Finding a new friend for my piggy

Dwarfpotato

Dwarfpotato

Junior Guinea Pig
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Cambridgeshire
Tico (1-2 year old girl) was bereaved a few months ago. Since then I've been working on getting her a friend or two. I've been chatting with a rescue that do residential bonding and they have been great. Tico was put in with two girls and the rescue thought they were getting on ok, but only okkkaaaayyyyy and even after three days they weren't sure if they'd get on permanently. I brought all three home to foster and carry on introductions myself (timing reasons). I tried introducing them again (large bonding pen, neutral space etc) and while things seemed ok to start with, it descended into a flying furball between Tico and the underpiggy of the existing pair. They're now living side by side until I can return the pair in a few weeks, so at least Tico isn't lonely.

I am extremely inexperienced with guinea pigs but from reading around, it seems the problem is Tico is extremely fear aggressive. Also it sounds like three girls is a difficult combination to get to work anyway. Unfortunately the rescue doesn't have any single pigs right now.

Does anyone have any suggestions? What are my options? I don't want to write her off as undateable after one failed bonding, but I can't picture her making friends easily.
 
I’m sorry it didn’t work out with them. I'm not sure I’d write her off as fear aggressive given she was bonded with another sow before. It may just be her and the underpig didn’t get on for whatever reason. I would call round other rescues (see link below) and see if they have any waiting to be paired up. You may have to go a little further out to find her a friend so don’t limit yourself to what is near you.

Hopefully it will work next time. And yes, a trio can be difficult in that sometimes there ends up being an outsider situation. Good luck.
Rescue Locator
 
Siikibam said:
I’m sorry it didn’t work out with them. I'm not sure I’d write her off as fear aggressive given she was bonded with another sow before. It may just be her and the underpig didn’t get on for whatever reason. I would call round other rescues (see link below) and see if they have any waiting to be paired up. You may have to go a little further out to find her a friend so don’t limit yourself to what is near you.

Hopefully it will work next time. And yes, a trio can be difficult in that sometimes there ends up being an outsider situation. Good luck.
Rescue Locator
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Thanks for the help. Her previous friend was very laid back, which helped I think. Tico was doing all the things listed on here under fear aggression - puffing up, hissing, yawning, big teeth chattering, yawning, lunging. The lot. She's also a very nervous pig anyway and has to be coaxed out of her house. The other rescues around here all have few pigs, and they're generally boar pairs.
 
Please don't write her off as being unbondable if she is fear aggressive. My Elizabeth is a bit fear aggressive. Dominant but shy. We tried to bond her and her neutered boar, Edward with a mum and daughter pair but Elizabeth turned on Edward and the bonding failed. We tried again with a very laid back two year old (Ella) and 8 month old (Esme) and they bonded. I now have four piggies.

It may well be that she just didn't like the pair that you tried her with. Please do carry on contacting rescues. They don't always list all their piggies, especially singles on their website.

@Wiebke has several fear aggressive sows that she has found solutions for and will be able to advise further x
 
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Hi!

I've got more than my fair share of fear-aggressive ladies. For most I have eventually found a partner who was patient enough to get through a drawn out slow bonding process (the only time where the bit-by-bit bonding actually makes sense); stopping whenever the fear-aggressive piggy got their limit but still being willing to be friends and then picking up again some days later on while the two are living as neighbours in a divided cage with constant interaction.

It is not easy and may take time. And sometimes even a slow bonding may fail some weeks into the process. But it is worth giving it more tries. Please talk to the rescue and be upfront about your problem.
Just see it as giving your piggy chances so if you have come to the conclusion that they are happier on their own, they have had plenty of opportunity to make their wish clear and you are not left with any doubt.

Next door company for stimulation is still desirable for the vast majority of them. Older ladies coming out of a long term relationship can often be very insecure because they have never had to deal with other piggies except their companion since baby days.
 
Bill & Ted said:
I agree a neutered boar may be your best bet. Can you travel further afield? I know Debbie at The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary has a young boar who is being neutered next week The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary
she may be able to help with bonding too
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I'm in Cambridgeshire but the west side of it so Northampton is easily in reach. I'd be very interested to hear about this boar, @furryfriends (TEAS) ! I've now chatted to another rescue who have some single boars but I'd be doing the introductions myself, which I'm a little nervous of.

I have Ogg and Esme until early September when the rescue owner comes back from holiday, so plenty of time for the boar to be getting over his surgery/6 week wait. And I'll post pictures of Esme and her incredible quiff as soon as I can get her in a good light!
 
Dwarfpotato said:
I'm in Cambridgeshire but the west side of it so Northampton is easily in reach. I'd be very interested to hear about this boar, @furryfriends (TEAS) ! I've now chatted to another rescue who have some single boars but I'd be doing the introductions myself, which I'm a little nervous of.

I have Ogg and Esme until early September when the rescue owner comes back from holiday, so plenty of time for the boar to be getting over his surgery/6 week wait. And I'll post pictures of Esme and her incredible quiff as soon as I can get her in a good light!
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That sounds perfect, he’s a gorgeous boy isn’t he x
 
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