Bloody drawn, didnt realise but then maybe promising results 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Rachel1234510

Rachel1234510

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We have a new sow that we're attempting to hond with our recently bereaved sow.

We have them two days in a cage speerated by bars, due to lack of space we decided to attempt to let them together. The first time didn't go well, they had a couple of tusles before we interviened. We checked them over and at the time saw no blood.

We then attempted a second bonding in a different room. This started off with a lot of teeth chattering but no tussles! We then unfortunately noticed that our original sow has a cut on her mouth from the first attempt. We decided to continue as they seemed a lot more settled. After about half an hour they seemed to settle down, our original sow stopped chattering and was allowing the new sow to to have a good sniff and an ear nibble. They were lying down together and sharing food.

Is this a success story!?!? We saw no positive behavior from our original girl to the new girl, although she did seem relaxed and happy to stay lying next to her and share food. We've put them back in separate cages next to each other so amd an to try the process tomorrow again.

Any advice here would be amazing
 
In the first attempt, did you put them in neutral territory?

If things were going well second time round, then it would have been best to leave them together in the bonding pen for several hours (overnight if necessary) and see how things went rather than separate them. If they eat together, have a nap together and then wake up and were fine, then separating them wouldn’t have been necessary.
Unfortunately by separating them the process has been interrupted so they will need to start over again tomorrow. If things go well after several hours in a neutral territory bonding pen when you try tomorrow, then do leave them together permanently and move them to a thoroughly cleaned out cage together.
 
Just realised all my mistypes above, sorry about that!

We made a huge mistake and on the first proper meeting we just removed the partition from their temporary cage. Really annoyed with ourselves about that as things would have obviously gone much better.

Things did seem to be going OK on the second try, the only reason we interviened was because we noticed the cut. Main concern is we didn't see any positive behaviour back from Emily (the one with the cut), she was sharing food though and didn't run away when Poppy had a lie down next to her so could this be classed as positive? We're hoping that she wasn't just a bit scared. We will try again tomorrow as we have the whole day to sit and monitor them. Hope thats not too long of a gap!
 
We've clearly made a right pigs ear of this so far, dear me. We should have dine the first introduction on a day where we were completely free to give them all our time and research.

Thank you for all your advice and help. We're keeping everything crossed that this next try is successful 🤞🤞🤞
 
Rachel1234510 said:
Just realised all my mistypes above, sorry about that!

We made a huge mistake and on the first proper meeting we just removed the partition from their temporary cage. Really annoyed with ourselves about that as things would have obviously gone much better.

Things did seem to be going OK on the second try, the only reason we interviened was because we noticed the cut. Main concern is we didn't see any positive behaviour back from Emily (the one with the cut), she was sharing food though and didn't run away when Poppy had a lie down next to her so could this be classed as positive? We're hoping that she wasn't just a bit scared. We will try again tomorrow as we have the whole day to sit and monitor them. Hope thats not too long of a gap!
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Ah, yes, just removing a divider will allow them to wander into each other’s cages, be seen as a territory invasion and cause a problem.

Sharing food and laying down next to each other are positive signs.

Pop them on neutral territory, no hides in the bonding pen, just a pile of hay and leave them to it for several hours
Clean down the cage they are to live in and if, after, hours in the bonding pen, all is well, then you can move them to the cage and leave them together from then on. The more hours in the bonding pen the better as it will allow them to get through the early stages of dominance before moving them to the cage

good luck

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Hope all goes well the next time. If it does then just leave them together. I wouldn't worry too much about the cut it sounds to me like a misjudged swipe. If They were peaceful after it then it should be fine.

Silly question but have you double checked the sex of both piggies as sometimes people missex piggies.
 
Rachel1234510 said:
Thanks. Emily does seem to keep running away from our new girl, I'm worried she's scared. Or maybe I'm overthinking 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️.

This is super stressful!
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They will be trying to work out who is boss and establishing their relationship. As long as she is eating, otherwise happy, then some chasing is going to happen
 
Julie M said:
Hope all goes well the next time. If it does then just leave them together. I wouldn't worry too much about the cut it sounds to me like a misjudged swipe. If They were peaceful after it then it should be fine.

Silly question but have you double checked the sex of both piggies as sometimes people missex piggies.
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Yes, I had a good old look and we definitely have two ladies 😊. Thank you x
 
Rachel1234510 said:
I think we're winning!

I need a glass of wine 😖🤣
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Bonding is SO stressful! I hate it! But it sounds like things are going to be fine! Remember it will actually take 2 weeks for them to figure out exactly how things are going to be.

The first time I bonded two sows, I did make the mistake of having them together and it went well, but then separated and did it again the next day, and all was still fine.

Most recently I bonded two again, knowing that if it went well, they should stay together. I followed through, but was tempted to separate them at night so I could sleep without worrying they might have a fight when I wasn't there to help. In the end I basically just slept on the couch near them, woke up to check forum advice at all hours of the morning, etc.

It's so worth it! And there was one unsuccessful DEFINITE NO bonding attempt, and it was much different. I knew it wasn't going to work. So try to be confident :)
 
It is three weeks today since I introduced my two girls and we are only just now seeing what I'd call happy behaviours from the original sow. This week I have seen them playing together (zooming round) for the first time, and also just sitting quietly together.
Theirs was not an auspicious start either as it kicked off with a furball scrap. I would say, keep going, and hope for the best.
 
I have experienced both sides of bonding, love at first sight and the complete opposite, it is very stressful and you can never second guess the outcome, but I hope it works out for your little ladies x
 
🥰
Thank you all so much for replying. They're doing really well so far 👏 ☺

We've set up their bonding pen in our bedroom, so we can keep an eye overnight 😆😴
 
Thank you all for your advice and support!
The girls are doing really well, I'm seeing loads of positive behaviour from them both 🙌

We're keeping them in their bonding pen for the night which is in our bedroom so we can keep an eye, well most likely an annoyed ear at all their noise 🤣

Super happy, and very relieved 😇
 
I can attest bonding is very stressful. I rescued two boars from a rescue. I was told they were bonded. However, upon bringing them home the new cage and environment caused them to reestablish who is boss. The power was shifted from Mocha to Cappuccino.

I wish I would have understood, been a member, and knew what was happening because I went through a lot of wine during that time period! Currently on a detox and weight loss journey so no alcohol since 10/15!

Best of luck! Hope you have two happy sows for life!
 
Hi all! We had a successful night, the girls are in their main enclosure amd it's going well. Poppy has established dominance. Emily has clearly submitted and keeps trying to have a lie down. Poppy is being a bit relentless with the humping though, is this normal? If so, any idea how long this should go on for?
 
Rachel1234510 said:
Hi all! We had a successful night, the girls are in their main enclosure amd it's going well. Poppy has established dominance. Emily has clearly submitted and keeps trying to have a lie down. Poppy is being a bit relentless with the humping though, is this normal? If so, any idea how long this should go on for?
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A few days and things should start to settle but it can take two weeks for them to fully sort out the hierarchy
 
Rachel1234510 said:
Hi all! We had a successful night, the girls are in their main enclosure amd it's going well. Poppy has established dominance. Emily has clearly submitted and keeps trying to have a lie down. Poppy is being a bit relentless with the humping though, is this normal? If so, any idea how long this should go on for?
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The mounting usually lasts about 2-3 days in my experience, on a normal "in heat" cycle. So maybe along with establishing hierarchy, she's just in season now too.
 
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