Bonding Question

[Bgfloyd]

Hello!
I will explain the situation first:
My boar Jasper lost his cage mate Bailey (also a boar) at the beginning of the year. Jasper has been sleeping inside on a night time as I can't stand the thought of him outside in his own.

I ended up picking up a Guinea pig 'free to a good home' from someone my boyfriend went to school with.

His name is Percy and I noticed he has some balance issues. He ignored Jasper as he stared at him from his cage, is very laid back with noises etc.

I was going to take things slow because of Percy being a bit special needs however my boyfriend and I went to have them on our laps at the same time on the sofa, I had some celery in the middle and at first I thought jasper ran to grab one but he actually ran into the piggy pod Percy was in!

The pod is quite small but they both ate their celery in there and i gave them some time together on the sofa. So today I started their proper introduction inside in a play pen which went well with usual dominance behaviour from both. Jasper escaped...... So I put him back in but he was a little stressed from being recaptured so I took them out to their c and c Cage which is outside inside a shed. Again they both are doing well andaftersettling down I have been checking on them every hour or so.

So my question is, is it safe to leave them together overnight? Or should I bring them in into their separate cages?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello!
I will explain the situation first:
My boar Jasper lost his cage mate Bailey (also a boar) at the beginning of the year. Jasper has been sleeping inside on a night time as I can't stand the thought of him outside in his own.

I ended up picking up a Guinea pig 'free to a good home' from someone my boyfriend went to school with.

His name is Percy and I noticed he has some balance issues. He ignored Jasper as he stared at him from his cage, is very laid back with noises etc.

I was going to take things slow because of Percy being a bit special needs however my boyfriend and I went to have them on our laps at the same time on the sofa, I had some celery in the middle and at first I thought jasper ran to grab one but he actually ran into the piggy pod Percy was in!

The pod is quite small but they both ate their celery in there and i gave them some time together on the sofa. So today I started their proper introduction inside in a play pen which went well with usual dominance behaviour from both. Jasper escaped...... So I put him back in but he was a little stressed from being recaptured so I took them out to their c and c Cage which is outside inside a shed. Again they both are doing well andaftersettling down I have been checking on them every hour or so.

So my question is, is it safe to leave them together overnight? Or should I bring them in into their separate cages?

It is perfectly safe to leave them together. NEVER separate boars as they have to re-start their bonding right back in square one.
Lots more bonding tips that cover the whole period until the end of the dominance phase in our very detailed and comprehensive bonding guide: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Bgfloyd]

Thanks Wiebke!

I was worried about them separated but also worried I couldn't keep an eye on them.

However, they both seem fine, Jasper is still humping a bit but Percy now seems to be submissive.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke!

I was worried about them separated but also worried I couldn't keep an eye on them.

However, they both seem fine, Jasper is still humping a bit but Percy now seems to be submissive.

By the sound of it, the bonding has never come close to the line; it is not going to that now.

 

[Bgfloyd]

so proud of my lovely pigs. I was surprised about Jasper yesterday! So thought I should better get it rolling