To try to hold the guinea pigs?

[Guineapigquestions]

We bought three guinea pigs on Tuesday, they are about 12 weeks old. DD aged 7 is desperate to hold them and keeps getting upset that they aren't letting her hand feed them or stroke them. She's spending so much time sitting next to their cage and talking to them. Helps me clean the cage every day. I had to pick them up to move them into a carrier when I cleaned their cage fully but other than that we haven't picked them up since we brought them home. According to advice I've read online we're doing the right thing in letting them get used to us. They are getting braver and spending more time exploring their cage. DD is worrying that they'll never get used to her and DH thinks we need to just pick then up to start getting them used to it. Are there any experienced guinea pig lovers who can give me some advice please?

Lots of hand feeding while they are in the cage, fresh coriander or parsley are good treats for this.

my guineas still don’t like being picked up, but they LOVE cuddle time. So we have little cuddle sacks that we put into the cage, they go straight into them, and then we pick the whole sack up with piggie inside.

Guinea pigs tend to tolerate little excited clammy hands more than most ☺️

I had Guinea pigs for 10 years (even used to show them!). As PP said, lots of hand feeding - they love grass and will definitely take that from your DD but get them out sit them on a blanket on her lap and encourage her to stroke them and soon they will be totally fine and will come out to see her when she goes down. The noises they make are the cutest and they are very rewarding.

Thanks so much I'll look at those cuddle sacks.
So it's not too soon for me to put them on her lap for a little stroke? We've had them 5 days.

Wait till they start "popcorning" OP they're an absolute delight. They'll soon get used to the sound of your voice but like others have said hand feeding tasty coriander in their cage to start with. They have a good vocabulary and it won't take long to recognise all their wee noises.

If they're reluctant to hand feed try something long like celery or big dandelion leaves. They can start eating at a distance then don't realise they're getting closer while stuffing their face. Eventually they'll learn that nothing bad happens when they get close.

The only tame GPs I've had were handled from babies.

Get them cuddled from early as possible OP! ❤

My Dad told us that if you pull a guinea pig's tail it's eyes fall out.

We didn't have a guinea pig so we were never able to find out.

It's probably not true.

They don't have tails :)

Baby pigs are super quick so be wary of them being quite still on your lap then suddenly darting sideways! Once they get bigger they will be more philosophical about the experience.

Also with 3 pigs, make sure they are all getting enough food- the least dominant can end up undernourished.

I think that was the joke.

You need @70isaLimitNotaTarget she is the piggies expert! There is a pets forum on here I used to be on there and she has amazing knowledge of piggies.

I think you've been v restrained and I would've picked them up by now but I don't know if that's the right thing to do.

Our guineas took about 5 years to not mind being picked up but only a month or so to really enjoy being held. It is a survival instinct to resist hands coming for them. The shadow and looming is similar to birds of prey. They should run for cover and then you can gently pick them up from wherever they have gone to hide. They love company just not the chase before they get it.

I’ve had Guinea pigs all my life. We currently have 4 in a huge indoor c and c cage. The friendliest ones I’ve had are the ones we’ve handled the most. Put a towel on your lap and plonk them on it and stroke them and offer them something they find irresistible like a piece of carrot or cabbage. They’ll soon learn to associate handling with nice things.

Pics please!!

we have a fleece tunnel that we lure them into and then lift them up lock, stock and barrel if they don’t want to come. Parsley and corriander are the high value treats with ours, they will climb over each other for those!

I would sit DD down with a towel on her lap and arm her with some parsley/carrot, and then you can pick up and deliver the pig/replace the pig back in the hutch.

Ours took a good few months to warm up to us but now chat/wheek away to us, demand food and one will climb into my hand when I need to get them out for cage cleaning.

We’ve had our piggies two years one likes cuddles and chats to you, the other just doesn’t like being picked up but she loves a head rub as long as your not actually holding her. They are both such great characters and wheek at the first sign or sound of any food coming their way.

I'd start picking them up now, and keep handling them every day.

