Amysguineapigs
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hi everyone.
As some of you may know we introduced a new friend to Cookie around 4 months ago, named Billy who is now around 7/8 months old and Cookie is 3 years old. We were advised by many to introduce a baby friend to Cookie as there's more of a chance of them getting on.
When we first introduced them they got on perfectly and have been up until this week. I understand Billy is at his adolescent phase where he his trying to be the dominant one. For the past couple of months Billy has constantly been mounting Cookie but from having boars as pairs before I gathered this is normal. Theres been a couple of times when ive had to separate them for a few minutes when having floor time as they've been chattering their teeth at each other quite bad. But today its been even worse. I put them in the run to be cleaned out and had to separate them, if it wasn't for me separating them there would have been a fight. Although it looks like there already has been. Cookie has a wound on his back which looks like a bite mark and his lips also have injury to them. I feel ever so bad that this has happened to Cookie, he seems so sad. Billy is a very sociable little character and ever so confident, but Cookie never seems to want to interact with him and right now I feel I cant put them back together.
Most days I bring the boys inside for their veg and some handling. During this time they are in the same room as the girl pigs (otherside of the room) and I cant help but blame myself, that maybe the smell of the girls may have contributed? Although I did the same when Cookie was housed with Dougie and they never had a fight.
Right now I don't know what to do. Billy is in the hutch and Cookie is in the run indoors. Should I keep them separate for a couple of days and then re introduce? Or should I accept I need to rehome Billy? I love him so much and the thought is breaking my heart. But I need to do whats best for them both.
As some of you may know we introduced a new friend to Cookie around 4 months ago, named Billy who is now around 7/8 months old and Cookie is 3 years old. We were advised by many to introduce a baby friend to Cookie as there's more of a chance of them getting on.
When we first introduced them they got on perfectly and have been up until this week. I understand Billy is at his adolescent phase where he his trying to be the dominant one. For the past couple of months Billy has constantly been mounting Cookie but from having boars as pairs before I gathered this is normal. Theres been a couple of times when ive had to separate them for a few minutes when having floor time as they've been chattering their teeth at each other quite bad. But today its been even worse. I put them in the run to be cleaned out and had to separate them, if it wasn't for me separating them there would have been a fight. Although it looks like there already has been. Cookie has a wound on his back which looks like a bite mark and his lips also have injury to them. I feel ever so bad that this has happened to Cookie, he seems so sad. Billy is a very sociable little character and ever so confident, but Cookie never seems to want to interact with him and right now I feel I cant put them back together.
Most days I bring the boys inside for their veg and some handling. During this time they are in the same room as the girl pigs (otherside of the room) and I cant help but blame myself, that maybe the smell of the girls may have contributed? Although I did the same when Cookie was housed with Dougie and they never had a fight.
Right now I don't know what to do. Billy is in the hutch and Cookie is in the run indoors. Should I keep them separate for a couple of days and then re introduce? Or should I accept I need to rehome Billy? I love him so much and the thought is breaking my heart. But I need to do whats best for them both.
