New guineas - advice please

[hillyhilly]

Today is Monday. we got two young boy guineas on Saturday so we know it's early days, they seem to have been settling in quite well, they're eating really well, drinking, pooing and weeing.
They are very timid which we expected and we have had a short handling session with them each day.
My only concern is that today, the igloo they hide in had wee in it and both guineas had wet rear ends when we got them out.
We have cleaned the igloo and put some sawdust in it, but is this a cause for concern? I'm worried that they were so frightened they didn't even dare come out for a wee.
I've been out for most of today but generally they scamper about lots if we're sitting down, then run into the igloo if we enter the room or walk past or towards the cage.
We're loving our little piggies and want them to be happy.

I wouldn't worry. They may have only just wee'd so were still wet or could have done as so many piggies do which is to pee and then wander through it or wallow in it. They are fairly disgusting actually .

Forgot to say - my boys have been with us for 2 1/2 years now and one of them still scarpers when we approach. So don't worry about that, some pigs are just nervy.

Agree with Fernie - for such cute creatures they can indeed be fairly disgusting!

We have two neutered boar/sow pairs - have had the boys for a couple of years, the girls are recent rescue adoptees. One of our pairs do a delightful double act party trick where the boar tips up the plastic igloos, and the sow then climbs into the inside and wees all over the plastic. Delightful.

It sounds as if your little boars are settling really well. You may well find they grow more confident as they get to know you - our boys used to skitter and scarper all the time as babies. Now they are really chilled and rarely bother actually going into a hidey box to sleep - they just doze randomly wherever they fancy - and wouldn't dream of scarpering if someone approaches their cages, they just automatically assume that if someone is coming to see them, then they must be bringing food

But some pigs are naturally more timid than others. One of our rescue girls was happily coming to the bars for food within a day or two of her arrival, the other one is a lot more reticent and nervy; I suspect she always will be, it's just her personality.

Hi - welcome to the lovely world of guineas, you will find lots of fab people on here, and lots of great advice.

Give your new guineas lots of time to settle, explore and get used to your routine, they are nervous little critters, but in time will come to associate you with kindness, food, cuddles, and will trust you. They need to get used to the sounds, your routine, what to expect, so you are right to give them igloos and lots of hay to hide in, they only feel safe whenthey can hide away.

I never used sawdust with mine, as was told they were very sensitive to it, it can get in their eyes etc. Not sure what others think. They do tend to wee, poo and eat all in the same place, but some (!) can be trained to use a particular corner of the hutch as a toilet, things will be a lot easier in the spring when you can get them outside, but they are messy thats for sure.

Use a cuddle cloth for cuddles, and nice soft thing, so they can splodge out on your lap and get used to being held. Have a piece of cucumber or handful of grass at the ready, so they can be cuddled and eat at the same time, then they will relax a bit more.

Enjoy them. They are wonderful, friendly, sociable little things. Great fun! :)