Help please have i done the right thing

larnanoomia said:
Here are riachu and pikachu enjoying their time as neighbours. They are only newly 1 year old so after our holiday this week we plan on neutering them and getting them a sow each so they won't be too lonely . We have the space for them and would love to see them living in pairs
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That's great news. They will both be happy to have a companion.
 
larnanoomia said:
Here are riachu and pikachu enjoying their time as neighbours. They are only newly 1 year old so after our holiday this week we plan on neutering them and getting them a sow each so they won't be too lonely . We have the space for them and would love to see them living in pairs
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What cuties! I had to separate my boars like this due to a medical condition one developed, so it was imperative they remained apart for his safety. Boars can be tricky to bond, but if you had a gut instinct to separate them with their growing conflict you made the right choice. You can try pairing them with other boars, like on a play date at the shelter to see if they're compatible. I'm not sure if having sows for each would create tension and issues, even if they're neutered. Someone with more expertise on this will have to fill me in. Best of luck and glad to see that they're working out as neighbors :nod:
 
wheek!guinea said:
. I'm not sure if having sows for each would create tension and issues, even if they're neutered. Someone with more expertise on this will have to fill me in. Best of luck and glad to see that they're working out as neighbors :nod:
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Having a sow each (once boys are neutered) causes no issues whatsoever - it’s in fact one of the best solutions for fallen out boars
 
wheek!guinea said:
What cuties! I had to separate my boars like this due to a medical condition one developed, so it was imperative they remained apart for his safety. Boars can be tricky to bond, but if you had a gut instinct to separate them with their growing conflict you made the right choice. You can try pairing them with other boars, like on a play date at the shelter to see if they're compatible. I'm not sure if having sows for each would create tension and issues, even if they're neutered. Someone with more expertise on this will have to fill me in. Best of luck and glad to see that they're working out as neighbors :nod:
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Thanks for your reply. The boys actually got neutered on 17th October . We've rescued another female who was abandoned, she's in quarantine for a couple of weeks before introducing her to one of the boys. Then the search begins for another sow :)
 
larnanoomia said:
Thanks for your reply. The boys actually got neutered on 17th October . We've rescued another female who was abandoned, she's in quarantine for a couple of weeks before introducing her to one of the boys. Then the search begins for another sow :)
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Hi

You may find this link here helpful re. the challenges you are facing with a mixed pair. What you are looking for is a personality match, which is not always guaranteed; especially with adult or older sows.
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)

Wishing you all the best. You can try out your sow between the two boars and give them all a week or two to see what happens in terms of interaction.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

You may find this link here helpful re. the challenges you are facing with a mixed pair. What you are looking for is a personality match, which is not always guaranteed; especially with adult or older sows.
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)

Wishing you all the best. You can try out your sow between the two boars and give them all a week or two to see what happens in terms of interaction.
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Thanks. That's the plan see who she gets along with and then our other boar will go to a rescue an hour away to try and find a girl he gets along with
 
Hi hoping for some advice. I introduced one boar to my rescue sow this morning in a neutral playpen. He tried to mount her alot but she just rejected his advances and after 30 mins or so they ate together and had a nap together. After two hours in the playpen I moved them Into their extended enclosure. My boar is teeth chattering abit. Is this normal. I expected mounting etc but not teeth chattering?
 
Also, can my single boar live next to them as neighbours? (Securely) or will this cause issues
 
larnanoomia said:
Hi hoping for some advice. I introduced one boar to my rescue sow this morning in a neutral playpen. He tried to mount her alot but she just rejected his advances and after 30 mins or so they ate together and had a nap together. After two hours in the playpen I moved them Into their extended enclosure. My boar is teeth chattering abit. Is this normal. I expected mounting etc but not teeth chattering?
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Hi

We normally recommend to give your piggies a lot longer in the meeting pen (if necessary overnight) until the roughest of the dominance is over and done with.

This way, your boy is feeling a bit out of his depth. You can either put them back into the bonding pen and give them more time there or remove any housing and cosies until they have sorted themselves out a bit more in terms of leadership. They are now right in the roughest bit. It doesn't mean that the bond has failed; just that there is a disagreement and your boy doesn't quite like that he is coming second and in a territory that make your sow feel stronger.

