Keep trying though as they may eventually eat out of your hand if you remain still.Īfter this has been mastered you can attempt to move your hand slowly around their cage. It will take a lot of patience before they approach you to take some food from you. This is due to them having t heir eyes on either side of their head. Guinea pigs hate sudden movement since they can’t see what’s right in front of them. The best way to build trust with your piggie is through food! The way to a guinea pig’s heart is definitely through its stomach! Start by feeding them through the bars and talking to them so they know you are there. Remember we are helping your guinea pigs settle in so it takes time. NEVER DO THIS! It doesn’t help them feel more confident in fact it has the opposite effect and be very damaging. It can be tempting to take away the guinea pigs hideaway so as to “force” them to come out and play. Not sure what Wheeking is? Check out our sounds section! Give them some space Food is a great confidence builder for guinea pigs! It won’t be long until they “wheek” at you every time you open the fridge as ours do! Ours even “wheek” now when we come in from being outside as they expect a treat. They will still get used to your voice and associate it and you with food. You can repeat their name as well as it helps them get used to it.ĭon’t take it personally if they don’t come out to accept the tasty treat. It’s a good idea to talk to them whilst offering a tasty treat like a carrot through the bars. We always talk to ours during the settling-in phase (as well as now!). Make sure you are talking to them in a quiet and gentle way so as not to frighten them. It helps them become familiar with the sound of your voice along with the sound of the food being prepared. Talking to them is a really good way and especially effective when bringing them their meals. This is actually the perfect time to build their confidence so they feel safe and ready to venture out when you’re there. It may seem like you don’t have too much interaction with your new guinea pigs in the first few days. Let Them BeĪ great way for helping your guinea pigs settle in is to build trust and confidence. If you are not sure what to feed your guinea pigs check out our Feeding page. Also, check their cage for pellets (poo) just to ensure they are actually eating and drinking normally. Your guinea pigs will become familiar with the sound of your voice. During this time spend plenty of time talking to them. They pop their heads out of the hiding hole and then start wheeking once they realise it’s only us! It’s normal for piggies to hide for the first few days or weeks. Occasionally our piggies still run for cover when we first approach them as it’s their natural instinct. Guinea pigs remain skittish for a while and some never lose their fleeing instinct. They were actually being very clever piggies and sneaking out at night to eat, drink and have a good run about. I remember when we brought our guinea pigs home and we didn’t think they had eaten or had any water for days! It seemed like they just stayed in their hiding holes and didn’t come out. This is normal guinea pig behaviour and it will take a few weeks or months for it to settle down. It’s typical to think that your guinea pigs aren’t happy if they freeze or spend long periods of time hiding when they first arrive. They should also have hay racks filled with fresh hay and have some food out. This is the first stage for helping your guinea pigs settle in. Guinea pigs also need constant access to fresh water in a bowl or bottle. It needs to be filled with good quality hay and your chosen bedding. You should have already set their cage or hutch up. Once you place your guinea pigs in their new home they will run for cover! Don’t take it personally as guinea pigs are very timid and are used to predators.
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