I have one year old guineas - one doesn't mind being picked up the other always runs and hides. It's pure instinct, they are prey creatures. Guinea pigs are generally quite friendly and cuddly though.

i love our G pigs
we only have to open the fridge door and they begin to run about ‘wheeking’
honestly, little and often piggy snuggles are the best from as early as possible. If they get snuggles and have dandelion leaves poked at their mouths they will soon settle, and start ‘talking’.
ours love broccoli stalks and carrots

@DazzlePaintedBattlePants it won't let me upload a photo! I'll try from the desk top tomorrow.

Thanks so much everyone. We're going to go for it tomorrow! They're in the pet shop cage at the moment but I've ordered a much bigger c and c cage, fleece bedding, hides, tunnels and I'm going to keep this cage as a spare or for when I'm cleaning the cage out if there's nobody else around to hold them. They love peppers, spinach and carrots. Hate sprouts and cabbage.
Should I get them neutered as they're three boys?

3 boys 😳 Wow. I hope that’s going to work out but be prepared they may all fight with each other - even 2 boys can be really difficult. I would keep a careful watch, make sure they have TONS of space and their own food bowls and water bottles and beds etc so there’s less for them to fight over. If they do start fighting then yes I would consider neutering all of them. (We have a neutered boy who was originally part of a pair of boars but they fought so terribly we rehomed one of the boys to a family friend and then neutered the other one and got him 3 girlfriends)!

My sister has 3 piggies , our boars ( brothers ) wouldn’t tolerate each other at all so now live in adjoining cages so they can chat ! We handled ours from very early and they are all very friendly and love to have a cuddle / be groomed etc . Lady pig ( rescue) used to sit on my sons desk last year when he was teaching from home during lockdown . Parsley and Kale are the big favourites in the greens dept , only one eats cucumber and 2 eat carrots .

What size c and c cage have you ordered? You’ll need a massive amount of space for 3 boars. You’ll need to keep a keen eye on them too, we’ve had pairs of bonded boys but never 3s. I’m assuming you’re a first time pig owner? Sorry OP but it takes a very experienced hand (or luck) to
manage 3 boys. It’s sad you were sold them and sorry to say you could be in for a long slog with them. Are you also 100% sure they’re boys? Pet shops often misgender them and if you have a girl in the mix she will most likely already be pregnant. If they’re staying as boys only you don’t need to neuter them, it makes no difference to behaviour etc. Lots of floor time too will help to give them a change of scenery and some exercise to zoom.

As for handling, they’re prey animals remember so don’t approach them from above, come in from the side when you can. The cuddle cups are great as you can heard them into those and lift out. Short amounts of time at first, on an old towel as they’ll definitely poop and probably pee. Lots of pigs don’t like their bums touched so avoid the bum. Under the chin is usually a sweet spot when they’re used to you. Short bursts of time first, a couple of minutes once a day and build up. We had some terrified boys (left in their outdoor cage, never handled etc) and after a few months they loved snuggling with us and would often snooze on us in their elder years. It really is worth the patience and time with them. They’re adorable little creatures.

Is the cage in a sociable area of the house? If so they’ll get used to your voices and smells which is great.

Yes first time pig owner! I wanted 3 girls but the pet shop said boys are more popular as they're friendlier and easier to handle! Would I be best to see if they'll exchange them for 3 girls before the kids get too attached? Oh god I feel so sad at the thought of them fighting eachother. They've been together since birth so the pet shop said they'd be OK. The cc I've ordered is 5x2, they'll have 3 feeding, bowls, 3 water bottles, I've bought 3 Corner curtains so they'll all have their own space. So glad I posted on here now! I thought I'd done my research but it seems not!
The cage is in our main living area so we're round them all the time.

We have 5 girls & 2 of them don't like being handled but the others love snuggling with DD. Only one voluntarily climbs onto DD's lap if she sitting on the floor, this one also follows DD around the house & has been known to wait in the bathroom while DD showers (because if we don't let her in she cries at the bathroom door).

It takes time but they will get used to your DD - our lot go ballistic whenever DD walks in the front door but barely acknowledge my presence unless I have strawberries

Such lovely animals. Start with some hand feeding and then gently lift one into a lap holder. We used to have one for our Guinea pig. I think we got it from the pet shop. They are naturally timid but as they get to know you they will blossom.

I forgot to add we rescued two boys and I think because of the scenery change they began to fight. Although they had lived fine together prior to that. Ended up getting two cages. It was a lot of cleaning!