New Owner Shy Pigs

[Zetros]

Hi, last night, over 24 hours ago as of writing, I adopted two 5 month bonded female pigs from a rescue. So far they have not moved an inch from their hide, though they do eat vegetables after a few minutes if everyone is out of sight. I sprinkled oxbow pellets and hay around their cage but I don't think they have left the hide even when left alone in the house for several hours as all of this is still untouched. I understand pet store pigs and young pigs are easily frightened but when I adopted them the rescue handler said they had been living with her in a properly cared for enclosure for quite some time and are comfortable around humans, even wheeking for food just thank morning. Are they simply still adjusting to the new environment? And how long should I expect them to do so? also any tips for getting them to feel as comfortable as possible would be appreciated as I'm afraid I have traumatized them, especially when I had to move their hide to spot clean their poop. Their cage is a 3x5 c&c with two hides, two water bottles, a water dish, hay pile, and cuddle cup, though I am currently covering half of the pen with a blanket and one of my shirts. I don't want to rush things, I would just like to know if this behavior is normal or not so I don't overthink haha, thank you!

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

to the forum!
It is perfectly normal for piggies to hide and not leave their cover during their first days or even weeks in a new environment.

Here you will find useful Information:

Thread 'New Guinea Pigs: How to Best Manage Arrival and Settling In'

May 20, 2023

Intro
1 What to do on arrival at home
- A welcome in piggy language
- Health check, sexing and weighing
- Quarantine or not if you have other guinea pigs?
2 Helping your guinea pigs to settle in
- Some practical tips for settling in new guinea pigs
- Avoiding predatory behaviours
- Skittish or ill?
- Group establishment and dominance
3 Handling and human...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 2
• Forum: New and Wannabe Owners Corner

Thread 'How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?'

Aug 11, 2009

- Expectations and reality
- Give them shelter and place food nearby
- Cover the cage
- Avoid behaving like a hunting predator
- Wait with handling (after your quick health check & sexing on arrival)
- Introduce new foods slowly
- Drinking
- Scent-marking ramps and unused hutch/cage areas
- Run time and lawn trips


Expections and reality
Guinea pigs take time to settle in their new surroundings; more than you think. They are prey animals and not instant living cuddly toys. The cute videos...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Arrival

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Please make sure that hay and water is in reach of their hidey for as long as they don't feel secure enough to move around much. This time will pass even if it feels endless at the moment.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

I completely agree with Viennese Furbabies, and you are also doing the right thing by covering their cage.

They need time to settle into a new environment - they don’t yet know they are safe - so yes what you are seeing is entirely normal.

Definitely put hay inside and just outside of the hides so they can eat freely when they don’t feel like coming out. They will settle into time but it can take a few weeks.

Also remember that even though they have always been together, they will go into a two week period of reestablishing their relationship now they are in a new environment.

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

[Truffolo]

Some of it is fear, but also behaviour of young piggies. They may be waiting for a more senior pig to take the initiative and guide the herd to grazing. They should sort out who does this as they mature. I read somewhere that wild guinea pigs feed and every now and then routinely make a quick dash for cover. So if they stampede, it might be a behaviour rather than purely from intense fear. It's fine to gently poo pick around them, they won't be traumatised. When my boys arrived, they were hissing and making popping noises at me But they settled down in a few days, although they are still fairly skittish. They have started to accept gentle head strokes (without touching their whiskers) but express affection in lots of other ways and are really charming little personalities.