4boipigs
Junior Guinea Pig
I boarded my 4 single males (who live in divided cages) at a local rescue while I went on vacation this week. The rescue tried to bond them while I was away. The only possible pair acted like two peas in a pod, snuggling and getting along great. They even rode home in a box and slept together. Before I brought them home, all fleece was washed and I cleaned the hides and the coroplast. Now it's like their bonding never happened. They are in a 2x6 c&c. There are 3 hides/tunnels. There are no one-way tunnels for them to be trapped in. Two water bottles, and one big hay pile (plan on splitting it 2 areas shortly).
One of the boys, who is a bit over a year old, was previously bonded with an older boar that passed away last year. I tried to bond him with a 2 year old from a shelter, but the bonding didn't work. The other boy is 6 or 7 months old, and has never been bonded. He lived in a divided cage with another male.
They're doing the usual rumbling, humping, chasing, and so on. Which I know is all NORMAL but they had some scuffles. They did have a couple fights but no blood drawn so far. That's what I'm most worried about. During the chasing, it's always the younger chasing the older. The younger one seems to be starting the fight. He puffs up, moves his body to the side and then literally goes flying at the other boy. Then they rest/sleep, or go eat. We've made a little progress to them eating together, but the older one runs off when the younger one comes by.
I just don't get it. What am I doing wrong? I know I should leave them alone to settle their differences. It's just so hard because they seemed to be doing fine at the rescue, and now they're home and bickering. It's only been a couple hours tho. Their bonding session at the rescue today last about 2.5 hours.
One of the boys, who is a bit over a year old, was previously bonded with an older boar that passed away last year. I tried to bond him with a 2 year old from a shelter, but the bonding didn't work. The other boy is 6 or 7 months old, and has never been bonded. He lived in a divided cage with another male.
They're doing the usual rumbling, humping, chasing, and so on. Which I know is all NORMAL but they had some scuffles. They did have a couple fights but no blood drawn so far. That's what I'm most worried about. During the chasing, it's always the younger chasing the older. The younger one seems to be starting the fight. He puffs up, moves his body to the side and then literally goes flying at the other boy. Then they rest/sleep, or go eat. We've made a little progress to them eating together, but the older one runs off when the younger one comes by.
I just don't get it. What am I doing wrong? I know I should leave them alone to settle their differences. It's just so hard because they seemed to be doing fine at the rescue, and now they're home and bickering. It's only been a couple hours tho. Their bonding session at the rescue today last about 2.5 hours.
