How long until guinea pigs are comfortable?

This article has been viewed 42,820 times. Guinea pigs are social creatures, and being separated from their littermates is a stressful process. They can also be pretty jumpy by nature, and depending on the temperament of your pig, it can potentially take months for them to adapt to you.

Can I hold my guinea pig on the first day?

1. Don’t take your guinea pig out of their guinea pig cage when they first arrive at your home. It is often best to avoid handling them for a few days so they can adjust to their new surroundings. Even though you are not physically handling your guinea pig, you can still make efforts to bond with them.

How long does it take a guinea pig to bond?

Have patience, take your time, always do this on neutral territory, and don’t give up too soon. Bonding may happen in one afternoon or it may take months. What you don’t want to do is plop the new guinea pig into your existing guinea pig’s cage. Never try to introduce guinea pigs in one of their cages.

What do guinea pigs do when they are happy?

A common sign of happiness is rapid hopping up and down, similar to popcorn popping. Another sign of friendliness is rubbing noses, which guinea pigs will often do with each other. Licking is another friendly signal.

Do guinea pigs like to be stroked?

Most guinea pigs prefer a good scratch behind the ears or gentle petting on the back. Find the level of contact your pet is most comfortable with, and he will grow to enjoy his time out of the cage.

How many times a day should you hold your guinea pig?

Most guinea pigs love spending quality time with their owners, so handling them is enjoyable for all concerned. Once your guinea pig gets to know you, being hand-fed and petted become important parts of their lives. This means it’s actually up to you how much you hold them – you can do so as often as you like.

How do guinea pigs show affection?

Guinea pigs do a good bit of licking. A guinea pig might also lick their person’s fingers/hand, which can be a sign of affection — after all, that’s how guinea pigs show affection to one another. Or the guinea pig might just like the taste of a person’s skin.

Why does my guinea pig scream when I pick her up?

Some guinea pigs will squeal when they are experiencing potential pain or they need attention. It can sometimes be that another guinea pig is stealing his favorite spot to eat. Pay attention to your guinea pig if you hear a squeal because it could indicate that they need help from something hurting them.

Can you leave a guinea pig alone for a week?

Because it is in its new home, the guinea pig will need some time to get used to its new surroundings. However, don’t leave the guinea pig in the cage and leave it for a period of time like a week or so as it wont know you and so will be harder to catch if it escapes and hides.

Is it normal for guinea pigs to freeze when they first arrive?

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!

Do guinea pigs settle in quickly?

If you get your guinea pigs from a professional breeder or a good shelter, then such guinea pigs do settle in quickly as compared to guinea pigs sold from pet stores.

How to make your guinea pig feel comfortable in their new home?

Here are 10 things you can do to make your guinea pig as comfortable as possible in their new home. 1. Make their home comfortable. Comfort is important to us all. Without it we don’t feel at home and less likely to settle in one place. It is the same for guinea pigs.