No popcorning from the girls at all :(

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Ree

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The piggies are all in the same cage and thank god theres been no fighting, but I still haven't seen Heidi, Hermione or Hoster popcorn yet :(

Am I doing something wrong or do they just need more time to settle in? (it's been a week and 1 day since they went in together)

The cage is 9ft by 2ft, they have a big plate of veggies every morning and night, they have 4 seperate sleeping areas, 2 water bottles, 4 food pots, 2 hay trays and they are cleaned out every morning. What else can I do?! I'm really worried they're unhappy, the only one that popcorns is Harry and thats only when he's just humped someones head! He's calmed down a lot now though, I havent seen him do that for a few days.

Any advice? Do you think the absense of popcorns means they're unhappy?
x
 
I hope not because my girls don't always popcorn either. To be honest, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Are your piggies eating, drinking, squeaking for veggies etc etc? If so, don't worry and enjoy them xx
 
I have had my piggies for a few months now, and I still haven't seen them all popcorn either. I think some pigs just do it when you aren't looking lol, much like babies who refuse to perform their latest feat for grandma :lol:
 
Thanks for replying :)

It was worrying me but if yours don't do it either then I'm probably fretting over nothing. I was worried they had guinea pig depression or something!
Thanks x
 
Ree said:
Thanks for replying :)

It was worrying me but if yours don't do it either then I'm probably fretting over nothing. I was worried they had guinea pig depression or something!
Thanks x
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When a pig is depressed, they will sit alone in the corning looking sad and might even sit with their back facing you with their head in the corner. I doubt very much that they are depressed xx
 
It'll also depend on how old and big they are. It's difficult for a 3lb pig to jump up in the air and much easier for a baby half that weight!

It took Frank a good few weeks before he did it whereas Finlay had been doing it from the very beginning. It may also be that they're not quite as relaxed as you think when altogether, give it time. I found that the more time I spent playing with the pigs in their run, the more they'd popcorn, to the point that my adult-sized ones were trying too.

Don't worry yourself and remember that youngs do it more than adults (a bit like kids run arounf like demented maniacs but adults don't - they pay to go to the gym instead! mallethead).:))
 
I am sure they popcorn the minute you live the room squeeking haha, my girls race round every morning but i rarely see them popcorn for anything other than food!
 
Claire W said:
When a pig is depressed, they will sit alone in the corning looking sad and might even sit with their back facing you with their head in the corner. I doubt very much that they are depressed xx
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Oh no Hermione still does this, she comes out for food and the occasional wander but she mostly tries to keep herself to herself. She was put in the rescue by a breeder who wanted her to go to someone who wouldn't try to breed from her as she had lost babies to the guinea pig equivilent of pre-eclampsia. The lady at the rescue said she mostly kept out of the way in the group she was in so I thought it was just a personality trait. She does seem less interested in everything than the others do. Oh I'm worried again now! How do I cheer her up if she is depressed? I know how stupid this sounds but could she still be depressed about losing her babies?
x
 
Ree said:
Oh no Hermione still does this, she comes out for food and the occasional wander but she mostly tries to keep herself to herself. She was put in the rescue by a breeder who wanted her to go to someone who wouldn't try to breed from her as she had lost babies to the guinea pig equivilent of pre-eclampsia. The lady at the rescue said she mostly kept out of the way in the group she was in so I thought it was just a personality trait. She does seem less interested in everything than the others do. Oh I'm worried again now! How do I cheer her up if she is depressed? I know how stupid this sounds but could she still be depressed about losing her babies?
x
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I didn't intend to worry you :( If she comes out for food, she's more than likely to be just a pig who keeps herself to herself especially if she was used for breeding and had problems. This is her time now to just chill out and relax. My Eleanor likes her own space too and can sometimes spend a good few hours hiding but she certainly is not depressed. I really wouldn't worry xx
 
my girls don't sleep together most of the time! they pick opposite edges of the cages, but if i pick them and cuddle them they purr with happiness they just like their own space some do
 
Thanks Claire, sorry I didn't mean to make you feel guilty, I'm always worrying about one thing or another anyway so don't take any notice of me!
She's out and about at the minute snuffling for grub :)
x
 
I have yet to see my Nerys do anything more than a quick amble even when there is food to be had!

Popcorning is more something excitable young guinea pigs do, or piggies who have suddenly got a lot more extra energy after coming through an illness/pregnancy or those getting proper care for the first time in their life.

Llewi and Nia are devoted "single hut" sleepers; I have to have provide three different sleeping places for that trio! Nevertheless they are happy together and enjoy the occasional nap next to each other.
 
My girls don't pop corn. However, they squeal when they see me (OK they're after food). They also like to come out into their run when I am in the garden and stay out until I go in.

But never pop corn. The boars on the other hand - jump all over.
 
Well I'm VERY happy to report that Hoster popcorned this morning and later on in the day Heidi did too! Weird that they both did it on the same day at different times. Funny little things :{
Still nothing from Herminone but I'm hoping she'll come out of her shell soon. I'm still worried that she might be depressed but she's not spending as much time on her own so maybe it's just taking her a bit longer to settle in.
xxxxxxxxx
 
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