Scared in the run

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bubble&squeak4ever

bubble&squeak4ever

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Hi everyone,
I brought my guinea pigs a run recently and they went into it for the first time yesterday. They have also been out in it this morning. I put a 2 hidey houses in for them and all they will do is just sit in the houses and wont come out for ages. Is there anyway i can make them feel safer or is just a case of waiting until they get used to it?
Thanks XX
 
They will get used to it in time. We are babysitting a guinea pig while relatives are on holiday,we put him in a run with his pigloo and he hid in there all the time. After a couple of days he started venturing out,especially when he saw our own elderly guinea pig Ben, who has the run of the garden while we sit out with him. Only a week gone by now and the guinea pig we are babysitting (Benji) walks round his run eating grass and popcorning about,even laying down when Ben lays the other side of his run. Maybe put some dandelion leaves just outside their house to encourage them to venture out as well.
 
Ok thanks,
They have been venturing out a tiny bit which is good! I have been putting some veggies on the grass so that they have to come out to get them. Thanks for your help! xx
 
If there is anything i have learned about GP psychology from my 2 ladies, it's that - provide the chance to hide and convince them there is something to fear! Years ago I had to put the ladies out whilst I cleaned them out. I gave them hides, tunnels, houses, run space - you name it.. an adventure playground.. and they stayed stuck in a house the entire 6 hours. WHAT? The next week I asked my OH to let them out whilst I cleaned the cage again.. Figuring he'd seen me set up the playpen before I thought he'd copy it...

nope.. he gave them food and a tunnel and a bunch of chews. mallethead I love him.. but, well..

However, to my surprise the ladies were climbing all over the place.. popcorning, chatting, munching and wouldnt run away when you walked past.. instead they would come over. At first I figured maybe they were so bored they couldnt relax.. another part of me wondered if they were aware of the fact they couldnt hide so had to stay alert.. whatever the logic.. I added the plethora of houses and such and they really didnt care. They kept playing and slept out.

Maybe start them off without a house.. sit with them and play, explore the corners with food etc. so they can check the place out with you.. then add their hides before you leave.. That way if they are nervous of the cage you've walked them through it and they've had fun.. but if they want to snooze once you're gone they know they have somewhere safe :)

But if they spend the whole time nervous and freaked out it may be better to give them the hides and let them work it out on their own. They gotta get hungry at some point :P but I know you wouldnt ever force them to stay out in the open when they obviously arent comfy like that!
 
Thanks, that was a lot of help. Might try that next time they are out! Although I did try it this when they first went in it and all they did was hide in the corner although this was probably because it was their first time! Thanks for your help XX
 
:)

the only thing I would stress is that it will always depend on the piggy :) .. in your company you have the chance of distracting them from ..'the fear'... playing games with my ladies when they have new space always helps them explore quicker and reduces the chances of them freezing up the next time they go in without me.. time and fun are the key :D
 
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