It’s an amazing feeling when you’ve brought your new guinea pigs home for the first time! Whilst it’s really exciting for us humans it can be a really scary time for guinea pigs. Follow our helpful tips for helping your guinea pigs settle in and ease their transition.
Putting Them In Their New Home
The Set Up
Once you place your guinea pigs in their new home they will run for cover! Don’t take it personally as guinea pigs are very timid and are used to predators. You should have already set their cage or hutch up. It needs to be filled with good quality hay and your chosen bedding. Guinea pigs also need constant access to fresh water in a bowl or bottle. This is the first stage for helping your guinea pigs settle in.
Hip Hip Hay-Ray!
They should also have hay racks filled with fresh hay and have some food out. It’s typical to think that your guinea pigs aren’t happy if they freeze or spend long periods of time hiding when they first arrive. This is normal guinea pig behaviour and it will take a few weeks or months for it to settle down.
I remember when we brought our guinea pigs home and we didn’t think they had eaten or had any water for days! It seemed like they just stayed in their hiding holes and didn’t come out.
They were actually being very clever piggies and sneaking out at night to eat, drink and have a good run about. Guinea pigs remain skittish for a while and some never lose their fleeing instinct. Occasionally our piggies still run for cover when we first approach them as it’s their natural instinct.
They pop their heads out of the hiding hole and then start wheeking once they realise it’s only us! It’s normal for piggies to hide for the first few days or weeks. During this time spend plenty of time talking to them.
Your guinea pigs will become familiar with the sound of your voice. Also, check their cage for pellets (poo) just to ensure they are actually eating and drinking normally. If you are not sure what to feed your guinea pigs check out our Feeding page.
Let Them Be
Whilst it’s tempting to take your guinea pigs out of their cage to feed them, hold them or even give them a quick clean out – Don’t. These first few days are really important for allowing your guinea pigs to settle in and feel safe.
It’s tempting to rush this bit since all you want to do when you bring them home is hold and fuss them so it’s rather disappointing not being able to (especially if they are a pet for children)
Instead, you can attempt to feed them treats through the bars of their cage or hutch and spend time with them talking.
I have many fond memories of sitting on wet grass! This was to chat with our guinea pigs when they were settling in. It’s acceptable to open the cage to replace and remove food. But please don’t be tempted to try and stroke them. This is true even if they are sticking their heads out.
Refrain from contact with your guinea pigs over the first few days. Any disruption now will set back their settling in time.
Confidence And Trust-Building
A great way for helping your guinea pigs settle in is to build trust and confidence. It may seem like you don’t have too much interaction with your new guinea pigs in the first few days. This is actually the perfect time to build their confidence so they feel safe and ready to venture out when you’re there.
Talking to them is a really good way and especially effective when bringing them their meals. It helps them become familiar with the sound of your voice along with the sound of the food being prepared.
Make sure you are talking to them in a quiet and gentle way so as not to frighten them. We always talk to ours during the settling-in phase (as well as now!). It’s a good idea to talk to them whilst offering a tasty treat like a carrot through the bars. You can repeat their name as well as it helps them get used to it.
Don’t take it personally if they don’t come out to accept the tasty treat. They will still get used to your voice and associate it and you with food. Food is a great confidence builder for guinea pigs! It won’t be long until they “wheek” at you every time you open the fridge as ours do! Ours even “wheek” now when we come in from being outside as they expect a treat. Not sure what Wheeking is? Check out our sounds section!
Give them some space
It can be tempting to take away the guinea pigs hideaway so as to “force” them to come out and play. NEVER DO THIS! It doesn’t help them feel more confident in fact it has the opposite effect and be very damaging. Remember we are helping your guinea pigs settle in so it takes time.
The best way to build trust with your piggie is through food! The way to a guinea pig’s heart is definitely through its stomach! Start by feeding them through the bars and talking to them so they know you are there.
Guinea pigs hate sudden movement since they can’t see what’s right in front of them. This is due to them having their eyes on either side of their head. It will take a lot of patience before they approach you to take some food from you. Keep trying though as they may eventually eat out of your hand if you remain still.
