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piggieminder

piggieminder

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I got up today intending to extend Brillo's cage. It's going to be harder to clean out and makes access to Red's balcony difficult but since the boys have all been single it's hard to give them enough space and still have a neighbour, Brillo's lack of space bugged me. Last year I tried every combination of boars together to try and make pairs but they all refused to live together. Brillo and Rusty did make it to 2 months together before Brillo's bullying got too much and Rusty lost weight.
I set up a pen for Brillo while I partially took apart his cage. The pen was next to Caspy on the floor and they were chatting to each other through the grids like they do every time Brillo has floor time. I thought why not? Can't lose anything giving them a go again. They've been together now for about 5 hours. Lots of rumbling and mounting but nothing I wouldn't expect, they've eaten together and had 3 sleeps. If they carry on like this I will clean Nugget's cage out tomorrow and they can have that as it's the biggest at 3.5 x 3 grids. Nugget can go next to Rusty in Brillo's enlarged cage unless he will bond with Rusty which would make cleaning so much easier ....... :hmm:
Please play nice this time boys! I hate having single boars, after years of happy bonded pairs.
 
Maybe the time is right now for them all to get along with a buddy.
 
weepweeps said:
Maybe the time is right now for them all to get along with a buddy.
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Hopefully! They've all had buddies before, Red had a UTI which seemed to tip the balance with him and Brillo after 2.5 years, Peanut died leaving Rusty alone and Caspy and Nugget fell out after being together for 2 years. We seem to have had a run of bad luck with bonds. As much as I'd like to take them for bonding at a rescue and find them all friends they have a habit of falling out with long term friends and we don't have room for more cages!
 
piggieminder said:
Hopefully! They've all had buddies before, Red had a UTI which seemed to tip the balance with him and Brillo after 2.5 years, Peanut died leaving Rusty alone and Caspy and Nugget fell out after being together for 2 years. We seem to have had a run of bad luck with bonds. As much as I'd like to take them for bonding at a rescue and find them all friends they have a habit of falling out with long term friends and we don't have room for more cages!
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Maybe they’ve all finally mellowed out.
 
I used to have four separate boars. It’s a shame when they don’t want to get along.
 
I shall leave them in the bonding pen tonight and see how they are tomorrow. Still lots of rumbling at the moment but only a tiny teeth chatter all day so I'm hopeful. Brillo doesn't have a good record for long term relationships though, he likes to lull me into a false sense of security!
 
It's not a brilliant match I would like but they are tollerating each other at the moment. Lots of grumbling and teeth chattering overnight. They are currently destroying a cardboard box. Better to exercise their teeth on the box than each other! I am debating with myself whether to move them into the cage today or if to leave them in the pen longer. Because Brillo was only going to be in the pen for a short time while I messed about with his cage I didn't put a plastic sheet under the liner, slightly worried about the floor!
 
Second bonding is underway! About 2 hours in. Rusty has really surprised me, he keeps mounting Nugget and grumbling at him. I guess after his very unhappy time with Brillo the bully he's determied not to have sand kicked in his face again. They have napped together and shared pellets and hay - looking good!
 
Both pairs are still together in their respective cages.
After a dodgy day two when Nugget realised Rusty wasn't going to argue back and he got a bit much things have quietened down. I tried them with two door hidies for a day but have removed them again as Nugget kept trying to get in with Rusty, even hooji cubes aren't big enough for that and Rusty was not impressed. I've put a part height roof of spare grids across each end of the cage and made a fleece curtain attached with bull dog clips. This is working well as they have a 'hidey' each end of the cage and room to lie together when it suits. Fingers still crossed Nugget doesn't become too much of a bully.
Brillo and Caspy are lovely when they are asleep or sharing a pile of food! They are still rumble strutting and teeth chattering at random times, no ones being bullied, they are as bad as each other. They have cardboard boxes with three doors cut in each. I live in fear of the disagreements becoming a fight but fingers crossed they settle over the next couple of weeks and my nerves don't give out.
It is so lovely not to be falling over a cage in the middle of the living room floor.
Red still appears to be happy living a single life next door with his super sized balcony to spy on the neighbours without being seen. My partner has named him Mr Parker, he says Red needs a net curtain to twitch. Red does make me laugh with his pursed lip expression as he spies on piggies and humans. The slightest noise makes him rush up his ramp to get a better view!
 
Oh wow, sorry just noticed your thread. Sounds like you & the boys are having a breakthrough :D
Hope they're still behaving?
3x cages to clean instead of 5x has got to be a bonus! :clap:

Does it mean you can use your coffee table as a coffee table again now? ;) :tu:

The girls said they're glad those handsome balls of macho floof are getting along nicely. It makes them even more fancy'able & endearing 💋
They love that Red is a curtain 'twitcher' too! :))
Xx
 
Thank you @GPTV they are still behaving as well as boars tolerating each other do! It's a shame bonds like Spike and Peanut or Peanut and Rusty don't come along everyday! We are enjoying the space and have left the coffee table in the loft for the time being. Sadly Nugget had a very sudden operation yesterday and he is a little sore and very grumpy today. Hoping his teeth chattering at poor Rusty doesn't escalate resulting in me having to seperate them.
The boys send your girls lots of rumbles and kisses!
 
Bill & Ted said:
Aw, great it’s going so well with the boys x
Love Red aka Mr Nosey Parker 😆
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He is so funny, the slightest noise from next door he's peering through the divider. If he can't get a good view he runs up his ramp and has a good look from upstairs. He only has to call and Caspy and Brillo come running to see him at the divider, as soon as they arrive he runs out of sight! Who needs TV?!
 
Had to seperate Nugget and Rusty this evening. Nugget got really grumpy today, teeth chattering at everyone. He charged across the cage at Rusty, teeth chattering and head butted him. I can't see anywhere on Rusty's face that made contact with the teeth but I can't risk it. Rusty is such a lovely gentle old character, he's no threat to Nugget and doesn't try to mount him at all so I thought they would be okay. Will see how things go after Nugget's follow up appointment on Monday and then decide if I'm going to reintroduce or leave them with the divider.
 
Such a shame.
Hopefully when Nugget is fully recovered it will be possible to try and reintroduce the,.
Hlad that the lovely Rusty wasn’t hurt.
 
Rusty and Nugget have been in the bonding pen all morning. There's been lots of humping from both of them, not usually a Rusty thing but I guess this time he's decided he won't just let Nugget off so easily. There's lots of bum flaring displays, Nugget's hair hasn't grown back yet, he looks like one of those bare bottom monkeys at the zoo. :)) I'm about to take the divider down and clean the cage out, there's not really much I can do to make it different but as they have shared the cage before hopefully it will be okay.
 
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