My guineas seem really scared!

**happimommaof2** · #1 10-05-05, 11:57 am

I adopted two female guineas about a year old, and my thing is they dont seem like they have had much contact with humans. Is this normal? And if not what can I do to help them not be so scared? The lady I got them from said that they were inside pets but when I got there cage from her yesterday it was so nasty it took me about 2 1/2 hours to clean and there is still stains on it. And she told me it is falling apart because of the weather, so obvisouly (sp?) they have been outside pets. Any suggestions? Oh by the way we are going to make them a new cage hopefully this weekend!! I want to be able to hold them and love on them but I am worried it might make it worse, am I thinking wrong?
Thanks
Amanda

**cavy-cool-crazy** · #2 10-05-05, 12:15 pm

As you adopted the girls then it is definitely possible that they haven't had much contact with humans, and so are scared at the abnormal amount of human care they are receiving. Just speak and move slowly and gently when in the same room as the pigs and just give them time to come around to the idea of human interaction.
By just giving them both 5 minute cuddles each day you will teach them that you are a good person and that you will love them and care for them much better than their previous owner did.

**C&K** · #3 10-05-05, 12:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by happimommaof2

I adopted two female guineas about a year old, and my thing is they dont seem like they have had much contact with humans. Is this normal? And if not what can I do to help them not be so scared? The lady I got them from said that they were inside pets but when I got there cage from her yesterday it was so nasty it took me about 2 1/2 hours to clean and there is still stains on it. And she told me it is falling apart because of the weather, so obvisouly (sp?) they have been outside pets. Any suggestions? Oh by the way we are going to make them a new cage hopefully this weekend!! I want to be able to hold them and love on them but I am worried it might make it worse, am I thinking wrong?
Thanks
Amanda

Sounds like they need some socalization. The best thing to do is to put them in a part of the house that is very active. Don't shelter them too much by keeping them in a quiet room, outside of maybe the first few days with you. The more they see of the family the better. However provide a hidy house for them to get away if needed. Even a small box can work. I made Barbie a temporary one out of a box lid.

My one girl was really wild when we got her, at the shelter the one girl would not even pick her up she was too aftraid. I think she was over reacting, but she certainly did come out kicking and screaming. In just 13 days she has become very tame. She was also terribly neglected when brought in, her fur was so matted they had to shave most of her.

Set aside a few periods a day when things are calm to take her out. Calmly but firmly get her out of the cage, wrap her up in a towel for security, and place her in your lap. Late night converastion or tv time works good for this. Pet and stroke her very gentely and provide a lettuse leaf or carrot to nibble on. This will make lap time positive. Once you have gotten used to handling one, you can probably have both on your lap. Some people recommend getting a small cat bed or cozy or even pillow to place them on incase they pee and also make them more secure. I know my Boots was raised with a pillow at lap time, and she will sit on it for hours.

Perhaps for your daughter, get a small dollar store basket and put a blanket in in. Place both pigs in so they have company and let her gentally stroke the pigs in a calm fashion, again with some veggies, and that should help them calm down. Make human contact time a calm positive experiance, and don't be surprised if it takes a month or so to really calm down. I have had Boots for a month now and only now is she letting us catch her laying down.

Also, being pray animals, many never like to be "caught" and will always run when trying to pick them up, but this does not mean they don't want to snuggle. Swooping in from on top does not help either with this.

What are your cage plans? I know I asked this before, are you going with a C&C?

**happimommaof2** · #4 10-05-05, 12:43 pm

I am pretty sure we are going to go with a C&C. My hubbit (hehehe) is very handy so this will be perfect for him and of course them. Now see I tried giving them an apple today and they wont even eat it, do you know what that means?
Thanks
Amanda

**C&K** · #5 10-05-05, 12:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by happimommaof2

I am pretty sure we are going to go with a C&C. My hubbit (hehehe) is very handy so this will be perfect for him and of course them. Now see I tried giving them an apple today and they wont even eat it, do you know what that means?
Thanks
Amanda

Not eating the apple means that the poor things don't even recognize it as food. Are they eating any lettuce? Fruits are once in awhile treats, but I would suggest adding them in with foods that they do recognize, say give a couple pieces of lettuce and then an apple slice. Also is the apple cut up? A large whole apple may overwhelm an inexperianced scared pig.

Give them a few days, offer a lot of stuff, mine like somethings, not others. Yours will too.