After this has been mastered you can attempt to move your hand slowly around their cage. This can then be built up to being able to move their toys around (nowhere they are hiding in. This is another way of them getting used to you.
The last stage is gently stroking your piggy and hoping they don’t run away. This is a fairly long process and may take up to two weeks. Remember to always approach your guinea pigs from the side, never from above.
Guinea pig Lap and playtime
Lap time should only be introduced after your guinea pig has settled in.
You can read our full guide on it but we’ve broken the basics down here.
Guinea pigs should have lap time/play every single day as it’s good for them to get out and about their cage, you get some quality time with them plus it helps with bonding.
Not to mention it’s great for sneaking a health check and grooming session in! Lap time is when your play, stroke, talk and spend some time with your guinea pig on your lap. It’s a great idea to also feed them a little treat as well so that even the timidest/independent guinea pig will enjoy it.
Playtime is when your piggy can run free in a secure area that is easy for you to clean. You can make a run using cardboard or buy one. There are lots of options to choose from such as this specially designed one or this one intended for guinea pigs!
Playtime involves putting toys in the playpen along with hidey holes and watching your little piggies run around and explore. If you have any other pets, make sure they are out of the room.
The room used for playtime should also be free of drafts. It’s a lot of fun watching the piggies play and they often do the “popcorn” which is a special move guinea pigs do when they are happy which involves running back and forth whilst jumping in the air.
Patience is a virtue
If you follow the tips above then your guinea pig should settle in easily and be part of the family in no time!
I’d love to hear about your guinea pigs – comment below!
Hi I’ve had my piggies for about a month they’ve settled in well, they speak to me and my son they take food from our hands and crawl on us during play time.
The problem is whenever I try to introduce lap time or pick them up they just freak out try to escape and I feel it puts all our hard work back cause then they get skittish with me again.
Please advise what the best way is. I don’t want to keep not handing them cause then they’ll never get used to it but I don’t want my piggies to be scared of me ?
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. It’s all normal behaviour. Its there nature to be scared even if its something that happen every day. Keep going and be patient – they aren’t scared of you. Our youngest piggie likes being picked up with a snuggly blanket. Maybe you could try that?
Hello, I have a female guinea pig (Foxy) that has been with me for 2 weeks now. Just yesterday I decided to get her a companion (Jade) that is also a female and the same breed. (American Guinea Pigs) Whenever I go to refill Jade’s water bowl that is not to close but not to far from her hidey, she runs out REALLY FAST that it scares my other piggie, it’s confusing since i’m not sticking my hands into her hidey or anything. Foxy is very comfortable with me and let’s me hand feed her.
Hi Ivory,
Thank you for your comment. It sounds to me like Jade is still settling in and is not used to you just yet. There are quite a few things to try and it shouldn’t take long till she is used to you:
1. Before changing the water, talk to Jade calmly. She doesn’t have to be out. Say something like “Ok Jade I’m going to change the water now” then place your hand into the cage and leave it there. Slowly change the water. Once you’ve finished, leave your hand there again. That will help her get used to you being there.
2. Moving the water bowl and hidey-hole further apart can be useful. She’s obviously found a place in the cage that she feels safe in which is great!
3. Try changing the water at the same time each day and leave a little treat afterwards for both your guinea pigs. Jade will then associate you changing the water with something positive (food!)
I hope these suggestions help. Please do get back in touch if you need any other help and to let me know how you got on!
Good Luck!
Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to post any update here.
Your most welcome! The most important thing to remember is you are not doing anything wrong! It’s just a guinea pigs nature to be extra cautious!
Update: Hey! I’ve started letting Jade out for floor time and she’s gotten way more comfortable! She would only come out to eat at night but she’s built up courage and comes out during the day as well! I used your suggestions and she has gotten better at being less timid whenever I change or refill her water. Thanks again!
Hi Ivory,
That’s great news! I’m so glad that Jade is gaining more confidence! I’m so happy for you! I bet within a few weeks she will be eating out of your hand as Foxy does!
If you ever have any other questions about anything you know where I am!
