help with settling guinea pigs in

[garfieldette]

Hi

I really need some advice from the experienced owners on this forum. I have had my 3 girls since January this year. I have spent a lot of time trying to gain their trust but I don't seem to be getting anywhere and I read about others who have had their guinea pigs after me and they have settled in so I have come to conclusion that I am doing something wrong.

In the past I have always had an existing older guinea pig who has shown the new ones the ropes and convinced them I am not a murdering monster. I cannot seem to get this across to my new girls:-)

A relative keeps telling me to handle them lots to get them used to me, but this led to them running and hiding every single time I went in the room as they thought I was going to pick them up. So I decided to stop picking them up so they then got used to the idea that I was safe. But they still run and hide every time I go in the room.

I have spent loads of time just sitting on the floor next to them hand feeding them parsley to gain trust. Which helps for that day but next day they are back to running and hiding till I go away.

I have given them lots of hidy houses around their C&C so they can feel close to cover when they come out but just wondering whether this is not helping and I should take the houses out to make them stay out in the open and realise I am not going to eat them. It cannot be good for them to be in a permanent state of stresss, and its stressing me that they are stressed!

Also, I put them out on the grass for the 4th time at the weekend. And for the 4th time they spent the entire time glued to the back of their travel box. I tried tempting them with some grass ripped up and put in the box. I even put lettuce near the front to entice them to come to the front, but they ignored it.

Any advice?

 

[Wiebke]

With some piggies, it can take a long time to build up trust; especially if you got a really skittish pair. It has taken my Taffy who I rehomed at the end of August until March not to make a dash for safety whenever I was coming near!

There are a few thing you can do.
- When you take the to the lawn, make sure that and area in front of the carrier is protected by a low beach towel, so they feel safe to explore the grass.

- You can cuddle them together on your lap under a towel or a fleece, so that they get used to being handled but while feeling "safe". Combine that with feeding them a little treat afterwards; not necessarily by hand. Just so they connect cuddle time with something nice.

- turn pickup into a ritual; you can try to entice them to go into a pigloo with a bottom (and a soft rag to make it comfy) by placing a piece of cucmber or parsley in the back. Just let them go in and out until they are happy and relaxed about using it. Then try to gently lift the pigloo when one piggy is in and give a little cuddle in there. Praise it constantly and give the customary treat afterwards. Hopefully, after a few weeks, your piggies will realise that using the pigloo means that they won't be hunted down anymore and cooperate.
This method has worked with my Llewelyn who I didn't see much of for quite a few weeks and who tended to panic really badly.

- alternatively, you can cuddle your piggies under a towel or a fleece on your lap; anything that helps to make them feel "secure" - tight spaces usually do!

Always talk gently and softly, but constantly and do not stop to praise and encourage. I also have a special tone to express my disappointment, but without putting too much pressure on the piggies.