The whole territorial group establishment takes about 2 weeks; the introduction is only the very start of the full bonding process.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
 
Thanks, so once established can my other boy stay in the same room? I plan to get another female this weekend to try and bond the two
 
larnanoomia said:
Thanks, so once established can my other boy stay in the same room? I plan to get another female this weekend to try and bond the two
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Yes, single boars, mixed pairs/groups and sow pairs/groups are not a problem.

The biggest issue is introducing sow pheromones into a bonded boars space because that can result in an overreaction and a fall-out in boars.

Boars who live alongside sows develop a calming compound - it is not fail-proof, especially not during super-seasons or teenage testosterone spikes/personality clashes, but they tend to react a lot less strongly to sow pheromones.
Single boars are safe alongside sows or mixed pairs because they haven't got another boy to fall out with in their patch as long as they cannot get into the other cage.
 
I took your advice & took them out of the enclosure and back into the playpen. The teeth chattering initially stopped, but when the boar tried to mount the sow again she warned him off and raised her chin. They started eating, but then my sow started chasing him round the pen and he fought back, they lunged at eachother and it kept going so I intervened and took the boar out & put him back in his cage. Ive put the sow back in her cage also. Don't know if I ruined it the first time by taking them out too soon 😭. I'm going to give up for today and try again tomorrow, if it doesn't work with one boar I can try with another. Just sad because I really thought they had bonded initially.
 
larnanoomia said:
I took your advice & took them out of the enclosure and back into the playpen. The teeth chattering initially stopped, but when the boar tried to mount the sow again she warned him off and raised her chin. They started eating, but then my sow started chasing him round the pen and he fought back, they lunged at eachother and it kept going so I intervened and took the boar out & put him back in his cage. Ive put the sow back in her cage also. Don't know if I ruined it the first time by taking them out too soon 😭. I'm going to give up for today and try again tomorrow, if it doesn't work with one boar I can try with another. Just sad because I really thought they had bonded initially.
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Hi

It rather sounds like they cannot come to a settlement as to who is the leader. To be honest, it sounds like a failed bonding to me; but that would have happened irrespective of the location. :(

Give your girl a few days to calm down before trying your other boy. Sows can be trickier to bond because they are not as upfront as the boys.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

It rather sounds like they cannot come to a settlement as to who is the leader. To be honest, it sounds like a failed bonding to me; but that would have happened irrespective of the location. :(

Give your girl a few days to calm down before trying your other boy. Sows can be trickier to bond because they are not as upfront as the boys.
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That's great, thats the clarification i needed. I will try again in a few days with my other boy. It was just strange because at first they did snap together for about 30 mins. He is also my more laid back boy. Ill try my other one later in the week and report back. Thanks very much for your advice its greatly appreciated
 
larnanoomia said:
That's great, thats the clarification i needed. I will try again in a few days with my other boy. It was just strange because at first they did snap together for about 30 mins. He is also my more laid back boy. Ill try my other one later in the week and report back. Thanks very much for your advice its greatly appreciated
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Nap that was supposed to say not snap
 
larnanoomia said:
That's great, thats the clarification i needed. I will try again in a few days with my other boy. It was just strange because at first they did snap together for about 30 mins. He is also my more laid back boy. Ill try my other one later in the week and report back. Thanks very much for your advice its greatly appreciated
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Sow/mixed gender bondings can fail several days in, not necessarily over acceptance but over leadership issues.
 
I let everyone settle down and tried my new pig phoebe with my other neutered boar raichu. At first they ate together he tried to mount her a few times but backed off when she told him to. They both rumble strutted deciding who's boss but sadly within 20 mins they were lunging at eachother, teeth chattering and chinning eachother. This resulted in them spinning round trying to nip eachother . Due to the escalating aggression I terminated the session. So sad its failed with both of my neutered boars now I have 3 living on their own
 
Update, think it failed unfortunately. They did a running lunge and head butted eachother in the air, raichu my boy has a cut on his nose not sure if this is from a scratch or a bite. Continued to face off, no one would back down and they ended up in a fur ball and phoebe got some hair pulled out. Gutted!
 
