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General Need help! What should I do??

veslex

Active Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
27
Both of my Guinea Pigs don't really move that much. They'll come out every now and then for some hay, and then one would chase the other for a bit, and then they would both go back to their hidey holes. One of them naps a lot, and the other one is bored out of his mind cause the other one is napping.

What can I do to keep them entertained? I want to give them floor time but I can't pick them up quite yet, unless i forcefully pick them up. I don't like to use force though, because then they get scared of me.

I'm still getting them to gradually trust me. Can't quite pet them without them zipping across the cage into their hidey hole.

Any thoughts on how I can entertain them and keep them active? Or should I just forcefully pick them up, and then set them down someplace where they can move on the floor?
 
Your guinea pigs may not ever "let you" pick them up... they aren't huge fans of it. Try cutting holes in both ends of a shoe box, put a treat in the box, and shoo the pig in. Once the pig is in, cover the holes and lift the pig out for lap/floor time.

You can entertain them with various hay things... hay in a paper bag, hay in a toilet paper roll, hay strung through the grids. Our little ones are mostly motivated by food. You can also make tunnels out of bent grids that pigs love to run through. Cardboard can be used to build about anything for them to run through as well.

As far as getting them to not nap so much in the hidey holes, I would take the hideys out if they are the plastic igloos, and replace them with step stools. My fosters all get step stools when they come in because they are typically poorly socialized and would hide out all day. Now, they are more active and more comfortable. As your pigs get more comfortable with you, they will be more active and willing to spend time outside of hideys.
 
after a couple of weeks to get adjusted to their new house, i would take their hideys out of the cage, at first for a few minutes, then for a little longer stretch. i usually did this after i put their evening veggies out. i think this got them used to being outside their hideys more,and i don't think it was too hard on them, though i knew i was "forcing" them out a bit. :shhh:

the other thing i did with my 2 boys was something i did with all the kittens i adopted - i spent time every day socializing them to ME. i held them, touched their feet and their faces - very very gently and for a few minutes at first and then for longer and longer periods of time. after 3 1/2 months, my boys still run when i try to pick them up, but once i have them in my lap, they settle down and chirp and cuddle. i still make sure i take them in my lap at least every other day for at least 15 minutes, just to make sure they stay gentle, and used to me - and hopefully really get into their brains that i'm the "good" guy.:silly:

good luck!
 
after a couple of weeks to get adjusted to their new house, i would take their hideys out of the cage, at first for a few minutes, then for a little longer stretch. i usually did this after i put their evening veggies out. i think this got them used to being outside their hideys more,and i don't think it was too hard on them, though i knew i was "forcing" them out a bit. :shhh:

Taking out every way for them to feel safe is not recommended at all, it's a quite cruel way of forcing them to get used to you while under a lot of unnecessary stress. Building trust is not something you push upon any animal, you build it. And as guinea pigs are prey animals, they might never trust any human completely, and most will always be more or less skittish & dislike being catched as it's their basic nature.
 
I agree with HL, I wouldn't take out hideys completely. Instead, opting for more open hideys, such as step stools, fleece forests, corner towels, bunk beds, etc allow for the pig to feel safe while allowing the pig to see you. I feel like constantly seeing me in the room and noticing that me walking around doesn't pose a threat eventually mellows them out.
 
Your pigs will probably almost always run from you when you try to pick them up, so don't be discouraged. With my pigs, I would take away their hideys and then just sit quietly in the room on my computer. Soon they'd just go about their business of eating/running or curl up in their cuddle cup. Now they have no problem with me being around and watching them.

To catch them, I chase them into a fleece tunnel and then pick them up inside the tunnel, holding one end closed. This seems less stressful for them than just grabbing them with my hands.
 
My pigs love little fleece tents and tunnels to explore. Anything as tall as your piggies are, like a tupperware container or small cardboard box is good to drape fleece over, especially items that they can use as tunnels alone as well.

I have a cardboard box tunnel, and a plastic drain pipe tunnel propping up a piece of fleece right now, and they love to go through the tunnels, and find their way around under all of the fleece. When they get tired, they love to sleep under it like it's a blanket, too, or hide from each other when one is feeling particularly dominant. (I can't count the number of times that Ozzy has been chasing stanley, and lost him under the fleece, only to walk on top of him or try to go to sleep on top of him from the top of the fleece!)

Just make sure the fleece or whatever fabric you use isn't too big, so that there are still a couple of openings for fresh air to get in, and so that they don't get themselves stuck.
 
i would never, ever, submit my pigs to undue stress. if i saw that they were upset when i took out their hideys, i would have replaced them right away. as i mentioned, i give them their veggies, and they happily eat them while their hideys are briefly gone. they are distracted by eating their treats and getting used to be out of their hideys some. i surely understand that we all have different ways of relating and caring for our pigs. it just sounded like my way was being called cruel, which i found hurtful.
 
