Worried about my new guinea pig

Sophie76

Sophie76

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 18, 2019
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Location
Sweden
Hi
I am a new guinea pig owner. Three days ago i got my 2 little boys.. Brothers, 6 week old from a good home. They where superscared at first but alreday the day after one of them are from my hand. He seemed a bit bossy with his still scared brother but didnt seem serious. Yesterday the scared one discovered a fleece hidey in the cage and since then i almoast havent seen him! He has eaten some vegetables i put in his hidey but i dont see him out drinking or eating hay at all. I am worried when he is just laying there.. Is it normal behaviour..? :-( BR
 
It definitely sounds like he is settling in. I have two boars and they were fairly outgoing - it didn't take them long to venture out into the cage, but I've recently got a couple of 6 week old sows, Minnie and Ava, and they are very, very nervous in comparison. They haven't been handled so everything is super scary, but they are eating and drinking when I'm not around. Veggies miraculously disappear and the cage looks like it's been hit by a tornado whenever I leave for a few hours. They run straight to their hidey the moment I enter the room and I didn't see them for the first few days, but they are starting to venture out, on day 4, while I'm in the room, even when I'm talking.

Have you thought about covering their cage with a blanket? It works like a big hidey so that they can explore their cage and get used to all the new things without it being too much. You slowly take up each side of the blanket until it's no longer covering the cage. I'm having to go slower with the girls than I did with my boars. At the moment only one half of one side is pulled up, because they don't seem comfortable with more, but it'll take however long is necessary. They're both currently out eating food where I can see them and they can see me.

Also, it probably sounds ridiculous, but I use poo picking time to bond with them. I take everything out of the cage (so I can sweep up thoroughly) and leave them in. And if they want to venture up to me, they can. I stop moving, let them sniff me, let them climb into the dustpan if they want to, talking all the while, and they're already getting braver and checking me and everything out. Apparently old, swept up hay is much tastier than the fresh stuff!

But, yes, it's totally normal behaviour!
 
Hi and thank you for the reply ! I have blankets on the cage roof, it seem to help them. He acctually all of a sudden yesterday started coming out exploring the cage! And now this morning he was not hiding at all when i came in! He and his brother definately have som dominance thing they are working out also :-) A bit early i thought sinne they are only 6 weeks. Hopefully all will be ok now :-)
 
Welcome to the forum
Guinea pigs are prey animals and so can he shy and nervous.
Time, gentleness and patience are key to helping them settle.
Food is good too.
The way to a piggy heart is via the stomach
 
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