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Original poster

Guinea pigs terrified

39 replies

Newpigmum · 04/02/2023 16:51

So 3 weeks ago I rescued 2 boars, I don’t think they’ve ever been looked after well / handled.
they are absolutely terrified, won’t take food from me (no matter how tasty) they are literally just frozen with fear. No happy squeaks at all 😩 I’ve tried to handle them, stroke them, quiet voices etc. I’m now worried this is how they’ll always be and they won’t be able to be tamed. Have I made a massive mistake?!

OP posts:
JarByTheDoor · 04/02/2023 17:03

It takes lots of time, and you have to make sure they've always got somewhere to retreat to, and to give them the opportunity to come to you. And they may never be okay with being swooped down on from above, just because of the basic nature of guinea pigs. If you don't have time to set aside each day to spend with them gradually getting them used to your presence and (for example) putting the dandelion leaf a little closer to you each time, in minuscule increments, and you hoped for instant cuddles and eagerness to be around you, then I guess you did make a mistake. But taming animals can be very rewarding in itself.

Original poster
Newpigmum · 04/02/2023 17:14

I’m 100% willing(and have been) to spend time each day to try! I’m just wondering if there is such a thing as Guinea pigs that can’t be tamed? They are approx 2 years old

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 17:18

Where have you got them ? My sister has Guinea pigs but they are in a laundry / utility which is a bit of a thoroughfare ( odd layout ) so everyone speaks to them all the time , they are used to a fair bit of noise and are the friendliest pigs I’ve ever met - and we’ve had a few .

megletthesecond · 04/02/2023 17:19

They'll be ok in time. Are they in the house, somewhere not too busy, so they get used to you?

JarByTheDoor · 04/02/2023 17:21

Well I knew a guinea pig once who was a right cow and sometimes bit people out of pure pique, but no, I've never come across a completely untameable one.

I've only known about fifteen to twenty guinea pigs extremely well, to be fair, so hopefully you'll get a response here from someone with more experience, but I've always managed to get somewhere even with the very timid ones. I mean, I think it's unlikely you'd be able to turn a completely unsocialised adult guinea pig into a lap pig that will follow you around the house and happily be picked up, but they're surprisingly bright little things when they want to be, and with sufficient (edible) motivation.

Disclaimer: this is with pet breeds. I've heard that American guinea pig owners dealing with pigs with cuy (livestock) heritage can have a really hard time with them as they're seemingly genetically predisposed to be bloody terrified of people.

Do you have any guinea pig experience?

JarByTheDoor · 04/02/2023 17:22

Also some guinea pigs just don't like to eat while being held, even really tame ones. Don't know why. Just a preference, I suppose.

Original poster
Newpigmum · 04/02/2023 17:24

I had them when I was younger, but not as an adult. They are currently living in the shed (that’s where they lived at their old home) it’s strange because they will sit on my lap for a while and look around but they vibrate so I think they’re frozen with fear 😢 I bring them into the house for at least a hour a day

OP posts:
Skiphopbump · 04/02/2023 17:28

Is there any chance you can keep them in the house? I bought some and kept them outside, we ended up bringing them in as it seemed kinder and they got far more attention.

JarByTheDoor · 04/02/2023 17:31

I know that frozen, vibrating response Sad They'll get used to being on you, after enough times of it happening without you eating them. But they're generally happier with it if you've managed to coax them to walk onto your lap themselves at least a few times (and yes that takes ages).

I can see why keeping them in the shed would be helpful for them as it's familiar, but having them in the house does help them get used to people.

When they're indoors, do they have an indoor run or area that they can get used to, with some hideyholes they can retreat to? They sometimes do better if they feel they have the security of a safe space when needed.

BooksAndHooks · 04/02/2023 17:32

Newpigmum · 04/02/2023 17:24

I had them when I was younger, but not as an adult. They are currently living in the shed (that’s where they lived at their old home) it’s strange because they will sit on my lap for a while and look around but they vibrate so I think they’re frozen with fear 😢 I bring them into the house for at least a hour a day

If they live outside you shouldn’t bring them in and out. Once outside they should stay outside as the changes in temperature can cause issues.

3 weeks isn’t that long, just keep at it. If one is a little bolder I find the other one will eventually follow their lead.

we lost one of ours last year and when we got a new companion for our remaining one it was like starting again, neither made any wheeling sounds for quite a while.

starpatch · 04/02/2023 17:33

Yes its very early days- they are still getting used to the environment at this stage. I had some piggies once that took 2 weeks to come out of their house after a house move! Not all piggies will ever take food from your hand when on your lap and coming up to you in the hutch to take food from your hand has only happened for me with my current lot. They will respond to you taking good care of them too its not all about handling them. If you can pick grass for them or put them on the grass in a run (in a few weeks once they are settled and it is spring) then you will soon be very popular and get lots of squeaks!

