Jumble
_
I've had two guinea pigs (were 10 weeks old when got them) for three weeks. Been slowly trying to bring them out of their shells and they were responding. I started gently handling them pretty much straightaway and they would eat etc. whilst in my lap and even take a little bit from my hand (as long as the food extended away from my hand - for e.g. a piece of hay). They were even coming up to my face, once started nibbling at my beard, fingers etc.
The last week though they seem to have regressed. If I take them out they immediately try to turn their backs and they stay dead still. They still sometimes let out the odd purr but it feels like a massive regression. They certainly eat far less and are much less active when in my lap. The only progression seems to be if I put my hand in the cage with a bit of food the one who was most scared initially will come and crawl over my hand, eat from it (again as long as the food is at a distance - piece of hay etc.) though she will come very very close and stay there a while. The lap thing though is a disaster at the moment which is really upsetting as they were making pretty quick progress up until a week ago.
The last week though they seem to have regressed. If I take them out they immediately try to turn their backs and they stay dead still. They still sometimes let out the odd purr but it feels like a massive regression. They certainly eat far less and are much less active when in my lap. The only progression seems to be if I put my hand in the cage with a bit of food the one who was most scared initially will come and crawl over my hand, eat from it (again as long as the food is at a distance - piece of hay etc.) though she will come very very close and stay there a while. The lap thing though is a disaster at the moment which is really upsetting as they were making pretty quick progress up until a week ago.