I just got my Guinea pig it is a female and her name is link and she is new to the environment she is in now so how long do I need to wait for her to settle in and she is by her self because I just got her I heard from other Guinea pig owners that you need to have another Guinea pig is that true if so I will be getting another and do I get another female or male ? And do they pacifically need hay?
Hi,
Congratulations on your new guinea pig Link! Since she is only just started to get used to her environment then you will need to leave her to settle in. This can take a few days or weeks depending on the temperament of your guinea pig.
Avoid picking her up for a few days and spend a few mins each day chatting to her to get her used to the sound of your voice.
Yes guinea pigs do need to be around other guinea pigs. The only exception to this is if she has never been kept with guinea pigs or has a had a long period of time without a guinea pig companion. I’d recommend introducing another guinea pig slowing, allowing them some supervised time together.
Another female is perfect for Link since there is no risk of pregnancy plus females are less territorial thus bonding faster.
A guinea pigs diet is 80% hay so always include fresh hay for Link to keep her a happy and healthy piggie. Provide plenty of hiding places and remember to change her water daily so she always has a fresh drink.
I hope Link settles in well and please keep us updated! If you have any other questions please just ask!
Hi, I’ve had my two pups for a week. We have been picking them up and putting them in our lap for feeding lettuce and fresh peppers. They run every time we try to pick them up. I figured this was just a part of the natural process. After reading this blog I realize it has been a mistake.
I do feel like we have made progress as they seem comfortable in our laps and will eat with us.
Best advice on how to move forward?
Hi Jessica,
That’s great news that your new pups are comfortable eating on your knee! If I were you I’d add some of the basics in whilst continuing to enjoy laptime with them. It would be too confusing to them to stop it now plus it would undo all the progress you have made.
I’d start by feeding them one or two of their dried pellets through the bars whilst talking and saying their name. This will get them used to your voice and more confident at coming towards you.
Ensure they have plenty of hideaways so they feel safe to run for cover (young ones tend to be a bit braver than grown-up piggies!)
If your guinea pigs run away when you try to pick them up for lap time, try not to “chase” them around with your hands. It can easily feel like a game to us humans as they run away and dogge about their cage! Ensure you gradually introduce them to your hands being in the cage.
I’d suggest checking out our posts on handling: Holding your guinea pig for the first time – http://thehappyguineapig.com/holding-your-guinea-pig-for-the-first-time/
and How to hold guinea pigs – http://thehappyguineapig.com/how-to-hold-guinea-pigs/
Whilst you have held your piggies before it’s useful to read ver and ensure your technique is correct.
Good Luck and please do let me know how it goes!
Hi, I hope you reply soon. One of your tips is to NEVER remove their hideaways, as it can be damaging and prevent confidence. I currently have a little boy Biscoffi who has a conjunctivitis. We only got our two boys a few days ago, so they are not super familiar with us but I need to give our body 3 eye drops a day which were prescribed by the vet, and the only way I can get him out is by removing the hidys.
I try to place the hidy in another side of the cage so that he and his friend can run there however, sometimes it takes a few attempts to get him out cause he is still rather timid, though they both have eaten out of my hand and I give them a little treat after I have put him back in after his eye drops.
Have you any other recommendations of how I am meant to get him out of the cage for his eye drops without moving around his hidy as this is a serious issue if I cannot do his eye drops as this is a vet recommendation for the drops, and they did say that even if its not the greatest then its better than not putting the drops in his eye for this week.
Please reply soon as I dont want my little boy being afraid of me forever
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Something we have found that always helps is to get a hideaway that has a top and botton and only one entrance/exit. You can then “herd” your poorly piggie into the hideaway. Once inside, pick it up ensuring you cove the entrance/exit. Sit somewhere comfy with a tasty treat and gently encourage your piggie out. Once out, give the drops and give plenty of fuss and a treat. (half a grape is always welcome after medicine!) Then place your piggie back into the hideaway and place back exactly where you took it from.
This is the only time this is acceptable to do this but it works a treat.
I hope this helps and your piggie gets better soon!