Not use to being outside

[EmilyRose]

I got my guinea pigs yesterday and I was told they aren't use to being outside. They are 3 months old and have always been in a shed in their hutch. But I've got a hutch and run joined together.

I put them out in the hutch for the first time today as they wouldn't go out on their own all they did was sit there like they didnt know they could eat the grass and stand there and not move a muscle.

So I thought I would try getting them use to being handled one of them flow out of my hands and nearly fell to the ground, I felt so bad because afterwares he seemed more scared than before

Are they like this just because they are young and aren't use to all these new things?

I just don't like seeing them being frightened, I haven't even seen them eat or drink anything yet

 

[bessiehen]

My pigs aren't used to being outside - there are a lot of strange noises out there and they just freeze. I start them off with 5 mins, then 10 the next day and so on, they have gradually gotten used to it and will munch on grass (always under a safe cover of course) .. but over winter they will totally forget and I'll have to start again. It just takes them ages to get used to things!

 

[CharlieH]

I would give them some more time to settle in. As all the sights and sounds of outside and a new home will take a while to sink in I'd start with the usual just talking to them, offering them food etc!

We have one piggy that's been with us for 4 months now and still bolts when lifted despite loving cuddles when out, it all takes lots of perserverence and time I guess!

Good luck

 

[twiams]

If your piggies aren't used to being on grass please be careful as when they do start eating, the grass is quite rich to a new tummy, and it could make them ill, you should start with putting them in a run for small periods of time and slowly increasing it till they can stay out all the time.

 

[EmilyRose]

Thank you for all the info. I thought I'll just leave them now to settle in and not move them about, just check up on them every now and then.

Thank you all

 

[EmilyRose]

Well since Sunday I have let the new piggies do what they please, at the moment they wont venture out side of the sleeping area in their hutch (well i havent seen them), but they are eatting grass now, i pick some and put it in for them to eat and it always goes .

Though at the moment I'm trying to change their food over, so I'm mixing their food they were eatting before i had them with food I'm trying to put them on, but they are picking the food they use to eat out >.<

My main concern is because I havent seen them go out of the sleeping area I'm worried they aren't drinking from their water bottle

 

[Bobby&Frankie]

My main concern is because I havent seen them go out of the sleeping area I'm worried they aren't drinking from their water bottle

My boys haven't been drinking much, especially recently (i thought they'd stop before) but they do get a lot of water from their food - obviously there's their veg and also it's been raining (at least here) so the grass is going to have a lot.

I wouldn't worry as long as they know where their water is