New Guinea pigs

[unsure111]

We have just purchased 2 New Guinea pigs l. We've been thinking about this for months and did research. We love them already and they are the cutest little balls of fluff.

But their so scared one more than the other. One of them freezes we thought he was dead and kept nudging him. Their not really coming out of the bed bit of their cage that's hidden so I'm hoping their drinking still. We've got a little soft bed for them for when we get them out and they can sit on our knee and even in there they are terrified and burrowing in the back.

Is there any we can try to get them used to us or less scared? Or will this take a while?

Bonus if you give me a few ideas of what you feed yours as well so I know we've got all the right things in for them. Thanks

I usually just do a 'freshen up' and change the wood shavings every few days just in the areas where they wee, and then do a full deep clean once a week.
I've also been using fleece blankets, which I find easier than woodshavings. Have a look on the internet. I just make my own, or you can buy them. Great in the summer, wash them in a bowl and they dry quickly.

If you mean getting rid of them, they go well on a compost heap, or if you need to bin them, check your council website for what to do about herbivore animal waste.

Guinea-pigs are more likely to come out if they have several different hiding places that they can move between. They are prey animals and need to feel they can retreat somewhere quickly if they are scared.

In an indoor cage or run, you need at least 3-4 different shelters for them, which could be the plastic houses you get from pet shops, tunnels, or cardboard boxes with door holes cut in them.

Had our current guinea pigs about 18 months. They are far more confident than previous ones and happily take food from our hands. Still run and hide when the baby (12 weeks) is lying on playmat and sneezes.

Hi @unsure111 how are your piggies doing now? It takes a while but once they get used to you and their surroundings they are gorgeous little characters I couldn't be without my 3 girls!

@22Giraffes hi, We absolutely adore them. I wish we got them sooner. Their growing lovely and slowly getting used to us. Especially when when I'm cleaning their cage they come straight over to us and their favourite bit is being put in the empty cage while I'm putting the shavings and hay in. They pop corn everywhere. They are still scared when we go to get them out the cage. Are yours like this as well? Or is this something that takes time?

Aww that's a lovely update, I love watching them popcorn it's the cutest thing. Yes my girls all still run away when I go to get them out, it's an instinct due to being prey animals. They are absolutely fine once out and will snuggle up, one of them even gives piggie kisses (licking us!)

Hand feeding is another way to gain their trust but just keep doing what you're doing, they sound very happy