Outdoors....

[custardcream]

Hi,

I know there are A LOT of questions about what I am going to ask, so sorry for being repetitive!

I have had my girls for 10 weeks now and they are 17weeks old. At times I think they're getting tamer, and somedays I think they are going backwards!

Cream now wheeks when I pick her up out of the hutch to go into the run, although I do it everyday. I now know that she is going to be a GP who will not appreciate being picked up and disturbed!

I am beginning to think that they will never be happy around me as they live outside.

Does anyone have GP's which are outside who are tame? And how did you make them that way?!

My other problem is is when I hold them, they go in a cosy and hide deeply into the corners and just seem terrified! Custard makes a chatting noise constantly it's not the same noise that they make when they're together in the run, and it's not a wheek. Because they seem so terrified I only hold them for no more than half hour as I don't want to stress them. Should I just make them sit with me for longer so they get used to it?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!

Alex

 

[Glynis]

Oh love don't worry.......it takes time and loads of patience!
Even now my girls are now....over 17 months they're now being the perfect princesses when i pick them up for snuggle time......before that they were wriggly worms!
Just keep earning their trust, have time set aside that you can relax with them, and have some treaties with you too! Then just enjoy the time they'll allow you.....after all they are the boss
My girls are not outside but downstairs so they do have interaction, but not like the piggies who have 24/7 hooman contact
Is there some way perhaps that you can have them in an indoors run at times? at least for the cooler months? If not just take your time and keep continually going up and chatting to them they'll get used to your voice some piggies tho just will complain rolleyes about being picked up and not like it but that's just their pigsonality

 

[daisyd]

Hi ,

In my experience piggies are almost always skittish and it seems they will never be tame when they are young, but they start to settle down as they grow up. When this happens is different for each pig and as you say some just don't like being picked up/handled, but dont loose heart, it is much to early to tell if your guineas are like this or just still young. My tips would be:

1. Have a routine so they know when to expect handling and when to expect food/hay/veggies etc...
2. Hand feed them greens (like grass and dandelions), whether its through the bars to get them moving forward to see you or when they're on your lap so they're thinking about something other than being scared.
3. Don't cuddle them with a cosey, just have them on your lap on a towel. If they can hide they will and they wont learn that cuddles are fun and involve treats and are not scary.
4. Don't give up! keep handling them and I'm sure they will come round. About 30min is fine. I think little and often is better than long long cuddles, guineas don't like weeing on people and often get wiggly/struggle when they need to go back for the toilet so look out for that behaviour.

I have 2 boys outside and 8 other piggies inside. The boys are just as friendly and placid as the others, but it maybe takes longer for them to come round as there is the initial fright when you go out to the hutch of a shaddow approaching. You could try and call out to them whenever you go to feed them so the first thing they know is breakfast is coming etc... and are anticipating seeing you, rather than being spooked.

Good luck... tasty veggie treats is always the way to a guinea pigs heart!

 

[custardcream]

Is there some way perhaps that you can have them in an indoors run at times? at least for the cooler months? If not just take your time and keep continually going up and chatting to them they'll get used to your voice some piggies tho just will complain rolleyes about being picked up and not like it but that's just their pigsonality

Thank you! I know it takes time, and I will try and keep at it! I was just thinking today if it was because they are outside?! I am hoping to bring them inside when it gets colder, heaven knows what they'll be like in the house! rolleyes

The funny thing is when they're out in the run they will carry on eating and chatting away when my dog or cat comes out and wanders round, but when I come and sit down by the run they scarper off! Do they not know not to "bite" the hand that feeds them?!

Thanks for your help/advice!

 

[custardcream]

1. Have a routine so they know when to expect handling and when to expect food/hay/veggies etc...
2. Hand feed them greens (like grass and dandelions), whether its through the bars to get them moving forward to see you or when they're on your lap so they're thinking about something other than being scared.
3. Don't cuddle them with a cosey, just have them on your lap on a towel. If they can hide they will and they wont learn that cuddles are fun and involve treats and are not scary.
4. Don't give up! keep handling them and I'm sure they will come round. About 30min is fine. I think little and often is better than long long cuddles, guineas don't like weeing on people and often get wiggly/struggle when they need to go back for the toilet so look out for that behaviour.


Good luck... tasty veggie treats is always the way to a guinea pigs heart!

Thank you for your tips!

I will try not having the cosy tonight, and see how they get on. I was just told that this will stop them from being so scared when on my lap.

One will eat when sitting on my lap, and the other hides and pretends she's not there!

I think time will tell! My Mum thinks they are just spoilt drama queens and they do not like doing what they don't want to do! |)

Thanks again!