Engel's Herd

[Engel]

So I've just got my boys, Oreo (black and white) and Chunk (black, white and tan).

I have checked them both over, clear ears/eyes/nose/skin. A bit shy but that's to be expected. Also checked to make sure they are both boars. They're 9-10 weeks old and I think breed wise they're American? They're like a brick to pick up, very solid chaps.

The cage they're in is temporary (180x50cm). Waiting for grids and correx to arrive.

They've both been purring and eating hay so I think they're happy

 

[Siikibam]

Welcome Oreo and Chunk

 

[Guineaboarpig]

Such handsome boys!

 

[Flutterby]

Gorgeous!

 

[Merab]

 

[Engel]

Welcome Oreo and Chunk

Such handsome boys! ❤

Gorgeous!

Thank you all super chuffed. Are there any tips on keeping fleece put? It keeps sliding around.

Also how long should I wait before removing poops off the fleece? Should I do some tomorrow morning or should I leave it a day or two for them to settle?

 

[Siikibam]

You can poo pick today or tomorrow depending how much is in there. Letting them settle in means not handling them or trying to hand feed etc.

 

[Claire W]

They’re gorgeous

 

[Engel]

You can poo pick today or tomorrow depending how much is in there. Letting them settle in means not handling them or trying to hand feed etc.

Ah ok that's fine. I'll check before I go to bed then.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Such handsome little chaps
Exciting times for you x

 

[Engel]

Piggies did very well. First time indoors I think. Poo picked last night and this morning. They've got their veggies.

Last night they had 2 bowls, one with their old mix in and the other with pellets which I'll be feeding them. By morning the pellets had gone and almost nothing out of the mix bowl. So I have binned the mix. Less of a struggle than I thought it'd be.

Lots of popcorning and talking to themselves while eating.

Siikibam they can use the ramp. Practically flying over it last night spend most of their time eating in the kitchen area and sleeping in the fleece area. Ill keep hay in fleece area as well for now though.

Quick question, is this veggie portion ok for 2 pigs? Or is it too much/not enough?

 

[Engel]

Well it's been an hour. Theyve eaten all the coriander, celery, cucumber, most of the romaine and 2 chunks of pepper.

Is this ok as a daily veggie mix with maybe some cabbage twice a week with half the amount of lettuce?

 

[Engel]

Such handsome little chaps
Exciting times for you x

Oh yes. It's also completely new to me so it's a bit daunting if I'm honest (boar horror stories do not help). But people here have made me feel welcome and I know that if I have any issues I can ask for advice.

 

[Siikibam]

Boars have a bad rep purely because of mismatched pairs. But not all will fall out.

I would do one slice of pepper, celery and cucumber, and maybe half the lettuce.

Pellets are you giving just a tablespoon each? As I may have mentioned before, I wouldn’t feed the mix at all, it’s not suitable for them.

 

[Engel]

Boars have a bad rep purely because of mismatched pairs. But not all will fall out.

I would do one slice of pepper, celery and cucumber, and maybe half the lettuce.

Pellets are you giving just a tablespoon each? As I may have mentioned before, I wouldn’t feed the mix at all, it’s not suitable for them.

They showed no interest in the mix anyway so it's in the bin. Yes 1tbs per pig, per day.

Is coriander not ok to feed daily? They loved it. It was the first thing to go. Celery was thickness and length of my thumb idk if they'd have trouble with the stings that can come off it. One leaf of lettuce for the 2 of them? That's fine I thought it looked a lot oops

Yes I understand why they have a bad rep as you explained this to me before, but it's always in the back of my mind. I know if I have any problems I can ask here for advice which helps a lot

 

[Portia'sPigs]

Gorgeous boys! Chunk is very similar to my Brian!
Boys are fun! I too was a little worried but they're inseparable now. They can get a bit excited (smelly) when I change their bedding, running around marking despite leaving things in there that smell like them xxc

 

[Engel]

These 2 don't smell at all probably because they're still babies. Dont their hormones go through the roof starting at 4 months?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Coriander is fine to feed daily

yep 4-14 months is the teens, with higher peaks of hormones throughout that time

 

[LollyJJ]

Wheek wheek! Beautiful piggies, I have 2 boars as well about 18mths old. It will be good to hear about what yours get up to. Mine get along just fine and are thoroughly entertaining as I'm sure yours are too! I've never had sows so don't know about "smells" - give them loads of hay and that's what they smell of to me!

 

[Engel]

Wheek wheek! Beautiful piggies, I have 2 boars as well about 18mths old. It will be good to hear about what yours get up to. Mine get along just fine and are thoroughly entertaining as I'm sure yours are too! I've never had sows so don't know about "smells" - give them loads of hay and that's what they smell of to me!

Yup mine smell like hay too.

 

[Engel]

Do I need to keep an eye on the fact that one is bigger than the other? Weighed them yesterday before putting them in the cage. Chunk is 335g and Oreo is 581g.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Do I need to keep an eye on the fact that one is bigger than the other? Weighed them yesterday before putting them in the cage. Chunk is 335g and Oreo is 581g.

