My new piggie is scared of me :(

[Phoebe_1127]

Hi!

My guinea pig, Blue has been with me for 4 days. It's not quite a long time but it is the first time that I have a guinea pig and that's why I am worried. Blue doesn't let me touch it and will run away when I try to pet it. I did give it some time to settle down and also put a towel over it to make it feel secure. I did try to feed it some hay, Blue ate some of the hay but runs away when he smells me. And how do I know that whether he is depressed or not? I placed him in the living room so it might get very noisy during the day, will this affects it, do I need to place him somewhere else?

I'm sorry for my broken grammar but I am very worried about Blue I did go back to the pet shop to buy the other guinea pig which was close to him when I got him but it was sold

Thanks everyone for reading this

 

[RubysMama]

I'm still a newb here - but, my piggie was a bit nervous with us when she first came home to us as well. I'd say it took a good couple of weeks before she really started to relax around us. Be patient with her, she's in a new place with new smells and its all probably quite scary for her. Make sure she's got all her food and goodies, and just give her some space to get accustomed to everything. Talk to her from outside the cage, without putting your hands in just yet, and let her take a little nibble of her favourite fruit or veggie from your fingers.

She'll get there - just be patient and don't force the handling just yet.

 

[bpatters]

Welcome!

Guinea pigs are skittish, especially when they're in a new place. Drape a blanket over one end of the cage to protect your pig from the house eagles he's sure are flying around. Put the hidey in his cage under the end with blanket, and put his food and water close to it. And be patient. Talk to him often, put your hands in the cage, even if you aren't really doing anything. Let him get used to you.

Here's some reading for new pig owners:

https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/113176-Information-for-new-guinea-pig-owners
https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/107827-What-NOT-to-do-for-your-guinea-pigs!
https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/105287-How-to-teach-a-guinea-pig-to-eat-vegetables

And please don't buy another guinea pig as a buddy. There are thousands of unwanted guinea pigs in rescues and shelters. Pet store pigs are often sold sick, missexed, with parasites, and the baby sows are pregnant. They're bred and raised in awful conditions.

 

[CavyTV]

Yes, please do not buy from pet stores. You are supporting the animal cruelty if you buy from pet stores or breeders. You can get him a male or spayed female friend from a nearby shelter, rescue, or even craigslist. Craigslist always has a lot of unwanted guinea pigs, just make sure to ask the owner lots of questions and make sure he/she isn't a backyard breeder. Getting a 2nd guinea pig can help Blue come out of his shell. Guinea pigs depend on one another for protection and they feel safer in large numbers. When I got a buddy for my pig after his old one passed away a few months before, Flyn started being more active and confidant around me. He had no problem coming up to me.

It's only the 4th day. Give him some time. You don't need to take him to the living room...that will only make him more uncomfortable because he'll be in a place he doesn't know. When I take one of my boys out of their cage and take them to the bathroom for a bath or anywhere else besides their room, I can feel them tense up and freeze in my arms. Once I walk through the door and back into their room, they snap out of it and try to wiggle out of my arms

Give Blue time. Hand feeding is a great taming technique. Take some of his favorite veg and hold it out to him in your hand. He may not take it at first, and you may find yourself having to hold your hand out for a while, but if you do it every day he'll eventually try to walk up to your hand out of curiosity. Once he realizes that you're the "Food Human", he won't be so uncomfortable around you. You want him to associate you with positive things, like food. The best way to a guinea pig's heart is through it's stomach

Every guinea pig is different. Some are confidant right from day one, and some are shy and need a bit of time to fully trust you. One thing I love about guinea pigs is that they have their own unique personalities, just like us. It's fun getting to know them and finding out what they do and do not like. Be patient and he will come around. Once you've developed a positive relationship with your guinea pigs, you'll realize that all of the time and patience was worth it. There's nothing better in the world than having a guinea pig lick your hand or stretch out in your lap and sleep after a long day because it trusts you.

 

[Shieme]

Welcome!

Guinea pigs are skittish, especially when they're in a new place. Drape a blanket over one end of the cage to protect your pig from the house eagles he's sure are flying around. Put the hidey in his cage under the end with blanket, and put his food and water close to it. And be patient. Talk to him often, put your hands in the cage, even if you aren't really doing anything. Let him get used to you.

This is what I did and it worked. Take your time and since Blue is eating a little, that's great.

Sorry everyone jumped on you about store bought piggies. It's too late now since the cagemate is gone but you can still look for a cagemate. Craigs List, local newspapers and shelters. Pet store piggies are a big issue here.

Since Blue looks small and young, make sure he's getting alfalfa and fresh veggies. There is a lot of great information on this site!

Weclome new piggie parent!

 

[CavyTV]

Alfalfa is not a must. A few sprigs of parsley or cilantro everyday will do the trick.

 

[Shieme]

Alfalfa is not a must. A few sprigs of parsley or cilantro everyday will do the trick.

I didn't say alfalfa is a must but since that line is now crossed, hay is a must and you can keep it out 24/7. But I just meant he is small but yeah, there is other ways for calcium.

 

[WonderKitty]

Hey, abut your problem, I've had my guinea pig for a few years and she's completely used to me, and I have some tips. Guinea pigs don't like being wrapped up, so towels are bad ideas. Try letting him sniff your fingers. If you give him some food like lettuce or carrots (not iceberg lettuce, never iceberg) and then pet him, he may come to recognise petting as a good thing. Take it gradually, and remember that he's just scared.