Happy piggies?

[*Gemma*]

So I introduced Charlie to my two girls yesterday. Very messy day. Lots of pee, talking and chasing. Today they have been rumble strutting a little. They’ve all napped in the same area, eating together okay, then when they are awake they are chasing and nipping. Is this normal? Will it calm down.. I just wanna make sure they will be happy together. It’s so nerve wracking I guess what I’m asking is what’s normal in a successful bonding?

 

[sport_billy]

Bonding is always a nerve wracking time. It can take several days for it to settle down and bonds to fully establish.

Just keep an eye on everything, sounds like it’s going really well. The chasing is completely normal and should die down. Do you have enough holidays food bowls et cetera for each pig to have one?

How big is your cage also?

 

[cavylover2002]

Silly question-I'm assuming your boar is neutered?
I was extremely nervous while introducing my guinea pigs too.
They seem to be getting along fine. Guinea pigs who are 100% bonded usually eat together, sleep together, groom each other...etc. Some guinea pigs are never FULLY bonded (only tolerate each other or kinda ignore each other) and then in other cases, they're are great bonds between a group or pair. Rumble strutting is perfectly normal, mine still do it ALL the time and they've been together for a year. As for the nipping, that is normal too. Sounds like you'll have a great group there.

 

[*Gemma*]

Bonding is always a nerve wracking time. It can take several days for it to settle down and bonds to fully establish.

Just keep an eye on everything, sounds like it’s going really well. The chasing is completely normal and should die down. Do you have enough holidays food bowls et cetera for each pig to have one?

How big is your cage also?

I have a 2x5 enough hideys and bowls and water bottles.
Yesterday they all slept in the same area. So I took that as a good sign. Then today if they are awake it’s just chasing and nipping and then they will eat, sleep, back to it again.

I’ve had no teeth chattering, no yawning or lunging. So I guess I should just let them get on with it? Such a scary time.

Silly question-I'm assuming your boar is neutered?
I was extremely nervous while introducing my guinea pigs too.
They seem to be getting along fine. Guinea pigs who are 100% bonded usually eat together, sleep together, groom each other...etc. Some guinea pigs are never FULLY bonded (only tolerate each other or kinda ignore each other) and then in other cases, they're are great bonds between a group or pair. Rumble strutting is perfectly normal, mine still do it ALL the time and they've been together for a year. As for the nipping, that is normal too. Sounds like you'll have a great group there.

He is neutered yes, adopted him yesterday from Neville’s Nest and he ready to be with girls yesterday which is when I bonded them.

Everything I read says normal, it’s just such a scary time, I wish they could talk and tell me what’s going on

 

[Wiebke]

I have a 2x5 enough hideys and bowls and water bottles.
Yesterday they all slept in the same area. So I took that as a good sign. Then today if they are awake it’s just chasing and nipping and then they will eat, sleep, back to it again.

I’ve had no teeth chattering, no yawning or lunging. So I guess I should just let them get on with it? Such a scary time.



He is neutered yes, adopted him yesterday from Neville’s Nest and he ready to be with girls yesterday which is when I bonded them.

Everything I read says normal, it’s just such a scary time, I wish they could talk and tell me what’s going on

Settling the hierarchy and establishing a working group can take several days; typically two weeks; the chasing etc. should settle down more with every passing day after the first 2-3 days. Please make sure that you do only have hideys with two exits.

Please be aware that bondings can still fail during the dominance phase if your piggies cannot agree on the final hierarchy. If you notice that things are getting more intense and acrimonious instead of settling down and lessening in intensity (apart from your sows are coming into their first season), then the bond is likely not going to be successful.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[*Gemma*]

Settling the hierarchy and establishing a working group can take several days; typically two weeks; the chasing etc. should settle down more with every passing day after the first 2-3 days. Please make sure that you do only have hideys with two exits.

Please be aware that bondings can still fail during the dominance phase if your piggies cannot agree on the final hierarchy. If you notice that things are getting more intense and acrimonious instead of settling down and lessening in intensity (apart from your sows are coming into their first season), then the bond is likely not going to be successful.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Thank you.

I've read the post it was very helpful. If they aren't showing any signs of aggression is that a good sign? I've got the week off work to keep an eye on how it's all going. I get that it might fail. I just don't know wether to take it as good sign or bad sign

 

[sport_billy]

@Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you.

I've read the post it was very helpful. If they aren't showing any signs of aggression is that a good sign? I've got the week off work to keep an eye on how it's all going. I get that it might fail. I just don't know wether to take it as good sign or bad sign

Hi! Please read the guide link I have included; it is listing behaviours typical for every stage.

Since it is all in the body language and the interaction, it is impossible for me to judge just from your words where yours stand, but I wouldn't be too worried if they happily settle down together in between.

 

[Merab]

Hope it continues to go well.
It took mine about 2 weeks to settle down and I did have a bit of fur pulling and nips.
I was stressed out and the piggies were quite OK - they knew what they were doing.
The 2 who caused me most anxiety have now become very good friends and partners in mischief.

