Advice needed please.

[emma1]

Ive kept pigs for many years and last year rescued a mother and daughter to add to the pig family.

Unfortunatly the mother was very aggressive with my 4 other pigs so the 2 had to live alone.

Anyway sadly a few months ago mummy pig suddenly died leaving a very lonely girl:0. I have tried to introduce her to the other girls on neutral ground and it went well for half an hour then suddenly she began fighting with my oldest girl and it got nasty, fur flying nasty.

Ive never had this problem before and have no idea how to resolve it. Any help would be gratefully recieved.:...

Thanks Emma

 

[piggyfan]

How bad was the fighting? You only really need to intervene if they draw blood. They will fight and teeth chatter and it looks worse then it really is. I would try again. Maybe put food down to distract them. Guinea pigs will usually carry on until the dominant one is established. If this really does not work then do you have a more submissive sow you could pair her with?

 

[lilmisscavy]

How much fur is being pulled out? That is a worrying sign if its a lot because they are biting to hurt each other, and obviously you don't want that to be skin next.

If there wasn't much fur and no blood (or bite marks on them) I'd try again and keep them in a large space so if there is fighting, you can at least get in the way of the ones involved and remove your lone sow.

Hope that helps, it happens to all of us at some point. If its becoming too stressful for your lone sow then don't keep trying. It isn't worth getting them upset over and you could attempt to pair her with a new, younger companion from a rescue.

And welcome to the forum

 

[emma1]

Wow, you're fast on this site!

It was nasty, ive never seen a fight quite so bad and I don't think blood would have been too far off. And i gave them food.

I would like to avoid splitting the other group as they are all sisters apart from the older girl that was involved in the fight.

I had been tempted to try again but thought i would ask for some advice first.

 

[piggyfan]

You could try again and see what happens. I can understand you not wanting to split up a happy herd. I would not want to do that either. Another option is to take your sow to a rescue were she can choose her own friend. That would avoid fights. She may even be able to choose two so you would not have the same problem should one pass away again.

 

[emma1]

I had never thought of taking a her with me to find her a friend, thats a brilliant idea.

I must say I'm loving this site, it's so friendly. Thank you for being so helpful and friendly.

 

[piggyfan]

You are so welcome.

 

[PiggyPalace!!]

You could try again and see what happens. I can understand you not wanting to split up a happy herd. I would not want to do that either. Another option is to take your sow to a rescue were she can choose her own friend. That would avoid fights. She may even be able to choose two so you would not have the same problem should one pass away again.

Thanks this whole getting your guineapig to choose there friend is a brilliant idea and emma I hope you manage to sort your piggies x