JarByTheDoor · 04/02/2023 17:39

Coming indoors for an hour is okay for a shed pig, surely? I've always gone with the assumption that the prohibition was on swapping between living indoors vs outdoors — even then, my childhood pigs wintered in the kitchen and summered outdoors and did okay (though I might not do that now), and as an adult I've put indoor pigs out on the lawn in runs (with shade and shelter) for a couple of hours on summer days, and brought outdoor pigs indoors for short periods, including going to the vet! I thought it was more like, don't assume your pampered indoor piggy which has spent its whole life with central heating will suddenly cope with sleeping in a hutch in January, kind of thing.

Rodentsrock · 04/02/2023 17:39

Hello, I saw this and thought I might be able to offer advice.

We have 4 sows, 2 pet shop (bonded) 1 from a rescue and 1 that was about to be put up for adoption. Our rescue one hates being touched but will come and get food. In saying that, she has learnt to trust my daughter, but its taken a year and a lot of work. We've accepted that she doesn't like human affection and thats OK. 3 out of 4 of mine like to take their food in private and eat in a hidey somewhere.

A guinea pig vibrating can be a sign of being content or not being happy. When you stroke their heads, do they flick you off? If not, the vibrating could be a sign of being content.

Could you have them inside for floor time? We have big cardboard tubes on the floor etc and that's when our rescue one becomes adventurous and explores with confidence.

Ours live in the kitchen and are quite used to noise, but the moment I move with a tea towel, they still run for cover (maybe think it's swopping bird!)

One thing we found useful for picking them up was picking them up inside a tube or a hidey. It was much less distressing for them.

Ours have taken up so much time, but it's been worth it. Yours are obviously adults now so you might not ever be able to pick them up with ease, but I'm sure with time they'll become used to you more. 🙂

JetPlanesMeetingInTheAir2BRefuelled · 04/02/2023 17:42

Second picking them up inside a soft tube / hidey. We then put them on our laps for literally 3 or 4 minutes - firstly together with a tea towel over, then just with a teatowel over, then folding tea towel back and offering strawberries / blueberries, then same but without tea towel. Took a good month but they're soft as shit now and tame/ unflappable. We keep ours indoors so they come out little and often.

Grimchmas · 04/02/2023 17:43

A friend of mine rescued 2 sows and it took 2 years for them to begin to show any sign of confidence around humans at all, so keep at it!

Xrays · 04/02/2023 17:43

Get a large indoor cage or a c and c cage (better) (google it) and bring them indoors. They’re far more likely to be tamer if they can see and hear you all the time. Lots of nice smelling veggies, strawberries etc. Lots of treats and make them feel secure - lots of hay to hide in (not straw, not sure if you already know that but covering all bases, straw is bad for them and can hurt their eyes).

I’ve got 4 at the moment in an indoor c and c cage but had Guinea pigs all my life. I’ve never had an untameable one but some are definitely friendlier than others.

Xrays · 04/02/2023 17:44

Also you have to remember that piggies are prey animals. They are literally scaredy cats and don’t like being picked up. Gradually they’ll learn to associate you with nice things though - food! - it’s a slow process.

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 17:47

Bring them indoors , they will be much happier , nobody wants to live in a shed .

Jifmicroliquid · 04/02/2023 17:47

.They are prey animals and their predators often sweep down on them from above, so they can be very wary of anything higher than them. It takes a good year for them to get comfortable with people and even then some can still be very skittish.

Rodentsrock · 04/02/2023 17:48

We have a kavee cage. Expensive to begin with but it's great the way you can buy extra panels and add to it. Your piggies are lucky to have a new home that cares about them.

Original poster
Newpigmum · 04/02/2023 17:48

Thank you everyone this is really helpful advice!! I didn’t realise about the indoor/outdoor thing - they are only inside for about a hour a time (and it’s bloody freezing in the house anyway thanks cost of living crisis)
they have never shaken their heads at me when they’re doing the vibrating thing? Maybe I’ve mistaken the vibrating for fear? One seems to like behind its ears being scratched so I’ve been sticking with that for a week 😂
I feel so bad for them for being so frightened! I wish I could communicate that we aren’t going to eat them!
one of the pigs hid under the sofa for half a hour earlier 😢

OP posts:
Xrays · 04/02/2023 17:52

They’ll probably wheek more when they get more confident. Ours are in the kitchen next to the fridge freezer (large kitchen/ diner, they’re in a 6x4 c and c cage!) and when someone opens the fridge they wheek like they haven’t been fed in years - everyone feels sorry for them and gives them some more veg 🙄🙄 we’re all wrapped around their fingers. I’d hate them to be outside as they’re very much part of the family 😁

Daryl4 · 04/02/2023 17:54

Guinea pigs are naturally skittish. If you're able to, I'd have them inside. It's going to be such slow progress if they're outside.

There was a YouTuber called laurapiggiepigpigs. She doesn't make videos anymore but she's got hundreds which she made previously - it was all about her indoor guinea pigs, how she housed them etc etc. Really rather sweet.

Rodentsrock · 04/02/2023 17:55

Pigs love going under sofas. Mine came out once with new shoes on made of under the sofa fluff 🤣

If you're scratching behind the ears and you're not getting a harsh flick off (with their head) then keep at it. 👍🏻

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