Wild/ untamed piggy

[Jess565]

We have been to our local shelter and adopted a loan male guinea in hopes for him to bond with our existing guinea Maurice. I'm not going to go into too much detail because there is alot and I'm aware this forum is visible to anyone searching and I don't want to give out bad info.
Our rescue place doesn't do bonding so we have to just take a gamble which I have done twice in the past I am aware of the risks and prepared for it not to work.
Anyway these are the facts;
We have adopted a loan male that is nearly two. His back story and age is unclear and I was given a couple of story's for him. Either way he has had no interaction with people other than food being put in. He has lived with his brother at the rescue for nearly two years. His brother died not to long ago and I felt his age and bereavement made him a good candidate.
I was told he was not used to being handled but I was not prepared for how feral he is!
He is like a wild animal!
I have tried to keep away to help him relax but I have been worried about him with the heat so interacted to give him a cool pad and offer food and water which freaks him out. He has since laid on the cool pad! He is not eating barley anything or drank anything. I have posted him cucumber that looks like it has gone this morning.
I have had guineas for nearly 10 years I have never known one like this. I have been reading up on timid and shy guineas on here but this is like I have put a wild rabbit in a box!
Does anyone have any tips and suggestions to help this poor guy?
I know the an obvious suggestion would be call the rescue back. I'm not sure this would help him tbh.

 

[Siikibam]

He's still new so you need to give him time to settle in. Don't interact with him for now, just make sure the hay is topped up, and pellets (one tablespoon a day) and veg are near his hide. Cover the cage and leave him to settle in for at least 5 days. You can clean out the cage (poo pick) but don't interact with him. If he hasn't been used to human interaction then he's likely to be more scared than others would be.

Only pick up for the weekly weigh and health check. For now if you're approaching the cage then you can speak softly before you get to it, so he can get used to your voice. You can also try some words that will hopefully in future signify something you're going to do - dinner for veg, hay time etc.

Give him time and I think he will be okay eventually. Poor boy!

 

[Wiebke]

We have been to our local shelter and adopted a loan male guinea in hopes for him to bond with our existing guinea Maurice. I'm not going to go into too much detail because there is alot and I'm aware this forum is visible to anyone searching and I don't want to give out bad info.
Our rescue place doesn't do bonding so we have to just take a gamble which I have done twice in the past I am aware of the risks and prepared for it not to work.
Anyway these are the facts;
We have adopted a loan male that is nearly two. His back story and age is unclear and I was given a couple of story's for him. Either way he has had no interaction with people other than food being put in. He has lived with his brother at the rescue for nearly two years. His brother died not to long ago and I felt his age and bereavement made him a good candidate.
I was told he was not used to being handled but I was not prepared for how feral he is!
He is like a wild animal!
I have tried to keep away to help him relax but I have been worried about him with the heat so interacted to give him a cool pad and offer food and water which freaks him out. He has since laid on the cool pad! He is not eating barley anything or drank anything. I have posted him cucumber that looks like it has gone this morning.
I have had guineas for nearly 10 years I have never known one like this. I have been reading up on timid and shy guineas on here but this is like I have put a wild rabbit in a box!
Does anyone have any tips and suggestions to help this poor guy?
I know the an obvious suggestion would be call the rescue back. I'm not sure this would help him tbh.

Hi and welcome!

Please take the time to read the relevant information in the guides and take it slowly. Use the piggy whispering tips and learn how to avoid triggering his overactive prey animal instincts. It is not going to be a quick process. Think about it as project that will take months or even several years. But I promise you that there is nothing sweeter than the moment you realise that your severely traumatised piggy has learned to trust you implicitly!
Here is the access link to the guides that deal with human-cavy interaction: Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide
Here is the access link to understand and read guinea pig behaviours: Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

Please take the time to carefully read the information. I have adopted a number of traumatised or fear-aggressive piggies over the years. With patience and persistence you will get there. Just don't push too hard too soon and take it very slowly.
Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

 

[Jess565]

Thanks guys, I think I felt panicked with him and helpless. I don't like to see a piggy cowering or being too scared to eat. I have also been thinking what have I done by taking him on, I only wanted a friend for Maurice.
He has moved into a carrot cottage tonight where he is half hiding and half keeping an eye out. Maurice has been singing all evening for snacks and I'm sure this must reassure him.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks guys, I think I felt panicked with him and helpless. I don't like to see a piggy cowering or being too scared to eat. I have also been thinking what have I done by taking him on, I only wanted a friend for Maurice.
He has moved into a carrot cottage tonight where he is half hiding and half keeping an eye out. Maurice has been singing all evening for snacks and I'm sure this must reassure him.

