Looking after my brothers guinea pig

[kimael]

My brother has just recently gone on holiday and left his Guinea pig, Nuggi, with me and my girlfriend. Neither of us have had pets before but have a general idea from what he said, keeping in mind he is only 12 I thought to ask for advice however.

Yesterday night when we received him he was quiet and would run away and hide upon contact, I presumed this was due to the action of moving him for the first time and gave him time to settle in where after I got him to eat some Spinach late at night.

After coming home from work and being ready to sit down and talk to him again he is however, incredibly jumpy...
I am not sure if this is due to "Popcorning" Or if he is scared of me, he has been jumping around in his cage for the past 30 minutes but freezes and runs upon touch, he will readily smell me and accept food from me but runs after.

Is this normal behaviour from Guinea pigs?

If not so, how do i ensure him that I am in fact not dangerous and will only pet / play with him?


Thank you for any help! Sorry if this is the wrong section, Never posted on a place like this before  

[3piggles]

Popcorning us sort of a spastic hop/jump/kick/twist movement that varies from pig to pig, and means the pig is happy. Most pigs run from being picked up because they are prey animals. First our hands come at them like predators, then we confine them so they can't escape, and finally we lift them off thr surface where their feet could have gotten any purchase to help them escape. Terrifying from their perspective. Try using a box, basket or overturned house with a cloth or towel inside, as a conveyance. Let him get in, then lift him out in it. He won't feel trapped and scared.

[jolovespiggies]

Piggies vary a great deal in personality love, I have two, one who always runs away when he thinks he is going to be picked up and his wife who runs up to us. 3Piggles is spot on with her advice as the poor little things are at the bottom of the food chain.

Hugs
JO xx

[kimael]

Hey 3piggles, thanks for the reply!

I haven't tried lifting him yet as I thought he might be rather terrified of me in the first days, was meaning as in "petting" or such. That was however great advice and will probably try that later! Thanks

[kimael]

Thank you Jo, only ever "played" with one other guinea pig when I was very young, which was much more tame I suppose, my only worry is that I'm scaring the bejeebus out of him, but I suppose we'll have to get used to one another!

[Bean]

Hello and welcome - sounds like little Nuggi is in safe holiday hands! He's had a little time to settle in so handling him will definitely help now - he'll get used to you and all your sounds/ movements. Just make sure he has a hidey in his cage so he can retreat to it to feel safe if he needs to. And bits of veggies are excellent bribes to get new pigs to interact with you!

Here's a video with a few popcorns on (made me chuckle watching it!) - does it look like that?

[jolovespiggies]

You are welcome love, they do take time to settle. Oh Bean thanks for the adorable video.

Hugs
Jo xx

[kimael]

He definitely seems more relaxed today and we have been able to coax him out of his hiding spot with toilet rolls "filled" with vegetables and such. We've also been able to hold him with him being more relaxed today, I can't say I wasn't panicking either yesterday

Slightly less jumpy but some some extent it's quite similar, only had dogs in the past so I'm a bit unused to smaller animals!

Anywhom, we're slowly making friends and he looks a lot more settled in! Thanks for all the answers!

[Bean]

Looking after an animal you're not used to can be very strange at first. So many people I know are very wary of our guineas at first - how they move, worrying if they might bite or if you're accidentally hurting them. But you soon find out what loveable lumps they are! Sounds like you're both doing great and I bet the veg filled rolls went down a treat.

Glad you liked the video Jo - I just love the head-twisting jumps, they're my absolute fave!

[3piggles]

To pet him, just put your hand in the cage at his eye. Let him come to the hand and snuff it a few times. Then try to pet his nose, cheeks, etc. It's about gaining his trust. He'll always run away, but it's instinctive, no about you personally.

[jolovespiggies]

I never get tired of looking at them Bean love, I could watch it all day. I think you are getting there Kimael hun, he is starting to trust you.

Hugs
Jo xx

[margaret6]

What a lovely film of piggies popcorning, my piggies only seem to popcorn when I come with treats these days......and that's because I keep crinkling the pag and speaking o them. They used to popcorn lots, do you think it naturally becomes less as they get older? X

[3piggles]

Morty popcorns most when I clean the cage, especially if I use the vacuum

[jolovespiggies]

I think it is mostly baby piggiew who popcorn love which is why it is so wonderful for us to see when they do it as grown ups.

Hugs
JO xx

[Bean]

They definitely do it a lot more as babies in my experience - as adults, chilling out becomes increasingly important to pigs. Mine still popcorn a bit, mostly when they think they're getting fed or go back to a cleaned/ newly arranged cage. But as babies they'd just fling themselves about for no reason numerous times a day.

[cookie72]

Mine only popcorned when they were young. I'd say in the first 2 years or so. I miss it cause it's so adorable!

[jolovespiggies]

Sorry hun, it is adorable. Not all of mine have done it as grown ups.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

Mia only tends to popcorn when I've put in fresh fleece. Then she goes nuts. Morty and Momo popcorn more often, but not the way youngsters do.