Dont worry about that. They come on all different shapes and sizes. Just check their weight goes up.

 

[Engel]

Dont worry about that. They come on all different shapes and sizes. Just check their weight goes up.

That's ok then. Oreo looks huge in comparison too. Oreo is definitely the boss at the moment. One squeak and chunk moves. Especially when it comes to pellets! They're really liking the pellets. I thought they'd turn their noses up at it.

Here's a pic from this afternoon (there is a second bowl on the other side of the cage)

 

[Bill & Ted]

Oh yes. It's also completely new to me so it's a bit daunting if I'm honest (boar horror stories do not help). But people here have made me feel welcome and I know that if I have any issues I can ask for advice.

Aw boars are wonderful! I had Bill and Ted, sadly Bill died this year so now Ted has two little ladies instead to share his life with now. The boys were such fun, they had their differences occasionally and loved to strut their stuff and rumble but also loved each other very much and were the best of mates
Enjoy your boys and don’t get hung up on doing everything perfectly, enjoy your little piggies and relax. I generally give each piggie a handful of veg morning and teatime (For adult piggies, a bit less for young piggies) Take out any veggies that are left after one hour and give unlimited hay 3-4 times a day x

 

[Siikibam]

1 lettuce leaves each is okay

 

[Engel]

Oreo was rumble strutting last night, well I think that's what it was. Was like a low rumble while moving slowly/weirdly. Relaxing to listen to .

I know this is him showing dominance and nothing to worry about (lasted about 1-2 minutes then went and ate). Do other piggies do anything to show submission, like a dog rolls onto its back? Chunk just made a continuous noise (kinda like he was talking to himself) while getting out of Oreos way.

They had more veggies this morning. I think I almost got some wheeks. When they were finished they both looked at where the veggies were and then looked at me almost to say, 'wheres it gone?!' while complaining. I don't want to overwhelm them with veg but they're making me feel like I'm not feeding them enough

Would you say that 1kg of hay would last 2 pigs a week? Like is that within normal range? I've got a 3kg bag and they've made a serious dent in it already and I've only had them 3 days! I really needed to add more hay this morning. I added some last night but by morning there was 3 handfuls left . They had 2 large haybags rammed to capacity and 2 large hay piles (bigger than them) as well as their pellets. A bit left in the hay bags, the rest was gone. Plenty of poop though.

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is the guide of dominance behaviours you’ll see Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

don’t be fooled into giving them more veg - if they’ve got hay, they will be fine!

Just ensure they never run out of hay. 1kg a week is probably about right but I can’t completely compare as I have five outdoor living, hay eating animals and get through 20kg for bedding and eating every three weeks

 

[Engel]

This is the guide of dominance behaviours you’ll see Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

don’t be fooled into giving them more veg - if they’ve got hay, they will be fine!

Just ensure they never run out of hay. 1kg a week is probably about right but I can’t completely compare as I have five outdoor living, hay eating animals and get through 20kg for bedding and eating every three weeks

That's helpful thank you. I assume that if it doesn't advance into orange section, then don't worry? I have heard the submission squeak, after the rumble. All is well and they're sleeping together now.

But the eyes, the sad face they sure know how to make me feel guilty.

Ok I think my guys are probably going to consume 1kg a week if they continue the way they are. Maybe even more.

How well does hay store in a shed? If I was to bulk buy for over Xmas and new year?

 

[Piggies&buns]

That's helpful thank you. I assume that if it doesn't advance into orange section, then don't worry? I have heard the submission squeak, after the rumble. All is well and they're sleeping together now.

But the eyes, the sad face they sure know how to make me feel guilty.

Ok I think my guys are probably going to consume 1kg a week if they continue the way they are. Maybe even more.

How well does hay store in a shed? If I was to bulk buy for over Xmas and new year?

yes that right. even if it did advance to 'orange', they may still be able to sort things out between them but in that section of behaviours, you need to be very alert to what you are seeing and prepared to act.

I have no problem with my hay in the shed. I get it from Haybox and it comes in cardboard boxes so there isn't any risk of it sweating like in plastic bags etc. That said, mine never hangs around long to be 'stored'! Three weeks and 20kg worth is gone!

 

[Engel]

Ok I'm doubting myself on gender. Only boars have a lump above the slit right? I've looked in the slit and it leads nowhere. I'm positive that they're the same but something at the back of my head is niggling. Reassurance needed.

On a more positive note their cage has been upgraded! Correx hasn't arrived but I've use cardboard (covered in plastic and puppy pads, then fleece or litter). Was attempting a 6×3 with the mind set that if I need to split them at any point at least they'd have a 3×3 each, but took a lot of space from me so instead they'll have a 6×2 which will be split into two 3×2s. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. Overall I'm happy, they're happy. Despite the move and shuffle about they're acting like nothings happened. (Also I swear SS grain free pellets are like crack to pigs...they go nuts over it)!

Anyways cage before and after: