New Piggie Ice Breaking

Arwen

Arwen

New Born Pup
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Hi! I'm super new to the whole guinea pig owner thing and I'm having a small problem. My piggie is not used to being held and every time I tried to take her out she would avoid me like crazy! I'm beginning to think that she is still not adapt to the new home even though we got her around two weeks ago and she is eating from my hand already. I did a bit research but am still super confused. Should I start to hold her to make her less scared or should I wait awhile? Is it normal for a piggie to be really scared of human? Is there anyway to help that? i would really appreciate it if anyone can answer these questions. Thank you!
 
Hello, at first and it is really early days. But eating fro thw hand is relly great at this stage so well done!

We always start off after a few weeks by trying to hand feed a few veggie treats in the cage by offering some nice veggies to the new piggy when they are in their hidey, hopefully they will take it off you as you hold it in for them... after a while try offering it a little further from the hidey so they edge out and take it from you. Just go slowly as they are prey animal patience is needed to build up the bond, younger piggies are especially skittish

Food is the best way to bribe, use food when you get round to lap times also. Start lap time for a short amount of time at first and build up. We started off we laptimes for 1 minute with new piggies then pop them back, slowly increasing the time. They will soon associate you with food and good things but at first it takes a while to gain their trust.

Have a read of this thread here How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
 
Arwen said:
Hi! I'm super new to the whole guinea pig owner thing and I'm having a small problem. My piggie is not used to being held and every time I tried to take her out she would avoid me like crazy! I'm beginning to think that she is still not adapt to the new home even though we got her around two weeks ago and she is eating from my hand already. I did a bit research but am still super confused. Should I start to hold her to make her less scared or should I wait awhile? Is it normal for a piggie to be really scared of human? Is there anyway to help that? i would really appreciate it if anyone can answer these questions. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi! Picking up is cutting very close to guinea pig prey animal instincts. Many guinea pigs will never enjoy this part.
You can work around this by using a pick up conveyance you train your piggy to get into. Please also note that two weeks is still only a very short time in terms of settling guinea pigs.
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
Guinea pigs are like people- some like cuddling others don’t. I have one girl who still hates being picked up or cuddled. She doesn’t do lap time. However she will quite happily sit beside me on the floor to be stroked and if I fail to comply she headbuts me. Give yourself and the piggies time to get to know each other and their individual characters. Enjoy them.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies! Those are very good tips and I am starting them ASAP.
 
I’m so glad you posted this as we are in the same boat. It’s hard to know whether to leave them or not.
Our girls have done a role reversal and the one that was shyest initially (Fluff) is now eating out of our hand whereas Stripe, who was chilled and quite nonchalant when we got them is now the shyest and runs away all the time.

The talk a lot whilst they are running away and hiding. Would love to know what they are saying ha ha x
 
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