Another thing you could try is draping a towel or fleece over part of the cage as a sort of roof. I think that most pigs are seeking cover because it is instinctual to them to hide out from predators such as birds. One of my pigs that I have had for a while still acts lilke standing in the open is a death sentence, despite the fact that all the other pigs survive meal time :crazy:



@jacqueline : you probably received that response because it is really unlikely that removing what equates to their "security blankets" is the best way to make them comfortable. If your pigs were spending a majority of their time in there, it is probably because they were most comfortable there. Having that forcefully removed seems rather stressful.

This forum is as much about sharing experience as it is providing good advice that can be used as a reference for future owners. Leaving out important thoughts (such as disagreeing with one's opinion/methods) would be a disservice to this website and to ourselves.
 
I called the method cruel, I don't know you & have no idea of your skills as a pet owner to judge you personally at all. The method is spread widely by my local pet shop & outdated care books/sheets, I addded the comment not only directed to you, but to those who are about to do the same thinking it will help build a bond with their pets while often doing the exact opposite.

If your pigs are out eating veggies, I don't see the need to remove the hideys if they don't use them at that specific time?
 
Here are some great ideas. As well as having as large of a cage as possible and changing out the houses frequently...

(broken link removed)

And here is my list for bordom busters some are well known and obvious and some are from personal invention...

