Bringing a new piggie home

Loveatfirstwheek

Loveatfirstwheek

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Hi all!

I’m picking up a 2 year old sow in a couple days and just need some advice. She’s mainly had a single life but been caged next to others. I’ve been warned she probably won’t bond with the others but thought I would try and if worse comes to worse I’m going to extend my C&C cage and put some grids up so she can live next to the others. I’ve read all the bonding info and know to introduce them in neutral territory but before that happens when I bring her home to her temporary rabbit run (waiting on more grids to arrive for C&C cage) do I keep that cage in the same room with the other girls? Or do I keep them in seperate rooms?
 
If she has come from a reputable rescue, then you can go ahead and put her straight next to your current piggies.

If she has not come from a reputable rescue, then ideally she would be quarantined in a separate room for two weeks to ensure she isn’t bringing in any illness which might be transmissible.
The proviso to this is that she doesn’t struggle being without side by side interaction. If she doesn’t struggle being alone, then you will need to forego and put her straight side by side with your piggies.
After quarantine (if needed) you then move her side by side with your others. You will want her to be side by side with them for probably up to a couple of weeks before you attempt bonding. It can help if they have got to know each other between the bars and that the new piggy is settled and not scared before you attempt to bond. A bonding attempt with a frightened piggy is more likely to result in defensive issues and potential failure for that reason.

Good luck
 
Piggies&buns has given you excellent advice
I wish you good luck …what a lucky piggy coming to live with you and your piggies 🥰
 
Piggies&buns said:
If she has come from a reputable rescue, then you can go ahead and put her straight next to your current piggies.

If she has not come from a reputable rescue, then ideally she would be quarantined in a separate room for two weeks to ensure she isn’t bringing in any illness which might be transmissible.
The proviso to this is that she doesn’t struggle being without side by side interaction. If she doesn’t struggle being alone, then you will need to forego and put her straight side by side with your piggies.
After quarantine (if needed) you then move her side by side with your others. You will want her to be side by side with them for probably up to a couple of weeks before you attempt bonding. It can help if they have got to know each other between the bars and that the new piggy is settled and not scared before you attempt to bond. A bonding attempt with a frightened piggy is more likely to result in defensive issues and potential failure for that reason.

Good luck
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She’s from a breeder and she’s an ex-show piggie… what would you do? Thank you ☺️
 
In that case I personally would quarantine, provided she can tolerate it.
Any sign of loneliness - not eating, weight loss (make you get a baseline weight as soon as you bring her home) that isn’t attributed to illness (ie you would need a vet check first) then stop quarantine and move her beside your other piggies.
 
Piggies&buns said:
In that case I personally would quarantine, provided she can tolerate it.
Any sign of loneliness - not eating, weight loss (make you get a baseline weight as soon as you bring her home) that isn’t attributed to illness (ie you would need a vet check first) then stop quarantine and move her beside your other piggies.
Click to expand...
Okay thank you so much. Do I weigh weekly? Or more often during this period?
 
Piggies&buns said:
In that case I personally would quarantine, provided she can tolerate it.
Any sign of loneliness - not eating, weight loss (make you get a baseline weight as soon as you bring her home) that isn’t attributed to illness (ie you would need a vet check first) then stop quarantine and move her beside your other piggies.
Click to expand...
Also just to double check quarantine you mean keep her in a separate room?
 
Loveatfirstwheek said:
Okay thank you so much. Do I weigh weekly? Or more often during this period?
Click to expand...

I would perhaps do a midweek weigh in but I wouldn’t stress her by doing it daily if you aren’t concerned.

Loveatfirstwheek said:
Also just to double check quarantine you mean keep her in a separate room?
Click to expand...

Yes, separate room for two weeks (except if she doesn’t like being away from others)
 
Hi all,
I have an update on the new addition to the herd. Maj (the newbie) now sleeps, eats and poops with everyone else. She did have the 2nd in charge piggie trolling her at the start BUT now she is settled Maj is the one that is trolling, doing dominance grooming and rumbling against every piggie. She now gets the choice of “the special bed”, and kicks out anyone else who is in there. The special bed used to be the top piggies bed/place. There has been no serious fighting. Just Maj telling everyone that she is/should be the boss. Does this mean they are working out the hierarchy and it’s going okay? Here’s a pick of the herd eating together 😍
 

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Loveatfirstwheek said:
Hi all,
I have an update on the new addition to the herd. Maj (the newbie) now sleeps, eats and poops with everyone else. She did have the 2nd in charge piggie trolling her at the start BUT now she is settled Maj is the one that is trolling, doing dominance grooming and rumbling against every piggie. She now gets the choice of “the special bed”, and kicks out anyone else who is in there. The special bed used to be the top piggies bed/place. There has been no serious fighting. Just Maj telling everyone that she is/should be the boss. Does this mean they are working out the hierarchy and it’s going okay? Here’s a pick of the herd eating together 😍
Click to expand...
I also forgot to add that I have been checking weight regularly & all is ok
 
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