Bonding day

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Piff12

Junior Guinea Pig
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If anyone read the previous thread, we got a single boar a couple weeks ago. As I researched more, I realized he needed a companion. We don't live near a rescue, so we have to get a boar from a shop and hope to God they get along and bond! I am REALLY, REALLY nervous to say the least. I remember reading an article here about how search for a pig of we must use a pet store, but can't find it. Does anyone have that info? We will be going tonight to watch and pick one and hope to do bonding today. I read the bonding resources, but will read again before we begin. Wish me luck 🙏 😅
 
Good luck!
They might bond well initially but the teenage phase that will come at 4 months up until I believe 14 months will be the true teller of their bond. When piggies become teenagers, they will push their luck and dominance will be at an all time high.
You said you’ve read some of the guides, so I know you've probably read that!
We had to get a boy from a pet shop to go with our 15 month old as he was essentially in acute pining. Luckily they get along, the baby is between 11 and 14 weeks now, so somewhere between 2 weeks and 4 weeks we will enter the teenage phase! It’s more worrying to me than their initial bonding as it could all fall apart when baby is 6 months old for example. It’s very nerve-wracking, especially when it’s still uncertain to us what will happen.
Good luck with the bonding of your piggies. Rescues are always better, but sometimes that isn’t an option and your piggy definitely needs a friend. You are doing the right thing by your piggy :)
 
The important thing is to double check the sex of the piggy you choose. Otherwise the proof will be in the pudding so to speak. You’ll just have to put them together and leave it up to them whether they get on or not.

The other important thing is for them to have the correct size cage now. You don’t want to change it when they’re in their teens.
 
I checked and felt the ridge 100%, so yay! I have a
6 x 2 C&C cage right now. It's connected to a hutch because my first guy got used to the hutch. Hopefully they get along. We have both and I've cleaned with vinegar. I have my tub ready for bonding time. So, fingers crossed. Thank you all!
 
They are both under the lig hidey together chattering. Should i take out the hideys or is this okay?
 
Little Ones said:
During bonding, all there should be is hay and two drinking bottles, nothing else. So yes, remove hideys
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Thank you. I removed them. Just chattering, mounting and butt sniffing happening so far.
 
They are doing well. There is rumblestrutting from my boy Jibbles and mounting. There are submission squeals from my new boy. Butt sniffing too. No fighting. The rumblestrutting seems to happen a lot when they get startled. I've stopped watching them, but when can I put them in their cage? They are currently in my tub with lots if hay and water.
 
They need to be in the bonding pen for several hours - the longer they are in there, the further into the phases of bonding they get, the better. If Ive briefly looked at the time stamps on the posts right in my early morning haze, then they’ve been in there about four hours? I would leave them for several more hours yet. Moving them to the cage can cause another set of dominance, if you like, so you want them to have been together for a long time before moving them.
 
I moved them to their cage. So far, so good. They were in the tub about 5 hrs before I moved them. Mild rumblestrutting and mounting. Jibbles is popcorning around, so hopefully it's a good sign
 
Piggies&buns said:
They need to be in the bonding pen for several hours - the longer they are in there, the further into the phases of bonding they get, the better. If Ive briefly looked at the time stamps on the posts right in my early morning haze, then they’ve been in there about four hours? I would leave them for several more hours yet. Moving them to the cage can cause another set of dominance, if you like, so you want them to have been together for a long time before moving them.
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I just barely moved them. Hopefully, I didn't mess it up! It's almost midnight here, and I have to work tomorrow, so didn't know if it was better to move so I could supervise 😟
 
Piff12 said:
I just barely moved them. Hopefully, I didn't mess it up! It's almost midnight here, and I have to work tomorrow, so didn't know if it was better to move so I could supervise 😟
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No, that’s fine, don’t worry! It’s not as if they had only been in the neutral territory for a couple of hours, its just a case of leaving them in there until they are settled (as much as possible given theyve only just met), had a nap together, gone through the early stages of bonding etc. The fact he is submitting etc shows he knows his place etc. They’ve got two weeks now of establishing their relationship and hierarchy
 
Piggies&buns said:
No, that’s fine, don’t worry! It’s not as if they had only been in the neutral territory for a couple of hours, its just a case of leaving them in there until they are settled (as much as possible given theyve only just met), had a nap together, gone through the early stages of bonding etc. The fact he is submitting etc shows he knows his place etc. They’ve got two weeks now of establishing their relationship and hierarchy
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Thank you. I really hope they keep this bond. I know it can be fragile. They were quiet and chill the last 1.5 hrs or so 🤞🤞
 
How long should I supervise them in the cage? Should I sleep here? Their cage is in my office.
 
