Going Piggy Dating :)

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MrsSuzy

MrsSuzy

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I'm so excited :)

Some of you might remember I tried to introduce my new piggy Lola to my trio of girls and after 4 days it wan't going to happen. Blood had been drawn, even if it was just a few scratches. So I set out to look for a friend for Lola.

I'm so excited as next Sunday I'll be on my way to Hillsbrooke Rescue Centre in Arlesey with Lola who is going speed dating x) Suzanne has quite a few boys who obviously are neutered so high hopes Lola will find one that is perfect for her. I don't care what he'll look like (for me all piggies are gorgeous), I just want them to love each other.

Quick question: what are the tell tale signs they love each other when you first put them together? How can I tell which one is the one?
 
How exciting!

I am sure the people who run the rescue will know what signs to look out for . No two introductions are ever quite the same. Nearly always the male piggy will be very excited, rumble strutt and try to mount her rolleyes So a lot will depend on Lola's reaction to this. Expect a lot of vocalization, this is normal. If Lola doesn't appreciate the male's advances she may wee in his face :red again this is quite normal. If she starts to chatter her teeth at him this is not a good sign :(

good luck :)
 
I had the same problem when I got Minnie. Her companion had passed away & her owner wanted her to join a group of piggies. I took this on but in the end Minnie just wouldn't bond with the others. On June 1st we took her dating to Bunny Burrows & came away with a lovely neutered boar, Mitch who got on with Minnie straight-away. They been together for 10 days now. & I would recommend anyone to try this with girls who just won't bond with other girls.

With this recent spell of good weather I'm now trying to bond them altogether by giving them an hour on the lawn everyday. It's a lot better than when it was just the 4 girls but I'v got a long way to go yet.

Good Luck with the dating.
 
Sue knows what signs to look for when bonding, she has helped us over the years. Our original pig Gertie was bonded with Johnny when Hillsbrooke was open the first time before they closed for a while and she has since help bond some pigs at our flat - the skinnies, Little Rose and our very odd current neutered boar Barney.

Good luck.
 
good luck with the dating! So exciting, hoping that Lola will find the perfect friend... As others have said above, the rescue will know the signs! Please keep us updated and we expect pigtures! :))
 
Thank you all :)

I literally can't wait. I know Suzanne will be great at spotting the signs but curious to see/ know them. I will take plenty of photos and maybe even a video, eheh.
 
Good luck!

Generally, interest in each other is a good start. Then it comes down to how Lola is reacting to the male attention - does she tolerate it or is she hostile; and how the boy is dealing with her putting him off. If he is popcorning even when he is being told off, you know that you are on a winner... When bonding my own piggies, I mainly go by body language and the general feel. It is a matter of experience and intuition to know what to sit out and when to call the shots.

For your consolation, most girls will find their ideal husboar pretty soon!
 
Lola went piggy dating this morning at Hillsbrooke Rescue Centre and it went really well. From 4 piggies she met we settled with Bradley. They seemed to tolerate each other and were eating grass together. One of the other boys was too passive and the other 2 overly keen. It was a tiresome task for Lola as 2 of the boys were overly keen on her and the 1hr journey each way might have not helped, as she doesn't look happy now.

We got home and they are both in a fresh new cage and they started teeth chattering, both of them. In Bradley's defence he only chatters when Lola chatters at him. They got on so well at the centre :( Is this normal? Will it calm down? It's been a few hours now with on and off chattering and small lunges from Lola.

Just now, I decided to take them out and put them on floor time together, see how that goes. I went to grab Lola and voila, I'm the prouder owner of a first piggie bite...blood inlcuded.8...
 
I am sorry to hear things have not gone so well since you got home :( As you say it has been a very trying day for Lola, it sounds as if the journey and meeting four new pigs one after the other has all been a bit much for her. it will have been stressful and she is probably feeling a bit vulnerable and threatened. I am sure she did not intentionally bite you and was just reacting defencevly as was feeling threatened and would not really have been aware it was you she was biting

If a pig is acting this way and you need to pick them up a good idea is drop a small towel over them and scoop them up that way.

If they are still teeth chattering I would suggest seperating them for the night and start again tomorrow when Lola has had a chance to calm down. The fact they got on well on their date is a good sign they will be able to bond x
 
Thank you :)

Yes, I do think Lola is a bit grumpy with all the action and travelling. The teeth chattering has calmed down and also I've seen what I think is some chase play. I've also seen new boy popcorn right after a chase or a bit of chattering. They are sharing hay and sleeping side by side. I also just spotted what looked like Lola grooming him behind and on his ear?! (is that normal?) Hopes are high :D

In hindsight, it was poor timing to try and get Lola out. I did something similar with one of my gerbils a couple of years ago and also got bitten hard (that should teach me ;)

They are great when out of their cage. I had them together on sofa for a while and they were lovely together. Here is a photo on the new boy (isn't he a cutie?) and a couple of him an Lola. He's such a dinky little boy x)

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Oh he's gorgeous! x) x) and Lola too! I love the last photo, it looks like she's thinking 'It's been a VERY long day .... and don't even think about stealing my coriander!'

It sounds like things are going well. Popcorning is a lovely sign as is Lola grooming his ears. Piggies that live together will often wash each others ears and eyes :)

I think they will get along very well.
 
She has picked out a real cutie for her huspig. Great that the romance has progressed well after all.
 
Awwww he's lovely! They make a beautiful couple. Sounds like all's going well xx
 
Just found this thread again, sorry I missed it. He is lovely.

How are they settling together now?
 
sport_billy said:
Just found this thread again, sorry I missed it. He is lovely.

How are they settling together now?
Click to expand...

They are fine now, it was just first day really. I suppose Lola was tired and fed up.

After that first day they got quite loved up. He chased her, she would run but then she would chase him and he would run. All along popcorning and stuff. Very cute x) They don't sleep together but often groom each other (usually Lola grooms him) and get along well. So happy with my Piggy Boy :)
 
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