Place a towel or sheet over the cage to give him an added feeling of security.

 

[Jess565]

I have coved half the cage up with a blanket and he has some houses to hide in. This morning he poked his head out and watched me refill his fresh food bowl! Which is progress! It also looks like he has started to eat hay and pellets when no one is looking. I was getting so worried he wasn't eating.

 

[Siikibam]

That’s good to hear. Is he eating the veg you put in for him?

 

[Wiebke]

I have coved half the cage up with a blanket and he has some houses to hide in. This morning he poked his head out and watched me refill his fresh food bowl! Which is progress! It also looks like he has started to eat hay and pellets when no one is looking. I was getting so worried he wasn't eating.

He will come out to eat when nobody is there. But it is good that he is starting to settle in. Please take the time to read the guide about prey animal instincts and piggy whispering; it can really make a difference now that he has stopped being freaked out by his new home as I know from my own experiences. If you speak in their own social behaviour and frame work with them and invite them to be a cherished member of your group, you instantly remove yourself from the category of hunting predator and also give your new arrival a social identity they belong to - which is at the heart of how piggies perceive themselves.

 

[Jess565]

That’s good to hear. Is he eating the veg you put in for him?

Yes he is, and this evening he even ventured out when I took his bowl away and he looking quite interested in what was happening.
Maurice has been hanging about under his cage when he's been playing out and sitting over on the side of the cage closest to new guys cage. They can't see each other because of the blanket but I hope there are good vibes being sent to each other!
I am reading through the pig whispering guide to make sure I'm not being too bold with him.

 

[Merab]

Sounds as if he has the best possible chance of a happy life with such a caring owner.
Well done for taking him in.

 

[Betsy]

Well done on taking on such a terrified piggy. With patience he will come round.

 

[Jess565]

I have some positive news about Vinnie, it's nearly been two weeks since he arrived and he is making progress every day! We left him alone for the first week only bothering him to add food, water and fresh hay. Now we get him out once day in a fleece cube so that we can interact with him and clean his bed. He's stopped darting when we are around and will let us stroke him when he's in his bed. He has even taken food from us three times! And yesterday Maurice was mid dinner song and he joined in quietly in the background I have opened up a window so he can see Maurice and I think in the night he's been over to the window as he's left poops and moved a house out of the way! Fingers crossed they have been neighbourly with each other.
The picture was from tonight and is a good sign as he is more in the open here, his other bed is very private and full of hay so he can hide!
I'm surprised he has made so much progress so soon!

 

[Hannah_xx]

Brilliant news! Sounds like you’re doing a great job, well done!

 

[Mother Hubbard]

 

[Shelley anne]

Thats awesome!

 

[piggieminder]

Well done, sounds like you are doing everything right for the little guy. What a wonderful life he's going to have with you.

 

[Jess565]

Ok so this morning this happened, I can honestly say this wouldn't have been possible without the info in the guides on here. You guys and all your knowledge change the quality of the guys lives! Thank you to everyone ♥ (fingers crossed they still like each other when they wake up!)

 

[Siikibam]

Agoutis!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, fingers all crossed, I think they are a match well done you for all your care and patience x

 

[rhymer]

Fingers crossed. Well done for all your patience with a scared piggy. He is going to have a lovely home with you.xx

 

[Merab]

Congratulations.
Sounds like your love and patience have paid off.

 

[Jess565]

I have an update on our new guy and his bonding journey.
We had a hiccup a few weeks ago and we had to separate the boys as Vinnie became very unsettled and was relentlessly humping poor Maurice to the point they both became very reactive when they got close to each other.
They were next to each other just in separate cages.
After a few days they both looked very glum so we reintroduced them and they have been together since and a lot calmer. Although Vinnie had a flare up of humping the other night but calmed down before he pushed Maurice too far!
I'm still working to get him used to us and trying to hold him at least once a day to get him used to being touched. He gets floor time three times a day just with no touching! I have found this bond very hard to judge but they do seem to like each other despite all the noise! They choose to be together and they have space not to be.
Don't let his cute looks fool you he ninja kicks and fights with you if you get close!
He was a seizure by the RSPCA and was rescued from a 'horrific place' our rescue told us so I'm sure he's justified.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, so pleased it’s working out for Maurice and Vinnie, they make a lovely pair, so handsome x

 

[Merab]

Good to hear such positive news.