I can't wait to get my C&C built too :-)

**C&K** · #6 10-05-05, 12:50 pm

They are eating other things though right?

**happimommaof2** · #7 10-05-05, 12:56 pm

yea there pellets! aaaagggghhh I am so upset because it is so sad to think how they might of lived. On the peppers are green bell peppers ok? And oranges are ok right? I do have a funny story though, I went to get them some more fruits and vegetables today, and my son said "how about bannanas?" I told him "No I dont think they like bannanas" So as we were walking off he says "Well I guess you dont want to buy them for me then do you?" I felt so bad I forgot that he loves bannanas (sp? I know I'm spelling this wrong) so needless to say I bought my son bannanas. (hehehe)

Thanks
Amanda

**happimommaof2** · #8 10-05-05, 01:00 pm

I was also going to ask isnt lettuce bad for them or can it cause diahreea(sp?) (oh yeah I spelled that one wrong). The lady I got them from said that even the romaine lettuce upsets there tummy or gives them diahreea(sp?

). I am thinking maybe I should forget everything she has told me obvioulsy she really has no idea!
Thanks
Amanda

**TheMadWheeker** · #9 10-05-05, 01:08 pm

Romaine and pretty much ANY lettuce is fine EXCEPT ICEBURG!!!

**happimommaof2** · #10 10-05-05, 01:10 pm

Oh THANK YOU!!!!

That is nice to know. I will get them some lettuce than.
Thanks
Amanda

Quote:

Originally Posted by New2Cavys

Romaine and pretty much ANY lettuce is fine EXCEPT ICEBURG!!!

**happimommaof2** · #11 10-05-05, 01:26 pm

Also they are in a very active place, we put there cage in the childrens play room, so the piggies do get there entertainment but yet they also get quiet time. And actually right now the kids are banned from playing in there until they get it picked up.

always
Amanda

**C&K** · #12 10-05-05, 01:54 pm

Green bell peppers are a great food for everyday, along with romaine endive and a small baby carrot per pig. Other things are good every couple days, dandylion leaves 2-3 leaves 2-3 times a week. Iceburg is the only lettuce to watch out for. I am thinking that if the pigs got the runs from romaine in the past, it was probably less the romaine and more the consistant bad diet they had. I would throw everything out the other woman said as far as advice goes.

As for where they are, it sounds like a good place to be. If you find that they are not getting enough interaction though moving them temporary to another room may be an idea. However C&C cages are not exactly known for their transportability.

**happimommaof2** · #13 10-05-05, 02:27 pm

Thanks this is really alot of help. I will take 5 minutes a night with each piggie when the kids go to bed, and I will hold them because I know when the kids are awake it is constant excitment and between the kids and the dog.
Take care
Amanda

**C&K** · #14 10-05-05, 02:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by happimommaof2

Thanks this is really alot of help. I will take 5 minutes a night with each piggie when the kids go to bed, and I will hold them because I know when the kids are awake it is constant excitment and between the kids and the dog.
Take care
Amanda

If once picked up they seem to be enjoying it, it would be a good idea to extend that 5 minutes. I would suggest only keeping it at 5 minutes if they really protest once in your lap with a blanket or towel to cozy into. Some people advocate using a towel and wrapping them kind of like you do with a newborn to increase the sence of security.

**cavy-cool-crazy** · #15 10-05-05, 03:15 pm

The pigs are getting unlimited hay? I just didn't see it in the posts when you were talking about what they were eating. Bell peppers, lettuces, chard, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and cilantro are good dailies. Parsley usually goes down well every other day too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavies-and-Kids

However C&C cages are not exactly known for their transportability.

My 4 level cage managed to be loaded onto a removals truck, unloaded, reloaded, shipped across the Irish sea, loaded onto another truck then finally unloaded at my new house and it did OK.

**happimommaof2** · #16 10-05-05, 03:31 pm

Oh yeah they love there hay! I will start the holding tonight. I just did not want to make it worse, I wanted to be sure that is what they needed so thank you!!!!!
Take Care
Amanda

**C&K** · #17 10-05-05, 04:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavy-cool-crazy

My 4 level cage managed to be loaded onto a removals truck, unloaded, reloaded, shipped across the Irish sea, loaded onto another truck then finally unloaded at my new house and it did OK.

I was not implying they can't be moved.. Only that moving a C&C from one room to another all the time by yourself would not be very easy compared to other cages.

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