Behavior Bonding with Guinea Pigs, update, advice needed

[PrimeDelta]

Hello, I am making an update post on the female guinea pigs that we got 2 months ago.

We started making progress with Cocoa and Cinnamon. They are very comfortable in their cage.
After keeping up with lap time and feeding them, they now are starting to get comfortable being on my lap, getting pets and snuggles, chutting away.
But it's been a few weeks now and it feels like we have hit a road block. They will come on my lap, but accepting food from my hand is still a very scary thing.
They also want to be together all the time, but Cocoa keeps starting fights with Cinnamon at random moments when I snuggle them together and try to feed them.

Any ideas on what I can do to train them to accept food more easily from me? And what can I do about the fighting, I know Cocoa is the dominant piggie (though they seem to still be swapping constantly, or at least fighting over it), but at times Cocoa will just chase Cinnamon around not letting her rest anywhere for a while. They won't do actual damage to each other, but they do argue a lot.

If anyone has any advice, I would love for you to let me know <3

 

[*savs*]

I think just sitting with them and letting them come to you might help. If they keep fighting you can try one on one time with them. I would also suggest leaving food near you and letting them come get then try hand feeding. Hope this helps.

 

[Anawilliam850]

It's great to hear that Cocoa and Cinnamon are getting comfortable with you and your lap time routine. Here are some suggestions to help with your current challenges:

1. Training them to accept food from your hand: You can start by offering them small bits of their favorite veggies or fruits in the palm of your hand. Place your hand in their cage, and let them come to you. Don't force them to take the food, but let them approach and take it at their own pace. Repeat this exercise regularly until they become more comfortable with taking food from your hand. You can also try placing the food on a spoon or feeding stick and gradually bring it closer to your hand until they take it directly from you.
2. Managing the fighting: Guinea pigs establish a hierarchy, but it's essential to ensure they both feel safe and comfortable in their environment. Try giving them more space by adding extra hideouts or tunnels in their cage, so they can have their own separate areas. When you do lap time with them, you can start by keeping them a bit apart and then gradually bring them closer together as they seem to tolerate each other. Watch their body language closely and intervene if you see signs of aggression, like biting or loud teeth chattering.