Why Would A Guinea Pig Nip When You Carry Her?

[Clair]

One of our Guinea pigs nips when you carry her from the cage to the run or carry her anywhere. She is quite a scaredy pig and out of all our piggies she hides the most and when you put food in the run she'll grab it when she thinks you're not looking and run into a hidey hole with it to eat. She purrs if I hold her and stroke her and she always seems happy for me to handle and stroke her otherwise. It's just when she's carried she nips and scrapes her teeth on my arm or she'll try to chew my watch strap.

I guess maybe she's scared of heights or doesn't like the feeling of being carried but I just wondered if anyone had a view on this?

Thanks

 

[Pebble]

My guinea pigs only ever nip me when they are in pain - from mites, stones or something else. I take them to an experienced vet for a checkover.

 

[Clair]

She's perfectly healthy. She has just done it ever since we got her. It's never changed, it's the way she is. I thought if we kept handling her she might get used to it but her behaviour has never changed.

 

[maxdawn]

My boy was just the same, he would try and tip me. This want on for about 6months. Then one day I saw a video showing on here showing how to use a cuddle cup to pick pigs up. my boy is a lot happier being picked up in a cuddle cup. I have used this method with my 2 girls too. All 3 of my pigs now come up to my hand and let me stroke them when their in their cage. My hands aren't scary now.

 

[Wiebke]

She may not like being picked up and carried, as that cuts very close to prey animal instincts. I would try to train her to come into covered conveyance of some sort where she can feel safer. I have a piggy who nips when I pick her up; it is quite obviously a habit of her as she came with it.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/videos/

 

[AbiS]

Barney does the same to me if I am carrying him out to his run. He starts off ok then as soon as I get him outside to the lawn he starts nibbling as if to say 'come on mum, hurry up. I want grass!'

 

[Caviequeen]

it might be because she hurts somewhere or that shes telling you she really hates you carrying her

 

[shyskinnygirl]

My piggy's are about 4 months old and they nip sometimes too when I pick them up. Sometimes I think they think my fingers are food. If I am standing and holding them they are usually fine and cuddle into my arm but if I have my Tiger in my hand and he sees his cage boy he goes crazy and tries to get free from my hands.

 

[BPM7]

My 2 males do this whilst my female is fine with it, guinea pigs are pray animals, this is normal