Socializing

Question
I just got two 9 weeks old Piggies the other day, and they're super skidderish. I don't think they've been socialized in any way. I had gotten them for free on Craigslist, and don't really know they're history, the girl didn't offer any and when asked didn't know. I do know that the home I picked them up from was fairly dirty and had 4 small ones that looked no older then maybe 5, and a year difference in between each child. Which leads me to think that the poor little things probably weren't taken as good of care of as they should have been. I had gotten them for my two older kids ( ages 11 and 13 ) as a surprise, but am concerned about them not being able to fully enjoy their new friends. How would I go about socializing them in a way that wouldn't be traumatizing to them and my family?

Answer
you have picked a great time to ask I just rescued two eight week old girls a week and a half ago who are also very skittish.
firstly remember it is guinea pig nature to be terrified by everything, they are the old granny's at the theme park of the animal world. In all liklihood there is nothing you need to know about their history. I would avoid breeding them just in case though.
the best and quickest way of familiarizing them with humans is if they are indoors, ideally in a place like the living room where humans sit around, talk amongst themselves and it is generally a relaxed setting, they will soon realise that humans are at the very least unlikly to eat them.

if they are outdoors then it is harder, I would leave the hutch in a palce where they will see you and your family as much as possible.

now for petting and bonding they are going to be skittish for a while, so you will have to do the following steps.

1. if they are indoor guinea pigs keep them in the living room for about a week in their cage (try not to handle)so that they will get used to you, if they are outside then get a run and have them on the lawn, try to be around them while they are in it.

2. if when you pick them up and put them on your knee they stay still (one of my new ones has broken guinea pig tradition and rather than staying still she tries to jump from my knee) then pet around where there neck would be with a finger in the same way you would a pet or dog when you're scratching where their collar is. you only need do this for a few minutes. if possible set up runs or pens in whatever room or part of the garden you will be likly to be spending most of the day.

3. keep all of this up.

quite simply the more time spent the less skittish they become.