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Post by piggygrandma on Oct 8, 2009 17:53:11 GMT
My daughter has 2 female guinea pigs. We have had the first for almost 4 months and just introduced her to a new piggie (8 weeks old). They seem to be getting along fine, however, the older piggie has become quite fearful when we try to pick her up. She had finally gotten very tame and let us pick her up with ease, but now has reverted to this behavior. She runs around the cage and chatters her teeth but is content once we do get her out. The baby is of course very nervous and hard to catch as well and squeaks loudly. I guess my question is the older one afraid because the little one is even though it wasn't before and will she calm down again in time? Also, any tricks for catching a running guinea pig?? Thanks in advance  |
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Post by newpig on Oct 8, 2009 18:38:53 GMT
It's normal to see some slight change in behaviour for a while after introducing a new member to the herd. I've never seen my older piggys revert like this but then the most dominant of them are quick to show their dominance. Give them time and cuddles, watch them eat and drink to make sure they are all getting their fair share and no-one being bullied.
What sort and size of cage are using, do you have more than one hidey, water bottle food bowl etc?
My ways of picking up the piggies are to talk to them, saying come on lets check nails, have a cuddle etc. Put one hand in front of the piggy, one hand round the piggys middle and then bring the hand from the front to the back to scoop the piggy up. Bring them close to you quickly so they feel secure. When they were very young and squirmy I used the pigloos to carry them in - I just put my hand over the pigloo but think someone mentioned recently about putting a towel over the pigloo which seems like a good idea.
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Post by Pigjes on Oct 9, 2009 7:18:32 GMT
When a piggie runs when you try to get hold, it can also help to drop a small towel over them, so you can pick them up easily. Or corner them, so you can get hold of them.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 9, 2009 16:46:36 GMT
You can also remove their hiding places so they know there's no point in running into one. I find approaching them from the front, at their level, with the hand that's going to hold them while I scoop up a piggy butt, helps. They are less intimidated by that than by a hand that attacks from above. Just start far enough in front of them to to a side that they can see your hand coming.
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