Very sad times. One of my boys is happy to live alone, but the one who it failed with today is clearly depressed & I dont live local to any rescues to have bonding & i cant afford to take in any more females incase it fails again
 
larnanoomia said:
Update, think it failed unfortunately. They did a running lunge and head butted eachother in the air, raichu my boy has a cut on his nose not sure if this is from a scratch or a bite. Continued to face off, no one would back down and they ended up in a fur ball and phoebe got some hair pulled out. Gutted!
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HUGS

I am very sorry. Not your fault, just not the right lady. Your sow sounds somethat on the fear-aggressive side.

Anyway, I would recommend that you look for sub-adult young sows that are rather looking for someobody to guide them and where the biological urges are strongest. As much as it pains me to encourage people consider using a shop if they cannot find any at a reputable rescue. :(

The older a sow, the less she has those biological urges and less likely she is willing to give up her leadership (of a group of one; but in her mind she is still a leader of her own group), even if she cannot back it up when meeting others.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS

I am very sorry. Not your fault, just not the right lady. Your sow sounds somethat on the fear-aggressive side.

Anyway, I would recommend that you look for sub-adult young sows that are rather looking for someobody to guide them and where the biological urges are strongest. As much as it pains me to encourage people consider using a shop if they cannot find any at a reputable rescue. :(

The older a sow, the less she has those biological urges and less likely she is willing to give up her leadership (of a group of one; but in her mind she is still a leader of her own group), even if she cannot back it up when meeting others.
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I dont know what her life was like before us, she came to us terrified with a broken toe and extremely underweight. Weve nursed her back to health and really hoped she would pair with one of our boys. We are going to take a break for the time being with pairing anyone and just letting them be neighbours. Its not ideal, but thankfully we have the space for them all to be in 4x2 enclosures whilst meeting up at the bars. Phoebe was the aggressor in both situations from what I could gather, she could of been abused or bullied for all I know so we will just take a break for now and feebs can just enjoy being warm and fed
 
larnanoomia said:
I dont know what her life was like before us, she came to us terrified with a broken toe and extremely underweight. Weve nursed her back to health and really hoped she would pair with one of our boys. We are going to take a break for the time being with pairing anyone and just letting them be neighbours. Its not ideal, but thankfully we have the space for them all to be in 4x2 enclosures whilst meeting up at the bars. Phoebe was the aggressor in both situations from what I could gather, she could of been abused or bullied for all I know so we will just take a break for now and feebs can just enjoy being warm and fed
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Poor girl! :(

Keep her in the middle and give her time to get familiar with the boys and over her fears. They will keep each other company through the bars. You will find that your girl may hand out more with one of the boys; that is the one to give a second try.

I had one really highly fear-aggressive sow who failed all possible intros and took several months to make friends through the bars with my smallest and least dominant boar but they are now very happily married. He's just over half her size and weight...

My most difficult case took one and half years to find the squishiest and most gentlest bottom of a group survivor and three weeks of slow bonding attempts with several days time out between the girls to allow Beryn to work past her issues of obviously having a beloved human-orientated single from a young age, who had been found wandering the grounds of a cricket club in North Wales one morning. I've tried Beryn with just about everything from groups, meek husboars, baby girls (which frightened her - literally! - stiff until Betsan came here as a last standing piggy of a long term owner last piggy companion.
I suspect domestic abuse because nobody answered the RSPCA found notices but she had been clearly deeply loved by a human and still wanted to be loved by a human again... :(

Anyway, give all your piggies time and allow them to grow their own bonds and trust.
 
Wiebke said:
Poor girl! :(

Keep her in the middle and give her time to get familiar with the boys and over her fears. They will keep each other company through the bars. You will find that your girl may hand out more with one of the boys; that is the one to give a second try.

I had one really highly fear-aggressive sow who failed all possible intros and took several months to make friends through the bars with my smallest and least dominant boar but they are now very happily married. He's just over half her size and weight...

