How Likely Is A Gp To Bite When Being Picked Up?

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GPcrazy

GPcrazy

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I've had my guinea pigs for about 12 days now. They have become MUCH more trusting in that time, but they are still very nervous which is to be expected. They are about 7 weeks old today.
I've had them out for floor time twice, about a week ago (the second time they were on their own in the room so no human interaction during that time - I was fixing their cage so they needed somewhere safe). I started taking them out for lap time last week, in a snuggle sack that I made. I just sit next to the cage with them in the snuggle sack on my lap. Only for about 2-3 min at a time. They are definitely calmest when in both together (I've done together and separately). I usually wait for them to go into their fleece tunnel then pick that up and transfer them out of that into the snuggle sack. Once I managed to get them to go directly into the sack while it was in the cage. So I don't pick them up for lap time. I just stroke them and talk to them in the snuggle sack on my lap.

When I went to get them from the shop initially, I fairly easily and confidently managed to pick up and check (and sex) each of 5 guinea pigs. But now that I have these ones home I'm so scared to pick them up, I'm terrified they'll bite me. I had a hamster briefly many years ago and it bit me one day and I never picked it up again because I got such a fright (poor thing had a terrible life, I realise now how wrong I got it all). I'm doing my best to be brave and I stroke them and talk to them in the snuggle sack, but I'm really nervous to pick them up because I'm terrified they'll bite (which I know will be a defense more than anything else). I sort of managed to pick them up very briefly to weigh them yesterday for the first time so that was good.

But I just wanted to know - what are the chances of gp's biting just from being scared of being picked up? Is it more sudden noises and movements that cause the defense biting? Or would just plain fear/nerves of the hands closing in on them be enough to cause a defense bite?

I sit by their cage daily and frequently do stuff in their cage (pick up poops, put food down, move things, etc), so they are used to my smell and my hands. And I talk to them a lot, especially if I'm needing to actually handle them. So it wouldn't be a sudden unexpected thing, just these scary human hands trying to pick them up.

[I have read the "biting" threads in "new and wannabe guinea pig owners" section]
 
It sounds to me like the guineas should be mostly used to your presence and scent by now so I wouldn't be too worried. I don't use any sort of tunnel or hidey to pick up my boys and neither of them ever bite me even though my brown boar hates being picked up. Honestly the only time I've ever gotten a little nibble is if I was hand feeding or when my nails get long they like to think they're nail trimmers and give me a very gentle feel of their teeth to see how I react. Hamsters and Guinea pigs despite both being in the rodent family are very different animals. One trick I like to use is to make sure I don't surprise them before I pick them up. They have lap/floor time at the same time each day and I always make sure they see my hand first. Remember Guinea pig eyes are on the sides so holding your hand right in front isn't the best way to alert them of your presence. Have they ever nipped at you before? As funny as it sounds your piggies actually need to be comfortable enough with you before they will try testing their limits with little nips! They need to trust that you won't hurt them before they try that funny business I believe. Try not to stress too much about handling them :) in all my GP research before getting them to bring home I rarely ever came across accounts of biting piggies. I am sure they'll be fine. The only thing you need to worry about is squirming piggies, so if you're going to use your hands to lift them like I do, make sure you have a firm but gentle grip on them
 
They've never even attempted a nip before. And one of the main reasons I liked the guinea pigs as pets is because they don't bite (I've met two adults over the years that each lost the top joint of one finger to a bunny biting when younger), but then I was the biting posts on this forum and i think it's freaked me out a bit.
 
The biting section is there to help those who need it :) if your pigs have never bitten you before when you've been in their cage for food or cleaning and have been having short lap time with you then I see no reason for them to bite. The sooner you start taking them out more the sooner they'll get used to it and learn to love it. My brown boar always hates being picked up but the second he's out for floor time he starts popcorning so don't worry about it. Are you scared about biting because you plan to use your bare hands instead of a snuggle? If that's the case and you're really still worried you could always put on a small pair of gloves :)
 
I'm happy to use the snuggle sack for a while still for lap time, but I feel I do need to get them used to handling for weekly health checks and eventually nail clipping.
I would like to hold them too but happy to wait for that.
 
