Bereaved Piggie doesnt like her new friends?

[Teasel]

Hello all,
I'm new and hoping someone can help. I breed rats but keep pigs as pets and know little about them in comparision.

Three years ago i bought a sow Wookie,2 weeks later i added Patchy pig with no problems what so ever. Sadly a year later we lost Patch unexpectedly. With in days we adopted a 6 month old girl Rosie and again Wookie accepted her.

Two weeks ago the impossible happened...we lost Rosie at only 18 months old. I hate lone animals be it rat or any other so we got a pair of young girls of around 10 weeks of age in the hope that this would solve Wooks loneliness. I put all 3 girls in neuteral territory but Wookie attacked them relentlessly. Wookie is a very large sow so i removed the babies for their own safety.

This evening a friend brought me round another sow,not knowing that i had been out and got a pair. I have put the new girl with the 2 babies,although she is slightly older all have settled well. This is great but its Wookie that I'm worried about. Is there any hope of getting my older girl to live with the 3 younger ones?

Any advice apprieciated.

Kaz x

 

[Spishkey]

sometimes its not as simple as just plonking the piggies together, be it on neutral ground or not. I'm guessing wookie is grieving for her lost pal so not feeling totally happy herself, and the added stress of finding new piggys in her home is stressing her a bit

try setting up the girlies living quarters next to each other for a week, so wookie can see, hear and smell the others but not get at them.
after this time try swapping over any toys they have and food bowls etc (ie the newbies toys in wookies cage and vice versa) this way she will get used to their smell in her area. then move onto the full introduction on neutral ground, put down a big flat bowl full of lots of their favourite food and vegetables, and let them meet over a big tasty lunch......
good luck and hope everything works out for you

 

[Spishkey]

oops tried to edit but it wouldnt let me just wanted to add this little bit

if it doesnt look too good the first time you can try again the next day,but any signs of pure violence (biting that draws blood) then split immediatly. there will be normal displays of dominence from the 'top' pig (wookie perhaps as shes the oldest) maybe some teeth chattering and even humping (yes girls do it too!) but this is normal. like i said if it turns violent then act fast and remove the attacker (its best to throw a towel over her and scoop her up incase she mistakes your hand for the other piggy....been there done that ouch!)

 

[Wiebke]

Sometimes, older sows do not like youngsters and see them as intruders into their territory. Where one piggy is company, several piggies are perceived as a newly formed tribe trying to take over her established territory.

Perhaps you can try her out with the other lonely girl first? (Introductions on neutral territory etc.) and see whether they are more likely to bond? It may be worth waiting for a few days for Wooky to feel unthreatened again and to choose a different spot for introductions.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

Or you can keep her where she can interact with all of them (see/hear them) through bars or mesh. Perhaps she can make friends slowly, once she has got used to their presence.

Try to aim at shared run time first, before you try to get them to share their home.

Sometimes, sadly, things do not run as smoothly as you'd like!

 

[Furries]

As you said you knew nothing about guinea-pigs, I couldn't help wondering if you were feeding them correctly (as two died unexpectedly). Please don't take this the wrong way, but I have a friend who used to feed his guinea-pig sunflower seeds, which are too high in fat for guinea-pigs.

For a quick, rough, reference guinea-pigs need:

Roughly 80% of their diet should be grass and/or hay;
15% fresh veg/fruit (5 different varieties/day)
5% high-fibre pellets (to prevent selective feeding which is prevalent with the muesli-style mixes)

 

[Teasel]

Hi All
Many thanks for your responses. I'm at work so just a quickie...
I will try these ideas out this week,I hate wook being on her own. I have a massive hutch and run so meeting in the run could be a good idea. I will let you know how it goes.
On feeding and the deaths of the other 2 girls...I didn't make myself clear. Rosie died a week or so ago but patch died a year back,both being rescues it was hard to say how old they were,the deaths were just unexpected. I'm not new to piggies and understand their diet and husbandry,I've kept them on and off throughout my life since early childhood,I'm 40 now lol! I've never had an introduction problem and that's what's thrown me.
Kaz x

 

[alcesterpigs]

There are really only two rules to take note of in regard to pig introductions
1 Male and female will attempt to mate and breed.

2 Try the introduction and see what happens. They will either get along fine or they will not. Neutral territory, bathing all pigs for a neutral "smell" count for little or nothing.

The best way is to take your pig to a rescue centre and let her select a new companion for herself.

 

[Briony_S]

Some guineas just don't get on but it is worth trying it again. I tried about 4 times to re-bond my boys and at one point gave up hope of george ever being with another pig again. But I got him neutered and found him a girl friend and it is the best thing I could have done for him as he is so happy and they have been living together for over 6 months with no problems.

Maybe take her to a rescue and let her meet a few girl pigs and see if there is one she likes and if that doesn't work maybe see if you can find her a neutered boar. I don't really think any pigs are cut out to be alone they get lonely!

 

[Niki]

I don't really think any pigs are cut out to be alone they get lonely!