My most difficult case took one and half years to find the squishiest and most gentlest bottom of a group survivor and three weeks of slow bonding attempts with several days time out between the girls to allow Beryn to work past her issues of obviously having a beloved human-orientated single from a young age, who had been found wandering the grounds of a cricket club in North Wales one morning. I've tried Beryn with just about everything from groups, meek husboars, baby girls (which frightened her - literally! - stiff until Betsan came here as a last standing piggy of a long term owner last piggy companion.
I suspect domestic abuse because nobody answered the RSPCA found notices but she had been clearly deeply loved by a human and still wanted to be loved by a human again... :(

Anyway, give all your piggies time and allow them to grow their own bonds and trust.
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Aww yes she is in the middle. I'm not giving up just yet but we all need a break now from bonding 🫶 thanks for the advice its greatly appreciated
 
Wiebke said:
My most difficult case took one and half years to find the squishiest and most gentlest bottom of a group survivor and three weeks of slow bonding attempts with several days time out between the girls to allow Beryn to work past her issues of obviously having a beloved human-orientated single from a young age, who had been found wandering the grounds of a cricket club in North Wales one morning. I've tried Beryn with just about everything from groups, meek husboars, baby girls (which frightened her - literally! - stiff until Betsan came here as a last standing piggy of a long term owner last piggy companion.
I suspect domestic abuse because nobody answered the RSPCA found notices
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Oh my goodness! How can people abandon a guinea pig to wander around the grounds of a cricket club or any other such place? Some people 😠 Good that you gave Beryn a wonderful home, Wiebke!
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
Oh my goodness! How can people abandon a guinea pig to wander around the grounds of a cricket club or any other such place? Some people 😠 Good that you gave Beryn a wonderful home, Wiebke!
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That was actually a place where she had a fighting chance to be found before being predated and where she would have access to grass, so yes, whatever happened somebody did care at least a bit and not just dumped her in road lay-by, behind a fence in a field or clump of woodland...
This time of year is actually prime dumping time from families where the kids have proven to be trustworthy enough to be upgraded to a puppy for Christmas... :(

My Cornish family, which I adopted wholesale 3 years ago as my last big piggy bucket dream were dumped in dog walking wasteland under a big road bridge.

Brathlys was found in March 2019 after a cold winter by a neighbour living rough for weeks in the garden after the people moved out and took the hutch with them up North in Newcastle. Whether she had a companion who didn't make it we'll never know but she came here as a free 'present' from the rescue because she bit everybody and was far too fear-aggressive for bonding at the rescue.
Within 2 weeks I had her down to mild tweaking and within 2 months she bonded with patient Alan and found new friends in the form of young Melangell and Melangell's big love, widowed neighboar Llelo. It's another living alongside with eventual bonding success story although their bonding happened in smaller sessions going just as far to the point when Brathlys started to go on overload.

If you want to find out more about the piggies I have and have had while a member on this forum, this link from my signature will tell you more about each piggy, not just a picture...
Wiebke's Tribe Photo Gallery


Anyway, I sincerely hope that your new rescue will relax once she realises that she is in a good home and her neighboars are not as bad as she initially thought while she was still too apprehensive for them.
 
Wiebke said:
That was actually a place where she had a fighting chance to be found before being predated and where she would have access to grass, so yes, whatever happened somebody did care at least a bit and not just dumped her in road lay-by, behind a fence in a field or clump of woodland...
This time of year is actually prime dumping time from families where the kids have proven to be trustworthy enough to be upgraded to a puppy for Christmas... :(

My Cornish family, which I adopted wholesale 3 years ago as my last big piggy bucket dream were dumped in dog walking wasteland under a big road bridge.

Brathlys was found in March 2019 after a cold winter by a neighbour living rough for weeks in the garden after the people moved out and took the hutch with them up North in Newcastle. Whether she had a companion who didn't make it we'll never know but she came here as a free 'present' from the rescue because she bit everybody and was far too fear-aggressive for bonding at the rescue.
Within 2 weeks I had her down to mild tweaking and within 2 months she bonded with patient Alan and found new friends in the form of young Melangell and Melangell's big love, widowed neighboar Llelo. It's another living alongside with eventual bonding success story although their bonding happened in smaller sessions going just as far to the point when Brathlys started to go on overload.

If you want to find out more about the piggies I have and have had while a member on this forum, this link from my signature will tell you more about each piggy, not just a picture...
Wiebke's Tribe Photo Gallery
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Wow people can be so cruel! Its bizarre to me that people will dump these pets in places where they couldn't survive by themselves when a vet or a rescue would take them instead of seeing them on the streets
Very sad indeed. Wish I had the space for loads of rescues but I'm unfortunately limited to my front room and I have 2x children so need to be careful how many I take on managing everyone's needs & paying vet bills etc.
 
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