Hi our gorgeous boys came to us yest, both around 6/7 weeks old. Understandably very very nervous. Both lovely funky haired boys, Jesse is black with a bit of gold and Puddles is white and sandy coloured.
Jesse seems less nervous and can be heard munching hay and occasionally moves but poor puddles has barely moved and seems v v scared. We're not attempting any handling and it's v v early days but they're obv traumatised by the whole thing. Please give me words of reassurance that I don't need to spend my day at work worrying about them. My dh at home with poorly ds so has texted me a few updates. Wondering how long we should we leave it a
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Small pets
Reassurance needed re new baby Gp's
29 replies
Gingerbics · 02/12/2013 14:04
OP posts:
Gingerbics ·
02/12/2013 14:07
Sorry sent too quick. Wondering at what point ( we're happy to wait as long as needed) should we introduce some handling. We have the snuggle nests from cosy cavies and a snuggle sac that they may feel more secure in when the time is right.
Really appreciate any words of wisdom, thankyou 
OP posts:
guineapiglet ·
02/12/2013 14:52
Hi there gingerbics welcome to the lovely world of guineas, you will find lots of lovely people on here with loads of good advice for caring for these little critters.
Firstly very 
of your new babies, hope you have lots of fun with them. WHen you have time, do read through some of the threads which should give you some help and ideas, they may be small, but they are very interactive and become more sociable with time, plenty of time. They are very young, so will need time to adjust and get used to their new environment and life. It is temping to get very close to start with, but let them get used to their new cage, their food, everything in fact. Would agree with everything Fernie says, they need to associate you with kindness and most importantly, food. Everything is new to them and they are not the 'sharpest tools in the shed 
' so you will have to train them to your ways. If they are inside with you, let them get used to the sound of your voices, the daily routine, strange sounds etc. I use a very special 'guinea' voice, much to the embarrassment of my kids, and in time they will associate you with food and kindness, and like Fernie says, will start shouting at you. But time is very important, don't rush it and scare them, go easy, easy, they will be your new BFFs !!
FernieB ·
02/12/2013 18:27
I also have a 'guinea/bunny' voice which I use for my boys . They know I'm talking to them and get excited. Glad to know I'm not the only one Guineapiglet.
FernieB ·
02/12/2013 18:32
As a postscript to the above -my DDs laugh at me because apparently (according to them anyway) I speak to the boys nicely in my special voice and without pausing for breath change my voice to tell my DDs off. They reckon the fluffy boys are my favourite children .
Gingerbics - hope your new piglets are happy this evening and have ventured out a bit more. It's all very new to them and they'll soon settle in and start bossing you around - bullying you to fill your supermarket trolley with veg just for them
Gingerbics ·
02/12/2013 20:12
Aw thanks Fernie and Guinea for your wise comforting words, you also made me chuckle with your special voices, we've started doing that without realising!
Well they don't appear to have eaten all day but they had a good feast last night so hopefully will do same tonight. Jesse has done a but if exploring and v skittish but seems ok. Little Puddles has mostly been still but has allowed us to gently stroke the bit if her bottom end that was poking out of her shoebox den so a bit of progress. DH went out and bought them corn on cob so hoping they'll enjoy that as midnight feast. Can't believe how many pops they've done, reassuring tho!
Thanks again wise ones. Will update tomor
OP posts:
FernieB ·
02/12/2013 20:42
It's always a good sign if an animal is pooping and weeing. I have to warn you, that you do become slightly obsessed. I check every day to make sure my lads deposits look normal 
. If it's coming out the rear then they are definitely eating. They may be eating a lot of hay which you may not notice as it's in their houses.
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
02/12/2013 21:15
Your guineas sound gorgeous Ginger.
Yes they will be very wary. They've come from one familiar environment to their new house, new sounds, new smells.
There will always be a bolder one - but this might change in months to come..
If he's eating, weeing and poohing that's a good sign.
Let them get used to all that's going round about them. They'll be on High Alert and the slightest noise will have them scarpering.