I think GPs biting is very unusual but I do sympathise having had hamsters as a child, they give a nasty bite. There are lots of experienced owners on this site who will be able to give you some reassurance I'm sure.
Our two have never bitten, touch wood. And my daughter insists on giving them a thorough check at least twice a week including teeth and nails as well as having them out every day for lap time. They have nibbled when they have thought fingers were food or to signal they want to go back. But this is not at all painful and not like a bite.
I would keep going as you are and try to be confident when you do handle them. I don't know if they pick up on nerves like some other animals.
 
GPcrazy said:
I've had my guinea pigs for about 12 days now. They have become MUCH more trusting in that time, but they are still very nervous which is to be expected. They are about 7 weeks old today.
I've had them out for floor time twice, about a week ago (the second time they were on their own in the room so no human interaction during that time - I was fixing their cage so they needed somewhere safe). I started taking them out for lap time last week, in a snuggle sack that I made. I just sit next to the cage with them in the snuggle sack on my lap. Only for about 2-3 min at a time. They are definitely calmest when in both together (I've done together and separately). I usually wait for them to go into their fleece tunnel then pick that up and transfer them out of that into the snuggle sack. Once I managed to get them to go directly into the sack while it was in the cage. So I don't pick them up for lap time. I just stroke them and talk to them in the snuggle sack on my lap.

When I went to get them from the shop initially, I fairly easily and confidently managed to pick up and check (and sex) each of 5 guinea pigs. But now that I have these ones home I'm so scared to pick them up, I'm terrified they'll bite me. I had a hamster briefly many years ago and it bit me one day and I never picked it up again because I got such a fright (poor thing had a terrible life, I realise now how wrong I got it all). I'm doing my best to be brave and I stroke them and talk to them in the snuggle sack, but I'm really nervous to pick them up because I'm terrified they'll bite (which I know will be a defense more than anything else). I sort of managed to pick them up very briefly to weigh them yesterday for the first time so that was good.

But I just wanted to know - what are the chances of gp's biting just from being scared of being picked up? Is it more sudden noises and movements that cause the defense biting? Or would just plain fear/nerves of the hands closing in on them be enough to cause a defense bite?

I sit by their cage daily and frequently do stuff in their cage (pick up poops, put food down, move things, etc), so they are used to my smell and my hands. And I talk to them a lot, especially if I'm needing to actually handle them. So it wouldn't be a sudden unexpected thing, just these scary human hands trying to pick them up.

[I have read the "biting" threads in "new and wannabe guinea pig owners" section]
Click to expand...

If you are calm and gentle, and respect that a "quiet" guinea pig is more likely to be a guinea pig on edge, then the risk of being bitten badly is very small indeed. Most at risk are boisterous or very anxious children with a sudden burst of loud laughter or jerky movements being allowed to cuddle guinea pigs that are not yet ready for this or where a child's major anxiety transmits to the piggy.
Ideally, you herd a guinea pig into something you can pick it up in - that is the scariest moment. Talk gently to it all the time. Most piggies are fine once on the lap on or under a lap rug.
 
My pigs are anything but calm and quiet!
So basically if they're trying to run and I'm slow and talking it should be fine?
 
GPcrazy said:
My pigs are anything but calm and quiet!
So basically if they're trying to run and I'm slow and talking it should be fine?
Click to expand...

Yes. Try our pick-up tips - they should help to cut down on the stress and circumvent triggering the flight reflex. Youngsters are very lively and not very good at sitting still. As long as they are chattering away and are dramatic, they are OK. If they are really frightened, they will go very quiet. it takes some time to establish a routine, but it is well worth the effort!
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
 
I think I must have been very unlucky as I got bitten twice on Saturday! BB bit me after we'd finished doing her nail trim and I was holding her on my arm instead of putting her straight back - chomp! Chewie bit me later on during some group lap time, they were just starting to settle down and I think she mistook my hand for some food. It *really* hurts so I understand your concern! But these are the first bites I've ever had off guinea pigs
 
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