be better than others but it's still early days. The boys are pretty much fine to stroke and feed, just the picking up part they don't like.

Do you have any snuggle sacks/cosies? Or have you heard of them? They're pretty good for handling pigs with. You can let the pigs go in on their own then lift them out of the cage. Someone on here makes them but can't remember the name, sorry. Try a search.

Just keep doing what you're doing. They will get used to you, even if they never jump into your arms for a cuddle :)
 
Thanks, will have a look for a snuggle sack sounds like a good idea. They are going mad tonight, I trust that they are just running and playing. Gosh this is worse than being a mum to my two children!
 
They will slow down. Ive had my girls for about 2 months now and they hate being picked up but they love their cuddles. Try putting your hand in the cage a bit more but make sure you always talk to them before you touch them. So they can get familiar with your voice they will soon realise that you are come with tasty treats and are not going to hurt them :)
good luck.

put up some piccies :)
 
It's called popcorning and is a very good sign - it means that your little ones are settling in and are happy!
 
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