Some Questions From A New Guinea Pig Owner.

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Matt Pantaliano

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This is the second day having my Guinea Pigs and am worried that they hate me or don't trust me. My small black one, Pixel has taken lettuce and carrots from my fingers but always hides in a corner. My other black one with a white crest, Tess, runs away and they both either stay in the corner or in their little igloo hideaway. Also, Pixel follows around Tess and Tess will turn around and almost headbutt Pixel. What do I do about these problems?
 
Hi matt. Welcome to the forum. I am amazed pixel is taking food from you already! Guinea pigs are prey animals and very nervous. It takes them time to settle in to a new environment and then to start to trust humans. Do you have enough hideys so they do not have to share? This will prevent any fighting. They should have their own food bowl, water bottle etc. this link will help you to settle them in,
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

With guinea pigs one is dominant and will show this by mounting, chasing or nipping. This is nothing to worry about. If you go to the behaviour section you will learn more.
 
Hi :wel:to the forum..

Have a look at this thread, http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/ Hopefully it will put your mind at rest, as Guinea pigs are pray animals it will take time until they feel they can trust you.

Are your piggies both girls ?

We have loads of great care guides on the forum in each of the separate sections. Please feel free to ask any questions you may may have, just start a thread in the appropriate section and await answers from our friendly members.

In the meantime can you please add your location to your profile as it helps fellow members give any answers to questions you may have that may be area/country specific. This can be done by clicking on your username, then personal details, then add location......

Lisa & Ali..
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. Give your piggies time to settle. Some take long then others, but your on the right track with hand feeding them goodies. Don't force it, just take it slow and they will come around x
 
Hi Matt, hello and welcome to the forum. What you are experiencing is normal, you have to give your girls time to settle into their new environment and get used to you. The fact that Pixel has taken food from you is a good sign, keep offering food to Tess and she may take it. Guinea pigs are prey animals and are very flighty, its their survival instinct. Give them places they can hide, a cardboard box with holes in is ideal or a tunnel that they can run through.
At the top of every forum there are very informative stickies covering all sorts of Piggie topics
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/ . This one should get you started.
If you have a problem this is the place to come as there are a lot of very experienced and knowledgeable piggie people ( not me!) Who are very generous with their time and info.
Hope this helps.
 
We are new guinea owners too - my boys began taking food from my kids during lap times after about 3 days which I though was quite quick. They don't come out of their bedroom or hidey very much yet either unless there is something very tasty on offer!
 
Hi and welcome!

Guinea pigs are first and foremost prey animals and need time to get their bearings; they are not born as cuddly toys. Most shop or breeder piggies have had very little if any humna interaction before.

In addition to a new life, they are also busy establishing their own new group with a working hierarchy. What you are seeing is perfectly normal and mild dominance behaviour for this stage.

Here are some more links which you may find helpful in addition to the one you have already been given:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
Pick-up video from our tutorial video section on the top bar: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/videos/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

We have got lots of information at the top of our various Care sections which you may find interesting, but you are welcome to ask any questions you may have.

With members from all over the world, we find it very helpful in always giving you the correct advice and recommendations for your part of the world straight away if you added your country, state or (for the UK) your county/city to your details. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personals details and scroll down to location. Thanks!
 
piggyfan said:
Hi matt. Welcome to the forum. I am amazed pixel is taking food from you already! Guinea pigs are prey animals and very nervous. It takes them time to settle in to a new environment and then to start to trust humans. Do you have enough hideys so they do not have to share? This will prevent any fighting. They should have their own food bowl, water bottle etc. this link will help you to settle them in,
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

With guinea pigs one is dominant and will show this by mounting, chasing or nipping. This is nothing to worry about. If you go to the behaviour section you will learn more.
Click to expand...

lisaali said:
Hi :wel:to the forum..

Have a look at this thread, http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/ Hopefully it will put your mind at rest, as Guinea pigs are pray animals it will take time until they feel they can trust you.

Are your piggies both girls ?

We have loads of great care guides on the forum in each of the separate sections. Please feel free to ask any questions you may may have, just start a thread in the appropriate section and await answers from our friendly members.

In the meantime can you please add your location to your profile as it helps fellow members give any answers to questions you may have that may be area/country specific. This can be done by clicking on your username, then personal details, then add location......

Lisa & Ali..
Click to expand...

Alright. Well first, yes my guinea pigs are girls. Thanks for the answers this quickly, I forgot to say that Pixel let me pick her up and she always goes on my back under my shirt and does a purring noise. At the time of writing this they are in the corner of their cage huddled up together so it is just worrying me. I am going to check out the guides I was told to check out and see what hideout places I can make DIY style.
 
Upturned cardboard boxes make good hides for piggies, even better when stuffed with hay.. :D
 
You can also improvise with an old hankie or two pegged to the cage bars! ;)
 
All sounds normal. I feel after the first few days handle them frequently. I found with ours it helped them settle down quite quickly and brought about their trust. They are in the busiest part of my home, lots of noise, kids, dogs ect. They sleep outside their hideys now and not much seems to bother them. They do purrr a little when the dogs bark, but just seem more annoyed than scared lol.

There so much fun and it's so nice when you get to where they'll snuggle up on you kick their back legs out and relax and maybe even have a nap.

It's like YES! FINALLY! But it takes time and a lot of work and gentle handling and LOTS of TREATS! :)
We have 3 girls!
Angela
 
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