Bonding my 2 pairs of ladies...

PigglePuggle

PigglePuggle

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Messages
10,510
Reaction score
40,109
Points
2,175
Location
Liverpool
Well yesterday afternoon I experimentally removed the playpen divider to see what would happen... first attempt absolute chaos couldnt have gone worse! Puggle rumble strutted around chattering her teeth with her hair stood on end, and lunged at Clover, who lunged right back and took a chunk of fur. The commotion scared Jezebel, who accidentally ran into Piggle (Piggle is short sighted and Jezebel cant see much because of her silly hair style) then both of them went into a full on snarling fear aggression fight that looked like a pair of tomcats...
Then I suggested removing Piggle as she was really ripping into Jezebel, and my husband suggested taking out Jezebel which I thought was wrong because that would reinforce the idea that all Piggle needs to do is bite a lot and the other piggy will go away... so my husband and I were arguing, fur was flying, teeth were chattering, Theo was so scared he hid from everyone and nervously ate right through the roof of his carrot house...
However, this is only part 1 of the piggy soap opera, today is going much better :) I am documenting this as a cautionary but hopefully useful insight into what happens when the piggies havent read the bonding guides even when the piggy slaves have... prepare for part 2!
 
So then we had a big 4 hour time out. Each pair of girls were put in a seperate hutch with a big pile of hay. Mummy piggy slave (me) drank wine and cried a bit while daddy piggy slave and Theo cuddled up on the sofa and ate apples together. Theo went to bed as I think his irresistable stink was fuelling some of the tension. Then we tried again, introducing the girls who had been fighting to each other on the sofa with lots of hugs and reassurance and snacks from a safe distance. Piggle was very sorry and groomed Jezebel and licked her ears. Puggle was less sorry but wasnt willing to take Clover on again so they did the chin-up thing from a safe distance then ate hay together.
So today...
Piggle has been following Jezebel around licking her ears and grooming her. Maybe grooming her a bit too much, but not nastily and she needed a haircut anyway. Puggle has been following Clover around not getting too close but lying down behind to her a lot. Piggle and Clover briefly took a nap in the same hidey tube. Puggle groomed Jezebel's big fluffy bum while she was sleeping. Theo is happy there are so many ladies to sniff.
They are mostly ignoring each other but they are sharing the hay and use of the hidey tubes and the big cardboard hay boxes I gave them in a fair way and no more fights. Lots of naps with relaxed chooken legs going on.
Are they going to be a herd? Should I get the new C&C cage ready for tonight? I've no idea about this but they've spent 4 hours in the same 4x4 playpen today with no fights or teeth chattering and a few friendly interactions so I'm hopeful!
 
Why do short haired piggies find licking a big fat floofy piggy irresistable? Jezebel has been groomed, nibbled, and had her face licked, by Piggle, Puggle and Theo... she's a bit confused but is trying to be a good sport!
 
It sounds like they will be fine to share a cage tonight!
 
They are in the new cage! Didnt want to go too close and disturb them but there are 4 excited piggies in their new 5x2/5x3 C&C cage. With 4 food dishes, 4 hidey places, 2 hay trays and 2 water bottles just to prevent arguments :)
 

Attachments

  • 20180802_202435.webp
    20180802_202435.webp
    49.1 KB · Views: 4
So nerve wracking but so exciting! Although we have to go through this again in 2 weeks when little neutered boar Theo joins the herd after his 6-week post-op wait, but he's a friendly little thing and all the ladies like him so hopefully that will be easier than introducing 2 pairs of stroppy girls :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top