Guinea pig toys:
1. A box: Really, any kind of box will do. An empty soda box, tissue box etc… Cut an entrance hole big enough for your guinea pig to fit through, make sure all plastic tape or laminated coating is removed, and place it in their cage. Don't be surprised if it has chew marks on it within the hour. Remove when soiled.
2. Cardboard rolls: Take an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll and cut it length- wise so there's no chance your pig will get stuck in it. You can give this to your pig as is or stuff it with hay. Or take a paper punch and punch a hole in it and string it up in the cage. They like to push it, pull it and try to get it down. Another one is a snack tube. Take a toilet paper tube and make 2 slits in each end so you can fold them in to make a container for their favorite fruit or veggie treat.
3. Paper plates: Some pigs enjoy flipping these around; others like to hide under them. I take a paper plate and fold it in half so it makes a kind of tent. Make sure you use a plain paper plate and not one with any kind of plastic coating, as plastic and laminating are very harmful to guinea pigs' digestive systems.
4. Tissue paper/newspaper: take plain white tissue paper, crumple it a bit and place in her cage. I think she enjoys the sound it makes when she moves it around- plus, it doubles as a hiding space. Open a sheet of news paper and stick it in the cage. Also very simple, but a big hit. Good to chew on, crawl under, play tug-of-war with. Make sure there are no staples. Most newspaper is made with soy-based dyes which are safe for the pigs. Check with your newspaper company if you are not sure.
5. Stuffies: Take a sock, stuff it with either clean bedding or hay, and tie off the end (you can also sew it shut if you like). Some pigs like to shove their socks around and show them whose boss while others cuddle with them almost like a stuffed animal. Plus, if it gets dirty you can wash it or just throw it away. Stuffed animals with NO beans inside or button/hard noses or eyes. They like to cuddle with them, bury under them, push them etc…Make sure they don’t chew it enough to get to the stuffing. They could really get sick. If they keep chewing to get to the stuffing remove all the stuffing and restful with hay and sew it up!!!
6. Pig sized sleeping bag: This sounds complicated, but really isn't. I used two old washcloths, but any similar sized pieces of fabric will do. Take the fabric and sew them together on three sides, then fold the open side back a bit (like a turtleneck sweater) so the sleeping bag stays opens. Voila! You have a pig sized sleeping bag they'll love to sleep in.
7. Tent: Take a piece of yarn or twine and tie it to the corner or in the middle(across) your cage, then place a piece of fabric or a sheet of newspaper and fold it over (I used part of an old pillow case). It sounds too easy to be useful, but my guinea pig loves to sleep in this tent and keep one eye on me to see if I approach the kitchen. There are also little pre-made tents available at pet stores that sell ferret toys but all you have to do to make one is attach various panels of fabric to the corner of the cage. Try different sizes and shapes to make creative enclosures
8. : House: a colander that was the same size as a plastic pigloo, plastic igloo shaped home for guinea pigs, cut a hole in it as big as your pig and you have a house. You can use wood and make your own. You can take Lincoln logs and make a little house. Be creative. Guinea pigs can see color and have color preferences so have fun changing it up!!!
9. Paper bags: either stuffed with hay, veggies, other edibles or empty.
10. Tunnels: there are many options, bending a grid into a curve and covering it with a towel, a piece of fleece or even a cheap book cover. Any box, container can be made into a tunnel. Oatmeal containers, 4 or 6”PVC piping. I especially favor 6” PVC piping. I cut an 8 inch chunk out and then cut an inch off the bottom creating a C shape so the tube doesn’t roll and so it is more comfortable to lay in.
11. Bricks, Cinder Blocks, Rough Stones or Ceramic tiles: May help in wearing down nails. Make a pad of bricks available in the summer time. They can lie on the cooler bricks. Also, you can put the bricks under the water bottle to help absorb drips and ensure they get their little claws on them. Or, make a little low pyramid with bricks (assuming you have a large cage) and put the food on the top platform. With bricks, cinder blocks, and stones, make sure there is NO danger of any item falling or dislodging in such a way that could hurt a piggy or piggy paw. Try putting the stones or bricks under or next to the hay racks, especially if you hang the hay racks from an upper deck in a cube cage. A cinder block with holes in it can make an interesting gym for them.
12. Balls: ping pong balls/Tennis Balls: better than cat toys as they will roll around easier on bedding.
13. Tossies: any lightweight container they can flip, toss or push. Like cleaned butter or margarine tubs place a favorite treat under and see how long it take to flip it.
14. Pine Cones: don't have the pine bedding risk, but they should be sterilized first. Bake first to sterilize at approximately 200° for 20-30 minutes on foil to catch any sap drippings. These might be a favorite.
15. Reflective objects: Mirrors are great for any animal. Make sure they are pet safe if you are putting it in the cage.
16. Fruit Tree Branches: Good chew treat, free if they come from your UNSPRAYED backyard. Untreated wood, twigs and logs that have been aged for at least 3 months. Apple tree branches can be eaten fresh off the tree. Stay away from: cherry, peach, apricot, plum (fruit trees with pits) and redwood branches, which are all poisonous.
17. Wooden Blocks: For chewing and pushing around. Please make sure any children's blocks are not coated with any sealants (shiny or smooth looking) and are basically just plain wood.
18. Snuggle tunnel: all you need is an open ended container (box, oatmeal container etc…that has 2 holes large enough for your guinea pig) and a piece of fabric 2-3 times longer than the container (preferably fleece). You roll up the fleece like a taco. Then insert it through the opening of the container. Center the container in the middle of the fabric taco. Then take the fabric at one end and start to unroll and flip it over the container. (similar to flipping up a cuff of a sleeve). You can also check out the you tube video I made there is a link in my website.
19. Look out: Take a sturdy box, stool or house that has a flat large roof. Add a ramp and place it in the middle of the cage. You will have given them a great look out spot to run up to and run down from.
20. Food balls: Take a piece of newspaper or other kind of safe paper and put a days worth of pellets in it. Pull all edges of paper up and twist real tight like a candy wrapper. There is no tape, glue or sting needed. You can put it in the cage as is or you can punch a few holes in it to make it a bit easier to open depending on how much your guinea pig likes to chew. You can also do this with any timothy cubes or fruit or veggie treats.
21. Food bounce back. Take a large or extra large plastic Easter egg and fill the bottom (fatter part) with cement, or take rocks and white glue to make a sturdy base. Then take the top half and very carefully carve out holes large enough for food to fall out when knocked. When all done you can fill with food and set in cage. They can knock it around and food will spill out.
22. Watermelon (or other food) House. Make sticks and lay them in down log cabin style to make a little box. Or you can take half a watermelon rind and cut a door in it for them to eat from.
23. Mini bags. Sew up a small bag with rice or barley. In the winter or if you have an older guinea pig just pop the bag in the microwave for a few seconds and let the piggies cuddle up to it. (caution once it is wet it will make the rice and stuff yucky either put the rice in a plastic bag first or put it in a plastic bag and cover with a piece of fleece)
24. Pellet ball: take a hollow hard plastic ball and drill a few holes that are a bit bigger than a pellet. Drill about 3-5 holes into the ball. Then stuff the ball full of pellets and let them nose the pellets out. They will chase that thing until it is empty. A good way to keep piggies entertained.
25. Foraging pot: Take a large heavy container like a glass 8x11 baking dish. Put in some pellets, some hay, some tiny pieces of veggies. Then top with bits of cardboard, some paper, those wood chews you always buy but they never touch etc… Put it in the cage. The piggies will have to dig for their favorite treats and it will keep them busy and entertained for a long time.
 
I don't keep pigloos in my cages all the time and my guinea pigs aren't stressed by it. I always put them in there at night but keep them out during the day a lot. They're pretty active during the day but will nap anywhere in the cage. I have one that never sleeps in a pigloo. He prefers to sleep near the water bottle. I see him lift his head against the spout to get some water on it. It's really funny. I think the best way to socialize them is to hold them a lot and offer them snacks while they're in your lap. That way, they associate you and your lap with good things. When you approach the cage, try not to cast a shadow or hover over them. I think that's what frightens them. Hold there veggies and allow them to eat them while you're still holding them.
 
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