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Small pets

When my Guinea Pigs go outside to play why do they spend most of their time hiding under their den?

16 replies

JustFabulous · 28/06/2012 13:16

Are they trying to say they want to go back in their hutch? Confused

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BonkeyMollocks · 28/06/2012 13:20

Are they new?

Are they used to going out?

I imagine if they weren't sure they weren't going to get swooped on by a eagle then it can be rather scary outside in the open for them.they naturally feel safer covered.

Fwiw, when my boys come out into their playpen in the morning after being in a cage all night with less room, they have a 5 min run and then plonk themselves down and snooze.

sometimes I wonder why I bother Wink

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JustFabulous · 28/06/2012 13:22

We have had them nearly 2 years (in Sept) and they do go out fairly regularly but it depends on the weather. Their run is massive and has a cover on so they are safe even if they don't understand that they are Grin.

They worry me as much as the kids at times Hmm.

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guineapiglet · 28/06/2012 14:01

Hi - what I tended to do with ours when they were nervous is get lots of igloos to put in the run - then they can hide and be safe and eat as much grass as possible without anyone seeing them - it might be the noises, birds, cats, or anything passing through the garden which has scared them - they probably need some encouragement - I used to pick ours a few handfuls of long grass and put it at the other end of the run - they managed to move their igloos, tortoise fashion, to be positioned right where the grass was - bribery and corruption with guineas, seems to work every time!!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/06/2012 17:40

Ours are 2 brothers (2 in October).
When they go out in their run they'll scurry away into their wooden box, the go out, wander round, go back (there's no base so they can still eat grass).

They are lovely when they have a new cardboard box or a paper bag to explore Grin

The instinct never leaves them, no matter how domesticated they are, they are still prey.

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AMumInScotland · 28/06/2012 17:49

Millions of years of evolution are busy telling them that something is going to eat them! Being under cover feels safer, they can't understand about the run being in any way safe for them.

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JustFabulous · 28/06/2012 18:34

Aw, bless. So I don't need to bring them in, they are happy out while being under the cover?

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VivaLeBeaver · 28/06/2012 18:44

I think they're still happy. Mine stay under their igloo in the run all the time and just bump the igloo around to get some fresh grass.

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JustFabulous · 28/06/2012 19:07

I will stop worrying then. Thanks everyone.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/06/2012 19:56

What are they like when you try to catch them?

Mine are "Nooooo, we're wild" and evade capture.

I send in the Big Guns (DD) into the run, Grin

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JustFabulous · 28/06/2012 21:57

Mine run away too but I always catch them! BoyPig really squealed at me tonight when DH brought him to me for a cuddle. Not sure what he was tyring to say. When we got them the rescue lady said if they push you away with their heads when you stroke them, it means they want more. No one told them as I think it means fuck off and leave us alone!

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BonkeyMollocks · 28/06/2012 22:01

I think when they push you with their heads it means 'fuck off' too Grin

Little pig does it all the time because he wants to be off exploring the sofa!

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JustFabulous · 29/06/2012 18:49

Ha ha!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/06/2012 19:14

Ours sometimes flick their heads up if we stroke them, but some animals can't see directly in front of them. So they might just see something decending onto them, and not realise it's your hand . Prey animals don't relax 100% there's always a tiny part that's alert to danger.

They push each other round with their heads, and when they are tiny babies they stick their heads under their mum to feed ( the sows stand on tiptoe and look Hmm ) .
If they didn't like something they'd let you know- either walking away or (if you ignore that) a swift head turn and a threat to bite- but they don't usually do more that catch your skin.

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JustFabulous · 29/06/2012 20:41

BoyPig wriggles a lot when he is held. He ws picking on GirlPig the other day and literally stole food from her mouth twice.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/06/2012 20:52

My GPs (brothers) reckon that unless food has actually gone past the epiglotis , then it's fair game to steal Grin.

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JustFabulous · 29/06/2012 20:57
Grin
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