No Hidey?

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Kithri

Kithri

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Hi, everyone! I have a question about hideouts... My two girls have a number of them in their cage, namely two pigloos, a tube, and a shoebox (their favorite), and we always make sure that they have access to at least one, including during their time outside their cage for exercise and when I’m cleaning out the cage.

Generally, when it’s time to go back to the cage, we remove the hideouts – the only time they’re not given shelter, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to get them out (although I’ve just realized that we can transport them via their tube, so I’ll try that next time). The other day, we got Lucy back to her cage, but Eleanor gave us a bit of a run around. I didn’t want to terrorize her too much, so I stopped chasing her with my hand to give her a breather. She didn’t freeze, but seemed pretty curious. I held out a treat to her and left my hand lying there with the treat, and she came up to me and sniffed me, at some bits of hay from the floor, walked around, sniffed some more, sniffed me, sniffed the treat – basically she didn’t seem frightened at all, which I found pretty surprising. I know we’re supposed to always give them a place to hide if they want one, but I’ve never seen Eleanor that open to me being around and up in her face before, and she and Lucy have been here for three weeks.

Would it be beneficial at all to put them in the kiddie pool (their exercise place, no water of course) without hideouts, at least for a little bit? It seemed like we made real progress with her being less afraid and more open. What do you all think?
 
they always will need a hiding place to feel more secure. Offer then some veg I they may come out for it. let them sniff you. when you have nothing to do sit by the cage and talk to them. it will take time so don't worry. Some guinea pigs are quicker then others at becoming comfortable with humans. When they do become confident it will be amazing for you so keep working at it!
 
My concern isn't that they're not easy-going yet, I know that takes time. I was just wondering if, since she seemed more comfortable without her pigloo, if it was an option to take it out for a small period of time. The pool is also quite large. They have plenty of room to run around.
 
I would always have hides in to be honest they are prey animals so need to feel safe. Prey reflex is huge within pigs and very interwoven into their minds even when they feel safe with us. Keep going the way you are you are doing fab.
 
I would always give them hides. When they are on the floor or in a run the log tunnels or a small stool are good as they can run through, the same with boxes you can cut a door at each end and turn it upside down to make a tunnel. Peanut is very nervous and used to just hide when out of the cage but now he can move around from one place to another without being in the open much he is happier. Lifting them in the tube or a fleece house is a good way to move them around indoors. To move pigs from cage to run some owners (me included) use their pet carriers. I put the carrier in the run or cage and remove all the hides the pigs jump straight in. In the beginning I put food in the carrier to entice them but now they know they are going to the lawn or the indoor run where there is food and are happy to jump in anyway. This is also a good way to catch them for health checks etc. as it's much easier to lift them out of a carrier than chase them round the cage. You are doing really well to have her sniff your hand like that she must really trust you, it's great to sit on the floor and let them come to you.
 
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