Hang on in there

 

[PigglePuggle]

I think it would be quite bad luck for a pair of single ladies to totally reject an eligible husboar, especially if they have gone 24 hours together with not much aggression?There may be some rather heated negotiations where they tell him to back off and calm down until they are in season, but if he listens to what they are saying to him then it should be ok I would think? Our husboar tried dominate the ladies for about a week, then he was severely put in his place and looked sad for another week, now they are all very happy mostly unless he pushes his luck and then they definitely let him know about it and he has to sleep on the floor and has his dinner stolen. But they mostly sort it out in a few hours and are good friends.

 

[cavylover2002]

I have a 2x5 enough hideys and bowls and water bottles.
Yesterday they all slept in the same area. So I took that as a good sign. Then today if they are awake it’s just chasing and nipping and then they will eat, sleep, back to it again.

I’ve had no teeth chattering, no yawning or lunging. So I guess I should just let them get on with it? Such a scary time.



He is neutered yes, adopted him yesterday from Neville’s Nest and he ready to be with girls yesterday which is when I bonded them.

Everything I read says normal, it’s just such a scary time, I wish they could talk and tell me what’s going on

I know exactly how you feel

 

[Abbie Brooks]

So I introduced Charlie to my two girls yesterday. Very messy day. Lots of pee, talking and chasing. Today they have been rumble strutting a little. They’ve all napped in the same area, eating together okay, then when they are awake they are chasing and nipping. Is this normal? Will it calm down.. I just wanna make sure they will be happy together. It’s so nerve wracking I guess what I’m asking is what’s normal in a successful bonding?

When I bonded my two girls I did a couple of sessions in the bath tub and then once they had been doing that for a week without any issues (about an hour at a time due to a busy schedule) I put them into the large cage after I’d cleaned it out and they haven’t really chased or nipped since. Acorn was quite aggressive (for lack of a better word) with the grooming and I did sometimes push her away a little bit just so she didn’t scare the younger pig and she hadn’t been with a guinea pig for a while I was worried she’d forgotten how to behave There was a bit of teeth chattering but that all calmed down as they got used to each other and got settled into a routine (blinds open, “morning piggies!”, morning veg, small cage clean...) from the sounds of it you’ve done a great job! I think every experience is different and so it might take a while or be fairly quick for things to settle down - only time will tell but please keep us updated I’d love to hear how it all goes!

 

[*Gemma*]

Hope it continues to go well.
It took mine about 2 weeks to settle down and I did have a bit of fur pulling and nips.
I was stressed out and the piggies were quite OK - they knew what they were doing.
The 2 who caused me most anxiety have now become very good friends and partners in mischief.

Hang on in there

Oh gosh that gives me some comfort. It’s just So nerve wracking! Scarier than I thought it would be, was like omg please be nice to eachother

I think it would be quite bad luck for a pair of single ladies to totally reject an eligible husboar, especially if they have gone 24 hours together with not much aggression?There may be some rather heated negotiations where they tell him to back off and calm down until they are in season, but if he listens to what they are saying to him then it should be ok I would think? Our husboar tried dominate the ladies for about a week, then he was severely put in his place and looked sad for another week, now they are all very happy mostly unless he pushes his luck and then they definitely let him know about it and he has to sleep on the floor and has his dinner stolen. But they mostly sort it out in a few hours and are good friends.

They are standing there ground and he is listening to that. Darcy and Charlie have already shared a tunnel together, but Darcy is so laid back. Maisie is my vocal pig that went through a phase of just making noise if anyone went near her, but they are all settled down in the same area sleeping together.

It’s more I just want to know that they are/will be happy, I just gotta stick with it, how scary is your first bonding!

I know exactly how you feel

Thank you, I’m just going to be a brave girl and let them sort out their issues

 

[*Gemma*]

When I bonded my two girls I did a couple of sessions in the bath tub and then once they had been doing that for a week without any issues (about an hour at a time due to a busy schedule) I put them into the large cage after I’d cleaned it out and they haven’t really chased or nipped since. Acorn was quite aggressive (for lack of a better word) with the grooming and I did sometimes push her away a little bit just so she didn’t scare the younger pig and she hadn’t been with a guinea pig for a while I was worried she’d forgotten how to behave There was a bit of teeth chattering but that all calmed down as they got used to each other and got settled into a routine (blinds open, “morning piggies!”, morning veg, small cage clean...) from the sounds of it you’ve done a great job! I think every experience is different and so it might take a while or be fairly quick for things to settle down - only time will tell but please keep us updated I’d love to hear how it all goes!

I’ve had no teeth chattering accept from Darcy, but that was aimed at me cause I was trying to pick her up, how dare I

I expected yesterday, all the messy pee and humping, but I think the after bit has been more nerve wracking, I’m constantly questioning it, are they happy, do they like eachother, are they settling down, are they going to fall out.

You’ve all made me feel better.. thank you

 

[DMS260820]

I had the most relaxed bond experience i think, my boar and sow just accepted each other straight away, but they are not very close atall, its just basicly they like having another pig there to speak to but thats that lol

 

[Abbie Brooks]

I’ve had no teeth chattering accept from Darcy, but that was aimed at me cause I was trying to pick her up, how dare I

I expected yesterday, all the messy pee and humping, but I think the after bit has been more nerve wracking, I’m constantly questioning it, are they happy, do they like eachother, are they settling down, are they going to fall out.

You’ve all made me feel better.. thank you

I’m glad we could help. I sometimes feel the same way and mine have been together a month. I think the worry eases as time passes. I still question if mine are close and wether Acorn is happier now that she is with Hazel