They'll probably be a bit braver at night. Maybe put a cover over part of the cage (make sure if your cage is open topped it can't fall on them they won't take that in good humour)
Our piglet was 6 wheeks old when we got him. He spent 99% of his time diving under or next to GP1 for the first couple of days. He saw the adult as protection, (even though he was a 'strange' boar, not his familiar mum pig. Though ours was a breeder reject so probably away from mum a 4 weeks. He'd been with other baby boars so probably doubly terrifying for him)
Food is the way forward for these little boys. They'll get you into a food routine and let you know what they like to eat.
Then over the next few days they'll get to know you and you can cuddle and marvel at how light and tiny they are.
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
02/12/2013 21:18
about the pooh obsession Fernie .
We could tell GP3 poohs apart from GP1 by the size. There was a tiny pooh nest in the corner full of mini-pig-droppings.
Now they are evenly matched but DD can tell the difference. GP1 does long, slightly curved magnificent poohs (said in a Brian Blessed voice).
GP3 is surprisingly 'normal'
FernieB ·
03/12/2013 07:56
70 - you are more obsessed than me if you can tell the poops apart 
I am slightly more obsessive over Current Bun's litter tray as his poops vary a lot but that's a whole other topic that makes me think I should seek help .
fortifiedwithtea ·
03/12/2013 14:51
Welcome to the world of guineas. Its very much like having a human baby - are they eating, and poo obsessions
Do treat them like toddlers. Try them on as many foods as possible so you don't get fussy eaters. They may not like peppers now but may in a few weeks time. My girls came from a pet shop and would only eat carrot at first. They had to learn from watching my Old Boy what was good to eat. More recently my remaining Naughty Girl has been joined by two rescue girls who have introduced her to peppers and tomato.
When you cuddle them both on your lap don't be surprised if they try to bury themselves under each others tummy. This will make the one being hidden under squeak probably. As guineapiglet said they are not that bright. They think if they can not see something scary it doesn't exist.
BTW I can't decide between Peppa Pig or Ben and Holly. I'm a fan of both 
fortifiedwithtea ·
03/12/2013 15:56
Yes same voice. Nanny Plum is Awesome!
Nanny Plum was the first recognisable picture DD2 drew and I treasure it
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
04/12/2013 10:55
I just cleaned the boars indoor run and found some weird terracotta brown droppings.
(Instantly you think - blood? )
But, they've had a salad bag with beetroot, red leaves and red pepper. So it's all coming out the other end
Don't know what their pee is like, they are sporting a Blokey Black Towel and BathMat look at the moment.
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
05/12/2013 16:14
How are the piglets settling Gingerbics?
They should be getting used to all your voices and the sounds from your household. And settling you into your new routine of guinea-pig feeding and automatically getting things from the fridge when you make tea.
(I wake at 6.30 and wander down the garden to put the heater on in the Pighouse. They had to have their big heater today because we had ground frost. Then by the time we're all ready to leave the house they can go out to their snuggly outdoor house)
You can see how they take over 
DD used to cuddle our pigs in a towel when we first got them (GP1 was huge and she was a bit worried about handling him. He's the type that runs straight up to your neck -and pulls out earrings, little gitmagpie)
When we got GP3 he was 6weeks old and tiny. She was fine handling him but his bladder control wasn't the best.
Now they are very good and give warning - restless stampy dancing and constant noise. Though GP3 is never quiet so I rely on the dancing.
They are lovely as piglets, so light and fragile. And baby guinea-pig fur smells lovely.
FernieB ·
05/12/2013 20:42
Sounds lovely 70 - I have never had the piglet experience. My boys were all grown up at 6 months old when they adopted us. I can, however, say that grown up pig does not smell so good
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
05/12/2013 21:01
the 'piglet' (Dill) is well niffy at the moment.
If he even changed out of his Judgey Pants and let my run them through the machine with some Ecover , it would help.
(I washed all their towels yesterday. My 14 yo DS smells lovely compared to GP3 )
Must be bad
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