Need Help Bonding Two Male Piggies!

[Guinea pig 123]

Hi, I've had a male guinea pig for a year now and decided it was the right time to get him a brother. About three weeks ago we picked up a baby male and brought him to a separate house to live in for a few weeks. He has been living in a separate cage near the adult pig now for one week and today we decided to have them meet in neutral ground with all the food in the middle. After about a half hour of humping mostly from the younger pig, our older pig would try everything in his power to escape the enclosure and would eventually give up and lie down until the younger pig bothered him to the point he had to move. Is this normal behavior and how will i know if they do get along now.

 

[DM030819]

Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

There's a few tips here. Check out the 'sticky' section at the top of this area of the forum for a few other threads on bonding.

 

[Guinea pig 123]

Thank you for posting the thread and I will be sure to read it through thoroughly, but in your opinion, why do you think the older male tried to climb or squeeze his way out of the meeting area? There were no teeth chattering, or signs of fighting, as well as some popcorning between both the pigs.

 

[DM030819]

I think he just wants to be left alone. He's not used to having a younger brother yet.

If they're not fighting then it's best to leave them be. Keep monitoring them to make sure your older boy is still eating and drinking and weighing them to make sure they're eating enough.

 

[3babyangels]

How old is the baby pig?
My boys got introduced in a small basket and left for ten/fifteen minutes to make sure they didn't argue. The new baby was only about five weeks old.
They get on fine but I wouldn't say they love each other. As long as they don't argue then it's fine x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I've had a male guinea pig for a year now and decided it was the right time to get him a brother. About three weeks ago we picked up a baby male and brought him to a separate house to live in for a few weeks. He has been living in a separate cage near the adult pig now for one week and today we decided to have them meet in neutral ground with all the food in the middle. After about a half hour of humping mostly from the younger pig, our older pig would try everything in his power to escape the enclosure and would eventually give up and lie down until the younger pig bothered him to the point he had to move. Is this normal behavior and how will i know if they do get along now.

As there is no sign of violence, I would give it longer. Only if the humping is truly excessive over the span of hours and your older guy is not standing up for himself at all would I call it off. Boars bond via humping.
You may find this guide here helpful: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[flowerfairy]

You have had some great advice. Hope that all goes well with your two boys. Its great that you have got your older boar some company. Lets hope that he soon thinks so as well!

 

[Guinea pig 123]

To be clear, they are not living in the same cage together yet, they have been living in separate cages near eachother and yesterday I set up a neutral playpen for them to meet in. That's where my older pig tried to escape and lay down as he was chased and humped for about an hour and a half to two hours. The humping settled down from the younger pig towards the end, but my older pig would still just lay in the corner with his nose facing out waiting to leave. Should I try giving them a bath together as a next option? There was no fighting and a few happy squeeks.

 

[DM030819]

Alot of people advocate buddy baths but I personally don't bother. They're going to smell like themselves eventually so I don't see the point in trying to mask their smell. Plus it's just scaring them unnecessarily.

Set up the neutral area. Give them a few hideys with two exits, a big pile or hay or two and let them get on with it.

If you're going to move them into one of the cages that one of them has lived in already make sure it gets a really good clean and try to rearrange the inside, just so it's not too familiar for one and he becomes territorial. Two of everything always helps to stave off any issues with sharing.