New to Guinea Pigs need some help

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sophieandhoney

sophieandhoney

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Hi,

I "rescued"Sophie and Honey on the 9th of Oct, they were 21 and 22 weeks old (their previous owner was hazy on the details). I got them through preloved add, they were unwanted due to allergies. I felt quite sorry for their owner to be honest.

I feed them veg, hay and dried food (have followed the list on here for veg- they love their food! I don't think they had veggies at their first home- she said they didn't like them)

Its just the nervousness that is worrying me. At first I thought ok, its all new they are going to run at the slightest noise

However now it has been six weeks, I keep to the same routine, fresh hay in the morning, change water (they live on hay in their cage and newspaper in the run)Sophie has learnt the sound of the plastic bag = hay so is quite brave but Honey looks terrified. Veggies at night along with more hay and dried food (Gertie). Both in the run at night, they did wheek for their food last night (I was late!) but still legged it as soon as I get near the cage. They do take food from my hand but I have to go to them, they will not come out. it does feel as tho I have them trapped

And as for picking them up...... they make the most dreadful noise and struggle massively. I know its wrong of me but I haven't tried much cos I feel terrible about the noise. Aren't I just frightening them?

When they are in their cage they do let me stroke them but they run around and then freeze with fear, I wouldn't say they enjoy it.

And any kind of noise or movement (me walking in - talking to them) they panic and hide, each time I walk past the cage= a mad scramble to a hidey hole. In the morning when I get out of bed they panic and scramble - made me jump this morning!

When I had pet rats I once had to do this force taming thing (not fun but Spike needed regular medical attention and could not become a biter) where I held him for twenty minutes, regardless of struggling etc each day (I built up over a week 1 min, 5 min, 10 mins,) he became the most lovely rat and was fond of treats etc.

Thing is it sounds a bit mad but I always felt Spike was angry more then scared but honestly Honey looks so awfully scared I am afraid she will have a heart attack or something. Any how they obviously are not the same as rats!

After this rather long first post (sorry!) what I am basically asking is Should I pick them up despite the noise and balatant fear? and how often?
 
Hi Sophieandhoney,

Don't worry, piggles are very nervous animals especially at first... and will always try to run and hide.

When we first had our pigs they used to run away whenever we were in the room.
One of them (Putt) used to be so frightened at been picked up that she used to run around the cage - so fast we used to be scared she'd hurt herself. So we deveolped a technique using a tube that you can buy from most pet stores. Using a Piggles delight at hiding in dark spaces we put the tube in the cage till Putt ran into it then hey presto picked up Tube complete with Pig and gentley tipped Putt onto our lap. This was a lot less stressful for Putt and us. Without this technique we would have hardly have handled them for fear of scaring them.
3 years later we still use this technique if the pigs are giving us the run around when trying to pick them up.

As for laptime they will get used to you eventually, try feeding them treats (parsley is a good one) when sitting on you lap, speak gently and slowly you will gain their trust as they become more use to you... Putt 3 years later has only just started eating off our laps so it can take time especially with a very nervous Piggle.

Keep hand feeding them, even if you are taking food to them as it helps building up the trust. At some point they will feel a little braver and start coming out to the bars to get food off you. But it may take some time so keep at it

Good luck, Hope this helps.
 
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Guinea-pigs are prey animals and so are naturally skittish.

One* of mine (Freya) still squeals whenever I get her out of the hutch in the morning to put her in the run. I just ignore her squeals (I know I'm not hurting her).

Be confident with guinea-pigs; reach in and get them (best advice I was ever given). The less you chase them round the hutch the less you'll scare them. I know this is easier said than done, but if you're nervous, they'll pick up on your nerves and that will make them worse.

*Freya (the squealer) and her friend, I got off a friend a few months back (Freya had unwittingly been bought pregnant and they kept the baby boars). They were very skittish and as my friend had never had pets before she was afraid to pick them up; as a result, when we first got them they were 'feral'. The first morning when I went to pick them up, Freya literally threw herself up the walls of the hutch (something I've never seen before). However, after two months of at least twice daily handling, they're now a gazillion times better.

Even my older ones run away (although one is much easier than any of the others); however, once I've picked them up, they're fine. Just keep handling them, because they will get better. However, guinea-pigs need to pee every 20-minutes or so and like to pee in private (but will go on you, if desperate), so don't hold them for too long.
 
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Thank you for your replies, sorry it has taken so long answer, I thought I had lost the forum - turns it was another G P forum that had closed down - you are now safely in my favourites!

I have been hand feeding them some of their dinner each day and there is serious improvement(They leg it if I move but do come back more quickly - the power of Kale!) . I have also put them on Fleece instead of newspaper cos I think the noise they made on the paper also freaked them out.

This weekend I am going to start the twice daily cuddles. I am having a bit of a rearrange of their cage (hopefully won't freak them out!) to give me more room to pick them up or stroke them.

thanks for the reassurance and advice

xxxxx
 
It's amazing how pigs come on if you give them time... Take George I got him just before christmas last year and he would only come out of his house to eat when we were out of the house. I spent two months sat on the sofa with my partner whispering everytime he ventured out for a drink or food. We had sat in slience for about 40 mins one night with the TV muted (complete piggy slaves) and we thought enough was enough. So we started moving around normally again. We still tryed to not make any sudden loud noises etc.. and he eventually just got used to it.

Less than 1 year later I can pass by his cage, have a chat with him, stroke him and pick him up without any kind or nervou/s reaction. All it takes it work and time. I got him out every night for lap time for about 8/9 months solid and eventually it paid off. #

Good luck I'm sure you'll get there soon! If you find it hard to pick them up maybe try doing it with a fleece/towel. And when you put them back initially also use a fleece / towel as they do get excited to get back to the cage and you can end up with scratches on your arms at first!
 
I have the playpen, and use it as temporary accommodation when we go away and has proven very useful. You could try leaving a radio on for them so they get used to human voices all the time. Also the more time you spend with them the easier they will feel with you, so bringing them downstairs in a run to spend the evening with you is a great idea!
 
ours are keep in the living room i think if you take the hiding places away for a few days they get to know the comings and goings of the house hold . i even hoover twice a day they don't even flinch now .Our piggy's are also handled morning and evening time x
 
If you can train your girls to go into an upturned pigloo or something similar, so that you do not hold them directly, they won't be as frightened as when you have to chase them down.

Here is what I used with my Llewelyn, and also with Nia, who had razor sharp claws combined with a nervous disposition when I adopted her. As soon as both figured out that I wouldn't chase and touch them, they went in quite willingly - a gentle tap on the behind was all that was needed:
IMG_2648_edited-1.jpg
 
Llewellyn, I love love love that name, he is so cute!

Piggies are nervous for a long time, I was scared at first because I didn't want to torture them so only held them a few minutes at a time but I wasn't getting anywhere, my BF can definately see a difference in them, Hoggle seems to be the braver of the two, he sometimes stays out when you pass the cage.
 
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