Hamish would disagree with you - after 2 of my boy pairs had to be separated because of fighting i tried him with the youngsters. The first time he became withdrawn after being humped by the youngster. The 2nd youngster was quiet like him & there appeared to be no problems but after a week of them being together i found Hamish close to death, not eating, gut in statis & i almost lost him.

He's lived on his own (next to another boar) for over 3yrs & now he's back on his own (having being syringe fed & to the vets 3 times for meds) has thankfully made a full recovery

There are those that do thrive in their own company but like to hear/see/smell other piggies just not share their space with them

I had a 5yr old sow, Maddie who lost her partner & she wouldn't live with other girls but did seem to like one of my boars (they lived, divided by grids) so i had him neutered but when the time came for them to be introduced to one another itn the & same space she hated him & became withdrawn & i'd to separate them. She thrived on her own & became the matriach she had once been

 

[Briony_S]

Sorry I didn't mean to offend anyone.

I have heard of guineas that end up being alone after everything has been tried. What I was trying to say but probably not very well was, you should try every avenue before giving up. Sorry that I seem to have upset you! I'm sure your pigs are very happy!

 

[Niki]

Sorry I didn't mean to offend anyone.

I have heard of guineas that end up being alone after everything has been tried. What I was trying to say but probably not very well was, you should try every avenue before giving up. Sorry that I seem to have upset you! I'm sure your pigs are very happy!

You've not upset me I would agree with you that piggies generally do need company of other piggies & i was only giving my experiences with my pigs. It may be that my single pigs haven't found "the one" but i can't physically trawl the country in search of their perfect friend

I always try a single pig with another/others but they are the ones who decide in the end, wether the outcome be successful or not.

 

[Briony_S]

Thanks,

I must add that himi in your avatar is beautiful x)

 

[Niki]

Thanks,

I must add that himi in your avatar is beautiful x)

Thank you, that's Hamish x)

 

[Teasel]

Hi All...
Many thanks for your responses. I will try Wookie with some piggies. I must load some pics...

Wookie is a brindle aby x sheltie, Tinsel is a smooth tri coloured roan,Holly is a mess and i would say an alpaca cross...she is red and white and looks like a teddy. The new girl currently has no name and she is a sheltie or coronet cross at a guess. Very pretty peach colour with bits of black and white through her coat.

Keith bought me a lovely indoor cage,a ferplast Castita ( i think). My plans are to have Holly indoors with one other piggie and the rest outside. My outside hutch is a huge purpose built house which resembles a "human" house,the massive run even has its own picket fence. We call it "Wookie Hole" lol!

Wookie has always been tempermental,friendly but would rather not be handled if she can help it although once being cuddled revels in it. Tinsel and the new girl are very friendly but the odd ball is my fav Holly. Holly is just like a little dog. Holly is the only pig that i have owned to date that will cry if i leave the sofa and when my hands are put down for her she will get in them and sit herself down happily...sure she was a rat in a former life lol! I dont think i could love an animal as much as i love that pig.

On the Wookie front hopefully given time she will settle but if not we do have a rescue near us so i will take her a long and see if she can find a friend that she would be happy with.

Thanks all for your help

Kaz and the piggies x

 

[venice]

question not suggestion

was there any reason it has to be a sow
I new to guins and was wondering if a desexed boy would be better
Rememeber I am new and am asking a question

venice

 

[Wiebke]

was there any reason it has to be a sow
I new to guins and was wondering if a desexed boy would be better
Rememeber I am new and am asking a question

venice

Like with any other guinea pig - you have to try! Not all sows will accept just any boar, especially older ones, so you have to try and see. It doesn't take long to find out whether a sow will physically attack a boar or just wheek - this is best done at a rescue.

I know that Hopper Haven in Redditch (Worcs.) usually have already neutered boars, as they prefer to rehome cross gender pairs; my three year old Dizzy had the choice of three boys at the rescue, but the chemistry only worked with Llewelyn. Dizzy and Llewelyn had a very loving relationship until Dizzy's death in summer.

 

[venice]

So can i assume from your post that with guins its more of a personality thing

I find putting two females dogs tog can cause headaches , two males or male and female are best

with cats males tog ok but its harder to get females to work ofcourse on of each is fine.

rabs one of each is much prefered


this is generalised and there are always acceptions to rules but this is what I have found in my rescue work

Of course you have to try ! and give them a chance

the introduction as you would realise is most important!

venice

Like with any other guinea pig - you have to try! Not all sows will accept just any boar, especially older ones, so you have to try and see. It doesn't take long to find out whether a sow will physically attack a boar or just wheek - this is best done at a rescue.

I know that Hopper Haven in Redditch (Worcs.) usually have already neutered boars, as they prefer to rehome cross gender pairs; my three year old Dizzy had the choice of three boys at the rescue, but the chemistry only worked with Llewelyn. Dizzy and Llewelyn had a very loving relationship until Dizzy's death in summer.