When should new Guineas go into the playpen

[Bigsize9fot]

Hi,

We’ve just rescued 2 girls about a year old. They are very scared and skittish. I think I’ve worked out the dominant one (Betty) she spends most of her time hidden under the cage platform. The bolder Tilly will come out a bit more. Neither like to be touched or lifted yet.
I was just wondering when might be the right time to put them in the playpen? If I take the platform out the cage they will move about happily for a bit and then for no reason become very unsettled and Betty starts having a go at Tilly. Occasionally they will take veg from our hands.

I'm aware it’s a long process to get them to trust them but wasn’t sure about the playpen while Betty still doesn’t venture out from
Under the platform yet (although my daughter says she comes out when she’s in her bed at night)

 

[Betsy]

How long have you had them for? Have you covered part of their cage/run with a blanket to make them feel safe?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

We’ve just rescued 2 girls about a year old. They are very scared and skittish. I think I’ve worked out the dominant one (Betty) she spends most of her time hidden under the cage platform. The bolder Tilly will come out a bit more. Neither like to be touched or lifted yet.
I was just wondering when might be the right time to put them in the playpen? If I take the platform out the cage they will move about happily for a bit and then for no reason become very unsettled and Betty starts having a go at Tilly. Occasionally they will take veg from our hands.

I'm aware it’s a long process to get them to trust them but wasn’t sure about the playpen while Betty still doesn’t venture out from
Under the platform yet (although my daughter says she comes out when she’s in her bed at night)

Hi!

Give your piggies time to become more confident in their new home. There is no rush.

It can help to cover the cage and the run at first with a sheet or blanket to give your piggies more of a feeling of security (open spaces scream danger). This will encourage them to explore more and to be out and about more. Make sure that the area over the hay tray is covered to encourage them to eat plenty of hay (which should make around 80% of what they eat in a day; it is the mainstay, not veg).

When you finally start using the run, fit it out with fleeces that have been scent-marked by your girls in their cage and also use their furnishings to mark the run clearly as part of their territory. Guinea pigs are territorial and have a much stronger sense of smell than we humans so we tend to overlook the importance of it.

 

[Bigsize9fot]

Thanks. We are a week in now and we are making some progress. Tilly is quite often out but will bolt at sudden movements or loud noises. She will return veg from our hands and let us stroke her and today i managed to lift her.
Betty is still very nervous and rarely comes out unless no one is about or my daughter is asleep or their is veg on the go. Occasionally I can manage a quick stroke of her head but she quite often chatters her teeth at me.
Oddly they both seem more secure when they don’t have the platform in the cage to hide under? They spend a lot more time exploring and being bold.
Cage was covered for a few days but I’ve taken it off now.
Today they went into their run and seemed happy to explore and go through the tunnels. We only have them 10 mins.
pleased with Tilly’s progress but slightly worried about Betty still being so hidden away after a week.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks. We are a week in now and we are making some progress. Tilly is quite often out but will bolt at sudden movements or loud noises. She will return veg from our hands and let us stroke her and today i managed to lift her.
Betty is still very nervous and rarely comes out unless no one is about or my daughter is asleep or their is veg on the go. Occasionally I can manage a quick stroke of her head but she quite often chatters her teeth at me.
Oddly they both seem more secure when they don’t have the platform in the cage to hide under? They spend a lot more time exploring and being bold.
Cage was covered for a few days but I’ve taken it off now.
Today they went into their run and seemed happy to explore and go through the tunnels. We only have them 10 mins.
pleased with Tilly’s progress but slightly worried about Betty still being so hidden away after a week.

A week is nothing. Please be patient. Pet shop piggies have only minimal human contact before they are being thrust into a totally new, complex and frightening environment where they are expected to very quickly function as trusting pets. It doesn't quite work like that - especially not with the timid ones whose prey animal instincts are still running high.

Please take the time to read these quide links here so you can understand more where your piggies are coming from and how you can work around it in a way that makes much more sense to your guinea pigs. You should find them very interesting!
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

All these links are part of our much more extensive practical New Owner's information collection, which you may hopefully find a very useful resourse. I would recommend to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need.

 

[Free Ranger]

When you reach to stroke them they think they are going to be grabbed so bring your hand in from one side rather than top down. They don't really like being patted on top of the head like a dog or cat might. Try a gentle finger to the side of the cheek after they've taken a bit of veggie, or even a stroke under the chin. If you hit their sweet spot they lift their head for you to stroke. If they move their head away just respect that for now - they will get used to you. Trust is hard won but very rewarding - and veggie food bribes are your way in!

I have modified my tray cages (quite a lot over the years!) and I decided not to use the shelf with top and side as it meant there was only one way in and out of an enclosed space. This works with a well bonded pair but if there is a squabble someone can get trapped at the back. Rather than remove the whole shelf I just took off the side and replaced it with a pegged bit of towel/fleece so they can push in and out like a tent. Some shelves are fully moulded but some come in 2 bits. This allows them to hide but also is a bit more flexible: check that if one sits on top it doesn't squash the other though! Here's a pic. Enjoy your girls!

 

[Bigsize9fot]

Thanks everyone!
I’ve read the guides but sometimes it’s good to get some personalised reassurance.
The girls are rescued and we don’t know their background. Will keep going as we are as making slow progress. I was more concerned about when they should get into the playpen as they seem to like open space bizarrely enough!
I'm not keen on the platform either so think I might adapt this too.