New bonding Piggies.

[Sibod]

We have a recently bereived Sow, who was increasingly showiung sings of lonliness.

We decided she had to have company soon, so we approached a reputable (reccomended here) rescue centre who had two similarly aged sows available for adoption.
Their initial meeting in our large(divided) C&C cage was very positive, with popcorning and excitement all round, along with a breif session out with us on our laps.

Today the dynamic was a little different.
In hindsight, and having now read some more information on here and elsewhere, we perhaps should have waited a little longer, but we took the barrier down following the positive first encounter - to give them a little more interaction. However, things rapidly excalated. One of the new piggies came accross to our existing piggie's side, and made a beeline for a hidey. Our existing piggie decided to folow, and then suddenly there was a full on fight. We separated them before it got too far out of hand, and now the barrier is up again.

For most of the day, the two new piggies and the old piggie are sitting at opposite ends of their areas, keeping their distance.

To encourage a little more interaction, we put some hay down at the intersection where the barrier is - and they ate happily together.

However, we then noticed the existing piggie and the new piggie were having a square off at the barrier - with rumble strutting, teeth chattering and fluffing up.

This has continued, though seems less prominant over the last few hours.

Having read the guide posted here, I realise the first full encounter was a mistake - we didn't privde any open ended tunnels for them to go into, and I think the initial fight was caused by Piggie a going into Piggie Bs space and causing a panick.

We will attempt a neutral space tomorrow, with a bit of hay and a couple of open ended hideys for them and see how it goes tomorrow.

I am just praying that their initial fight hasn't set them for life against each other!

 

[Wiebke]

We have a recently bereived Sow, who was increasingly showiung sings of lonliness.

We decided she had to have company soon, so we approached a reputable (reccomended here) rescue centre who had two similarly aged sows available for adoption.
Their initial meeting in our large(divided) C&C cage was very positive, with popcorning and excitement all round, along with a breif session out with us on our laps.

Today the dynamic was a little different.
In hindsight, and having now read some more information on here and elsewhere, we perhaps should have waited a little longer, but we took the barrier down following the positive first encounter - to give them a little more interaction. However, things rapidly excalated. One of the new piggies came accross to our existing piggie's side, and made a beeline for a hidey. Our existing piggie decided to folow, and then suddenly there was a full on fight. We separated them before it got too far out of hand, and now the barrier is up again.

For most of the day, the two new piggies and the old piggie are sitting at opposite ends of their areas, keeping their distance.

To encourage a little more interaction, we put some hay down at the intersection where the barrier is - and they ate happily together.

However, we then noticed the existing piggie and the new piggie were having a square off at the barrier - with rumble strutting, teeth chattering and fluffing up.

This has continued, though seems less prominant over the last few hours.

Having read the guide posted here, I realise the first full encounter was a mistake - we didn't privde any open ended tunnels for them to go into, and I think the initial fight was caused by Piggie a going into Piggie Bs space and causing a panick.

We will attempt a neutral space tomorrow, with a bit of hay and a couple of open ended hideys for them and see how it goes tomorrow.

I am just praying that their initial fight hasn't set them for life against each other!

Hi!

Unfortunately any bonding meetings need to take space outside the cage area. While guinea pigs get on in a herd situation where a number of groups move together to their grazing grounds some distance away, they are rather fiercely territorial about their own little patch. NEVER conduct a bonding in an already settled cage - that is unfortunately indeed a recipe for disaster as the reaction will be strong and hostile; and things can escalate very quickly. Any piggy that feels cornered with try to break free at any cost and that can mean serious defence bites and tussles.

You will have to accept that once piggies have made up their mind that another party is an intruder and not welcome, unfortunately you have had it. They won't change their mind again. Please contact the rescue and explain the situation to them.
See whether you can find a neutered boar and be able to rescue date under expert supervision (you will still have to conduct a session on neutral ground in your home if this is only quick dating instead of residential dating over a several days where the full bonding process can be worked through at the rescue); that may help to get your sow over any apprehensions when meeting other piggies after the recent blow-up (fear-aggression issues). it is very much a shock to all piggies involved.