Bonding - what is the best way?

[mummyemily]

Hi
Think I may have found a suitable little man to join my old boy who is currently on his own. His little chap is about two and a half (about the same as my old man) he has recently lost his hutch mate and is pining and the owner has said that I can have him if he gets on with my old boy. I have tried twice unsuccessfully to bond him and think I must be doing something wrong.
last time i had them in seperate hutches with runs that met in the middle so they could get used to each others scent, then slowly took out the section of the run that split them up so they could have some time together - this resulted in the young one chasing my lad constantly without let up this continued for nearly a month. hence my lad is still on his own. I thought that maybe getting an older boy that has had a hutch mate and was the submissive one from his pair might get on with my submissive one
Any ideas or advise would be greatfully recieved
Ps I dont know anything about my old boy as he is a rescue so dont know if he has been on his own all the time or not

 

[Wiebke]

Try neutral territory, but be aware that guinea pigs can be surprisingly picky about who they like to live with.

here are more tips and information:
Introductions in the reference section
Baor behaviour in the behaviour section
Boar dating by Suzygpr.

Sorry, my computer does currently funny things with the direct links!

 

[pookie]

try keeping the run for them to meet seperately, boars can be very awkward to pair, a young lad will especially try to rule the roost, good luck, pookie.

 

[pookie]

try keeping the run for them to meet seperately, boars can be very awkward to pair, a young lad will especially try to rule the roost, good luck, pookie.

 

[Little Piggles]

Although I haven't bonded boys before, my tactic when adding girls to my gang has been neutral territory, ususlly the sofa. I'd sit at one end with the 'big pigs' and Simon at the other with the new pig and let them find each other in the middle. A pile of their favourite food is a good distraction from each other too.

When adding neutered Boris to my girls, it wasn't as straight forward and I needed alot more space - they had the whole loving room floor that time, as Pippa (my top pig) wasn't taking any funny business from anyone - especially not a boy! rolleyes They're inseperable now though

If it hadn't worked, my next step was to try bathing them together, so they'd smell the same. Apparantly the joint experience of something out of the oridinary (and quite shocking I guess) can work to bond them.

Good luck!