Finding a friend for Big Dave

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Amanda1801

Amanda1801

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Big Dave's cagemate, Cardboard Box, aka Boxy went off to the bridge tonight. (His story is here if you aren't aware - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84317)

So Big Dave is on his own at the moment. He's a neutered male, about 4-4.5 years old.

Previously, Big Dave and Boxy were bonded, along with Big Dave's son, Little Dave. They were a happy trio when I rehomed them privately 3 years ago. After 2 and a half years, unfortunately Big Dave and Little Dave fell out, so I made the decision to rehome Little Dave to my old flatmate (who had lived with me and the pigs for two years prior) as a companion for her lone piggy.

I was on my way to the vets with Boxy tonight to have him put to sleep, when I had a call from my old flatmate - Little Dave's companion died in the night, aged 7 years old.

So now there's two piggies, Big Dave and Little Dave, who previously fell out as part of a trio, both needing a companion.

I need to speak to some people about trying to rebond them (I've never bonded piggies before), as that'd be the ideal scenario!
 
I hope you find a friend for both big and little Dave. I'd like to know what advise people give you on attepting to re-bond Big and Little Dave. Pickwick & Pirate fell out when they were about a year old, then lived seperatly for 18 months. I then attempted to re-bond them and it worked, they were closer than eve before. They just had to be treated like piggies who had never met one another before.

Good luck!
 
I would see first how they get on next to each other divided by grids when sharing run time. Take it from there. I wouldn't rush things; some adult boars are happy to share run time but are equally happy to still have their own apartment.
 
Good luck with the rebonding Amanda, it would be lovely if there was some sort of happy ending from this sad story. 8...
(((((hugs)))))
 
Wiebke said:
I would see first how they get on next to each other divided by grids when sharing run time. Take it from there. I wouldn't rush things; some adult boars are happy to share run time but are equally happy to still have their own apartment.
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The problem I currently have, is that I don't have enough physical room for 3 cages, and I don't have enough room for a large enough cage that I can divide into two for the two boys to have enough room each....
 
Hope Big Dave is ok and isn't missing his little friend too much, good luck with future bonding, will keep an eye out on this thread for progress!
 
Puzzlepigs said:
Whereabouts in Bristol are you? I found some rescues in and around the area.
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I'm in Clifton. I know of a few rescues locally, but I'm happy to travel to find the right pig(s) if I do need to bond them with new friends. I got my last piggy from mid Wales :)
 
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Yate Rescue just outside Bristol, and of cause even Glynneath or Windhwistle Warren are not so very far away if you want to go down that route!

PS: Would stacking cages on top of each other be a consideration? Perhaps you can talk to Suzygpr and go through your options with her; she has so much more experience with boars than I!
 
I read the thread about Boxy, I'm so sorry for your loss.
You may want to try re-bonding Big Dave and Little Dave, but I have found some rescues in and around Bristol anyway.

CottonTails Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/contact.asp

You said that Big Dave is neutered and around 4-4.5 years old. I found a sow, around 4 years old on there. There is also a lonely boar, Garry who is neutered and is still available.

Wheek & Squeak Guinea Pig Rescue
http://www.freewebs.com/cavylover1/guineapigsforadoption.htm

I'll post more rescues if I find any more, good luck finding both Big Dave and Little Dave new piggy friends.
 
Wiebke said:
Yate Rescue just outside Bristol, and of cause even Glynneath or Windhwistle Warren are not so very far away if you want to go down that route!

PS: Would stacking cages on top of each other be a consideration? Perhaps you can talk to Suzygpr and go through your options with her; she has so much more experience with boars than I!
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I'm waiting for Suzy to come online!

My current problem is that I live in a 10ft x 10ft room, that is it! I already have the boys cage stacked on top Jeff and Cameo's, there's literally no more room physically in here.

When I move in June, I'll have more floor space, but the ceilings are very sloping so I won't be able to stack the cages then. Think I'll move into the C&C market then, to be able to make most use of the space available.
 
That is small indeed... I hope that you can work out a solution. Best of luck!
 
Sorry to hear about Boxy. It was lovely to meet the boys when they were at Claires last summer. I can't remember who I cuddled but they are lovely cuddly boys. Popcorn free Boxy and I hope the Daves can be reunited.
 
Operation Re-bond is go!

Just picked up a very depressed, not eating Little Dave, who is currently heart broken!

I've split the cage in half with a divide, popped Big Dave in one side, Little Dave in the other.

So far, they're both in their pigloos, but popping out to grab bits of food :))

Little Dave is filling his face with hay, veg and pellets :)
 
Amanda1801 said:
Operation Re-bond is go!

Just picked up a very depressed, not eating Little Dave, who is currently heart broken!

I've split the cage in half with a divide, popped Big Dave in one side, Little Dave in the other.

So far, they're both in their pigloos, but popping out to grab bits of food :))

Little Dave is filling his face with hay, veg and pellets :)
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Woohooo! xx>>> good luck!
 
Good luck Amanda XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sending both the little guys lots of wheeeky loves, poor little ones loosing mates at the same time :(
 
The two daves are still sharing a cage separated with a wire divide, and they still aren't happy!

There's more teeth chattering and rumbling than ever, and they're trying to bite each other through the bars. Little dave hs a nip on his bum and Big dave has a bite on his nose (but he will insist on stealing little daves hay!) mallethead

Will they ever be friends, or should I start looking for some lady-pigs?
 
If they've managed to bite each other through the bars then I think you will be going along the lines of two wifepigs...oh well from 2 - 4 cannot be a bad thing ;) !
 
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