i've had my guinea pig for a few months, and she is fairly skittish (probably because i know she wasn't handled much in the pet store when she was younger) but she's gotten to the point where when i'm entering the room, i say hi to her and she sticks her head out of her igloo and squeeks at me and when i stick my hand into her cage she walks over and sniffs at it or takes the treat out of my hand.
she has a sort of small cage and i want her to be able to get out and get more excercise than just doing zoomies around her cage, so what is an easy/safe way to pick up a guinea pig without them running away?
Answers:
I work with exotics, and yes, guinea pigs are very hard to catch sometimes. Sometimes if you move in slow and talk to her then grab her real quick with both hands then hold her against your chest and support her legs, just pet her and talk to her a lot. They usually like this once you have a hold. You can have a treat in your hand or ready to grab and offer her as you hold her to help this as well. It's just a metter of trust. It takes time..so just be patient. Just try not to squeeze her too much when you grab her. If your pig is a boy then change every thing I just said to him instead of her and please acccept my apologies.
Do you have to pick her up?
Is there anyway to "rig" a ramp or something where she could climb out herself?
If not, then I'd wait on letting her out. She has to trust you to not only take her out, but catch her and put her back.
It's the "catching" part that worries Guinea Pigs. To them, you are a predator. A hungry predator who wants GP for dinner. It will stress her out and it will take longer to get her fully tamed.
Use food to get her back up the ramp into the cage after "floor time".
Good luck
it sounds like you are doing everything right already. Pick her up around the belly with one hand and support her bottom with the other hand. Make sure you check the area where she will be having her floor time for anything that she can get into or under (mine went under the entertainment center). While she is out try getting her to come to you by holding her favorite food and calling her. The more she trusts you the easier things will be, on both you and her.
well Take the house out and chase your piggy into the corner and pick her up by the tummy
Based solely on your question it almost sounds as though you have never handled your guinea pig. I apologize if this is not the case, but if it is, you should have begun handling you guinea pig long ago and allowing it ample "out-of-cage" time to allow it to become comfortable with you and her surroundings and to give your guinea something fun to do! Both of these things should be done on a daily basis.
That being said, when it comes to handling, talking to her and allowing her to first see your hands is a good place to start. Avoid making any sudden movements that may startle her. Entice her over to you with a treat if need be. Then gently scoop her up from underneath with both hands and place her in you lap making sure that her feet are supported at all times. Dangling her is uncomfortable and may frighten her. Throughout all of this, you should continue speaking to her encouragingly and give her reassuring scritches. In the case of many guinea pigs, once you get them in your lap they are unlikely to run. I would repeat this a few times each day.
Once you have become comfortable with that, you can place her in a secure area (i.e. a room) and allow her periods of free time outside of her cage. Be sure that whatever area you choose is guinea pig proof; electrical cords out of reach, small gaps closed off, etc. If you have other pets, be sure they do not have access to your guinea pig and inform family members when she is out as well. Also, be sure these excursions are highly supervised at first and once both you and her grow comfortable and accustomed to it, she may be able to be left alone in her secure area for brief periods of time.
Just remember, they more time you interact with your guinea personally, the greater your bond with her will be.
well you should slowly pick it up and rub there head they love that.and give it some things to play with like hamster toys.that way he will start to learn to be curios and not skidish.
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