Piff12 said:
How long should I supervise them in the cage? Should I sleep here? Their cage is in my office.
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I don’t think you’ll need to sleep in there. It sounds as if they are doing ok. I know you said it’s getting late there, but perhaps just watch them for a few more minutes to make sure there are no major issues since moving to the cage
 
Piggies&buns said:
I don’t think you’ll need to sleep in there. It sounds as if they are doing ok. I know you said it’s getting late there, but perhaps just watch them for a few more minutes to make sure there are no major issues since moving to the cage
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I fell asleep here. Haha. No fighting, thankfully. They've been in the cage for 1.5 hrs so far. Thanks for the help!
 
Fingers crossed I hope they they become great companions and have a solid bond throughout their lives.
A well bonded pair of boars are such fun and they tend to be very loveable towards each other too.
 
Hope the bonding has gone well.
It can take up to a couple of weeks for them to settle together completely so don’t panic if things get lively.
Lots of support here for you.
 
Merab's Slave said:
Hope the bonding has gone well.
It can take up to a couple of weeks for them to settle together completely so don’t panic if things get lively.
Lots of support here for you.
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Thank you! I went in today and they were sleeping together. I scattered pellets (1 tbsp each) and they were eating side by side with no trouble. I have to work, but put hay everywhere and they have 3 water bottles spaced. I put their logs back in the have an exit and opening (and a hole in the middle). Our new boy (unnamed currently) has given Gibbles confidence to explore the entire run, which is nice because he'd stay in his hutch and not venture. Still hear the rumblestrutting and submission cries, but far less. Hoping the next few weeks go relatively well without issue. Then, onto the teenage years...I think I'm more afraid of my guinea's teenage years than my kid's 😂😂
 
Piff12 said:
Thank you! I went in today and they were sleeping together. I scattered pellets (1 tbsp each) and they were eating side by side with no trouble. I have to work, but put hay everywhere and they have 3 water bottles spaced. I put their logs back in the have an exit and opening (and a hole in the middle). Our new boy (unnamed currently) has given Gibbles confidence to explore the entire run, which is nice because he'd stay in his hutch and not venture. Still hear the rumblestrutting and submission cries, but far less. Hoping the next few weeks go relatively well without issue. Then, onto the teenage years...I think I'm more afraid of my guinea's teenage years than my kid's 😂😂
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Hang in there, some sail through without a hitch, just like kids 😄
 
I feel like everything I've done is wrong before it's right. Lol. Apparently, I got the wrong grid size, and our new baby escaped today. It was only a couple hours and luckily there were no issues when I put them together again. So, this is my temporary situation until I get more grids to double. Or can I use like plyable mesh around the outside? I thought my coroplast was high enough... sigh. I'll get it right some day. Do you think this setup should be okay for a couple days? He can't get out this high right?

I know our UK posters are deep in slumber, so hopefully this works.
 
Oh, and update on bonding boys. They are currently snuggling next to one another. There favorite thing to do is zoomie and popcorn around the cage. They also love grooming side by side. My dominant boy still does some half hearted rumblestrutting,l and mounting, but it seems he only does it when I accidentally frighten them.
 

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Yes that cardboard boxes are fine. I did the same thing whenever we adopt a baby piggy. It won't take long and the baby will grow soon. So enjoy every moment of it. Loads of fun when you have baby piggies. Lots of zooming, wheeking, and of course loads of playtime.

Lucky boys having a massive cage!
 
anyar.dris said:
Yes that cardboard boxes are fine. I did the same thing whenever we adopt a baby piggy. It won't take long and the baby will grow soon. So enjoy every moment of it. Loads of fun when you have baby piggies. Lots of zooming, wheeking, and of course loads of playtime.

Lucky boys having a massive cage!
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Thank you! It was quite a shock when we got home to only one guy! Luckily, the cage is in the office with the door closed.
 
Guinea pigs can be good at getting out.

I found Priscilla loose in the hall one day despite the play pen they were in. She's somehow squeezed under the radiator and found a way out!

Love your set up. Lucky piggies
 
Merab's Slave said:
Guinea pigs can be good at getting out.

I found Priscilla loose in the hall one day despite the play pen they were in. She's somehow squeezed under the radiator and found a way out!

Love your set up. Lucky piggies
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So funny! They are so crazy!
 
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