New baby, when to bond?

[Gemma1286]

Hi! Today I bought a new baby boy, he is such a sweet heart! I've put him in a temp cage while he settles in. He's roughly 8 weeks. Initially I thought there'd be a quarantine period, but upon reading one of the sticky threads it says "If you bring home babies under 12 weeks, please waive a quarantine as their need for companionship is too desperate."
Do I follow this and attempt intros in a few days? Or in a few weeks? I feel so silly for asking but reading this info has made me question what way to go.

 

[Merab]

All I can say is be guided by the bonding guides on the forum.
They are excellent.
Who are you bonding your new baby with?

No need to feel silly- especially not when you are trying to do the best thing for your new boy.
The only silly question is the one you don’t ask.

This is a great place to ask questions and get support.
Please let us see pics of your boy

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have ignored quarantine periods before and usually for me it depends on the piggy. When I got Poppy at 6 weeks old just a couple of months back I wanted her on her own for a couple of nights while I went away so I could make sure the bond worked but she didn't move or eat in the first night so I shoved Daisy in with her for a few hours and once I knew they were getting on I was able to go away and leave them to it until I was back to bond with the other two. I've done the same with fully grown piggies too but it depends on their character and whether they can cope on their own for a little bit

 

[Gemma1286]

All I can say is be guided by the bonding guides on the forum.
They are excellent.
Who are you bonding your new baby with?

No need to feel silly- especially not when you are trying to do the best thing for your new boy.
The only silly question is the one you don’t ask.

This is a great place to ask questions and get support.
Please let us see pics of your boy

I've been reading them but really don't know which way to turn with this one and the part I quoted made me second guess what to do. I want to get it right.
Want to bond him with my 4 1/2 year old boy who's had some form of company years ago with pigs more feisty than him thinking it'd make him more confident, but never worked out as the piggies bullied him. I chose a very calm boy this time round, one that's just like my older boy.

I'll post pics if I can do it via my phone, need to take some first as I've left him alone to settle in today.

 

[Gemma1286]

I have ignored quarantine periods before and usually for me it depends on the piggy. When I got Poppy at 6 weeks old just a couple of months back I wanted her on her own for a couple of nights while I went away so I could make sure the bond worked but she didn't move or eat in the first night so I shoved Daisy in with her for a few hours and once I knew they were getting on I was able to go away and leave them to it until I was back to bond with the other two. I've done the same with fully grown piggies too but it depends on their character and whether they can cope on their own for a little bit

I brought new boy home at 3pm (UK time) and I've not seen him eat or drink yet, he was in a corner for a few hours and has been right at the back of his igloo since. So that's just over 9 hours so far. Should I try to do the intro tomorrow if he hasn't had any food or drink tonight?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I brought new boy home at 3pm (UK time) and I've not seen him eat or drink yet, he was in a corner for a few hours and has been right at the back of his igloo since. So that's just over 9 hours so far. Should I try to do the intro tomorrow if he hasn't had any food or drink tonight?

Yes absolutely, it sounds like he is not happy alone at all. Just be vigilant for any outbreak of ringworm etc

 

[Gemma1286]

Yes absolutely, it sounds like he is not happy alone at all. Just be vigilant for any outbreak of ringworm etc

It doesn't look like he's moved and I haven't seen him at all today except from when I peep into his house. Will be attempting to introduce today in my bathroom.
He's been checked for ringworm and mites, seems to be healthy so will chance it as he doesn't appear happy at all!
Fingers are crossed it'd go ok.

 

[Merab]

Go for it - sounds as if that is the most important way for your boy.
Hope all goes well

 

[Lady Kelly]

It doesn't look like he's moved and I haven't seen him at all today except from when I peep into his house. Will be attempting to introduce today in my bathroom.
He's been checked for ringworm and mites, seems to be healthy so will chance it as he doesn't appear happy at all!
Fingers are crossed it'd go ok.

Ringworm has something like a 14 day incubation (can't remember the exact timing) so you might not see anything until it's too late. However if the poor little boy is depressed and not eating he won't have the time to make it through a quarantine period. I think you are doing the best thing for him

 

[Gemma1286]

30 minutes in and zero aggression, the opposite in fact. Ginger has been munching hay, having a nose around this strange room and watching this strange blob. He looks and bit confused! But new baby just runs away diving into the hay and hiding
There's been no interaction apart from the odd sniff from Ginger which results in the baby full on charging to hide away.

 

[Gemma1286]

30 minutes in and zero aggression, the opposite in fact. Ginger has been munching hay, having a nose around this strange room and watching this strange blob. He looks and bit confused! But new baby just runs away diving into the hay and hiding
There's been no interaction apart from the odd sniff from Ginger which results in the baby full on charging to hide away.

Update - The baby piggy has started eating! Those munching sounds are like music to my ears

 

[PeanutAndMe]

wow! you are lucky!
when i introduced my gpigs, it took them forever to settle down and eat together!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Well done. Babies are usually fairly easy, they don't yet realise they can challenge authority. The easiest bonds I have ever done have been babies

 

[Merab]

Sounds positive.
Hope Ginger and Baby settle well together

 

[Gemma1286]

I hope this works! This is the best photo I could get of them both during bonding time earlier. Before hay started flying obviously Ginger is the ginger and white piggy and the baby is the black one. Thinking of names still!

 

[PeanutAndMe]

here are a few name suggestions:

• Ash
• Blackjack
• Coal
• Dusky
• Ebony
• Inka
• Jet
• Luna
• Midnight
• Moon
• Onyx
• Panther
• Raven
• Sable
• Shadow
• Shades
• Smokey
• Sooty
• Twilight
• brownie

the name ideas i got from squeaksandnibbles.com

 

[SingingPigMom]

He's adorable! Is Ginger fixed? Baby boars can be fertile as early on as 3-5 weeks of age. Monitor him for purring, particularly if Ginger is older than 8 months old (her pubic bone may fuse at this age, making a delivery fatal).

 

[Louise's Zoo]

He's adorable! Is Ginger fixed? Baby boars can be fertile as early on as 3-5 weeks of age. Monitor him for purring, particularly if Ginger is older than 8 months old (her pubic bone may fuse at this age, making a delivery fatal).

I think Ginger is also a boy