BlueBird
Junior Guinea Pig
So last night I got woken up by the unmistakable sound of fear squeaking. So I thought I'd run it past the experts.
I have recently acquired Bonnie to keep my long time loner Belle company. Their introduction went swimmingly well. Although Bonnie was a little 'rabbit in the headlights' initially, they managed to nicely eat together at piggy dating. She is meant to be 2-3years old but she has the fear levels of a baby.(If I was to age by gut I would say she was closer to post-adolescence / 1 year due to the loudness, the fear levels and the baby-like sharpness of her nails). If we catch her (which we have to do for cage cleaning) she screams very loudly. We've tried the tunnel method: she's too clever and quick to get her inside the tunnel and a merry chase around the cage ensues. She seems to be showing signs of trust occasionally though. She takes things from our hand but only if she sees Belle eating a few things off us first. I did manage to touch her nose once without her recoiling or running away, but it was only for a second. This fear all seems very odd since she was meant to be from a non-cruelty home and is meant to be a similar age to Belle herself.
Bonnie has been with us over a week now (early days yes I know) but it isn't her fear of us I'm worrying about.
Belle has been alone for a long time so I guess she's still a bit lonely and just wants a friend. However, I have observed behaviours of Belle chasing new pig Bonnie away from food etc. I dismissed this as acceptable dominance behaviour plus I have noticed Bonnie has an annoying habit of trying to steal food from Belle's mouth. But it's been a while now and I have expected these things to calm/cease by now.
Now Bonnie has fear/submission squeaked before however, these have been quiet/mumbley squeaks when Belle sticks her head into a hide Bonnie is in (it had two holes though). However, last night was very loud on par with the fear squeaking she makes when we pick her up - as I say it woke me up! And it has got me a bit worried. I've seen no full on fighting or blood but that squeak was worrying.
Bonnie seems to be a very confusing pig. One minute she'll take food from you, will squeak loudly for food (from a safe hiding place of course) and allow Belle in next to her without complaint when we are changing food bowls; the next minute she dashes away when she sees you and screams at Belle if she comes near. I assume Belle is just so happy to have a friend after so long she isn't listening to Bonnie's uncomfortable cues when she should and Bonnie seems to be a tad on the melodramatic side but after a week I'm wondering whether I shouldn't be dismissing them as I have.
Should I separate them? Should I leave them? What do I do? I just feel so bad for Bonnie. I want to give her time but if she is THAT scared I wonder if I should intervene.
I have recently acquired Bonnie to keep my long time loner Belle company. Their introduction went swimmingly well. Although Bonnie was a little 'rabbit in the headlights' initially, they managed to nicely eat together at piggy dating. She is meant to be 2-3years old but she has the fear levels of a baby.(If I was to age by gut I would say she was closer to post-adolescence / 1 year due to the loudness, the fear levels and the baby-like sharpness of her nails). If we catch her (which we have to do for cage cleaning) she screams very loudly. We've tried the tunnel method: she's too clever and quick to get her inside the tunnel and a merry chase around the cage ensues. She seems to be showing signs of trust occasionally though. She takes things from our hand but only if she sees Belle eating a few things off us first. I did manage to touch her nose once without her recoiling or running away, but it was only for a second. This fear all seems very odd since she was meant to be from a non-cruelty home and is meant to be a similar age to Belle herself.
Bonnie has been with us over a week now (early days yes I know) but it isn't her fear of us I'm worrying about.
Belle has been alone for a long time so I guess she's still a bit lonely and just wants a friend. However, I have observed behaviours of Belle chasing new pig Bonnie away from food etc. I dismissed this as acceptable dominance behaviour plus I have noticed Bonnie has an annoying habit of trying to steal food from Belle's mouth. But it's been a while now and I have expected these things to calm/cease by now.
Now Bonnie has fear/submission squeaked before however, these have been quiet/mumbley squeaks when Belle sticks her head into a hide Bonnie is in (it had two holes though). However, last night was very loud on par with the fear squeaking she makes when we pick her up - as I say it woke me up! And it has got me a bit worried. I've seen no full on fighting or blood but that squeak was worrying.
Bonnie seems to be a very confusing pig. One minute she'll take food from you, will squeak loudly for food (from a safe hiding place of course) and allow Belle in next to her without complaint when we are changing food bowls; the next minute she dashes away when she sees you and screams at Belle if she comes near. I assume Belle is just so happy to have a friend after so long she isn't listening to Bonnie's uncomfortable cues when she should and Bonnie seems to be a tad on the melodramatic side but after a week I'm wondering whether I shouldn't be dismissing them as I have.
Should I separate them? Should I leave them? What do I do? I just feel so bad for Bonnie. I want to give her time but if she is THAT scared I wonder if I should intervene.
