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piggieminder

piggieminder

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Since losing Willow Bracken has been slowly declining, losing weight, lying around the cage and really only showing any interest at all when I sit beside the cage and talk to him, which as much as I'd like to I can't do all day. I have been scanning the internet for a rescue to bond him with another boar. I've had no luck at all and I don't feel my bonding skills are up to bonding him with an older boar I found who has had an already turbulent life. This rescue also said it would take 3 weeks to process my application. The soonest I could get him in for bonding was the end of November elsewhere. I tried a local hobby breeder today but he had no baby boars. With very much reluctance I have been to Pets at Home and bought a baby this evening, he is now living alongside Bracken, after a period of settling in and quarantine I will get the pen out and try bonding. Whatever happens this baby will have his forever home here. I am sad I had to do this on very many levels but pleased there seems to be a shortage of boars in rescue. Baby as yet has no name but I am sure one will come to me as I get used to him and he steals my heart just like all my fur babies have done in the past, everything is still a bit raw at the moment after losing Willow so suddenly. Hoping baby will cheer this sad house up once he has settled in.
 
Again I'm so sorry for your loss of Willow but I think you've done the right thing in offering another guinea pig a home. It's unfortunate it's not a rescue piggy but pet shop piggies still need homes all the same and at least he's found one there with you. I hope the bonding goes well for you and Bracken cheers up once he meets the newbie- as well as you. Willow wouldn't want you to be sad. X you'll have to post pictures once he's more settled.
 
Congratulations on your new arrival. You have have done the right thing putting Brackens needs above all else, sometimes you just can't get a rescue pig, nothing wrong in that. I do hope the bonding goes well, sending you and Bracken lots of love x
 
I hope it all goes well for you. The only thing I would suggest (as it's P@H, and they seem to have previous) is to check, check and check again that it is DEFINITELY a boar, or you could be in for a surprise. Although rescues are preferable, you are quite right to get him a pal asap, and if that means a shop, well, it means a shop. Good luck!
 
Lovely to hear that you’ve found a friend for Bracken!
We all try to rescue piggies or other animals but sometimes none available. Bracken needed a companion, you’ve found one, so a happy ending once they’ve bonded!
Hope to see a photo of new arrival soon. X
 
My OH has named the newbie Rusty. He is mostly mouse coloured which is shot through with red, he looks like he is going rusty. :lol:

To start with they got to know each other through the bars for a few days.

IMG_6531.webp
Then they met in the puppy pen with a pile of hay.IMG_6555.webp
After a while the hay walked to the side of the run.
IMG_6559.webp
If you look closely you can just see a little and a large fluffy bottom! They slept for ages in the hay with an anxious slave waiting for them to wake up for the next stage when there could be some problems. They had other ideas and just went back to eating! I left them in the pen until early evening when I moved them into the altered and completely refurbished cage. This way I could monitor them until bedtime and decide if I was having a night on the sofa. They were fine other than Bracken being a bit upset his loft had gone, he kept looking for the way up. They were so good together all evening I decided it was safe to leave them and sleep in my bed. The next day they enjoyed floor time together.
IMG_6565.webp
So far so good. Bracken is being a very patient uncle and putting up with a lot from Rusty including being barbered to the extent he's lost his skirt and his lovely peacock tail, he looks like he's been hacked with a carving knife. We've a lot of months of hormone spikes and dominance issues to go through I'm sure, but so far I've not heard a single grumble or rumble strut (more than I can say for the old boars unstairs!).
 
This is so good to see. What fabulous photos of a bonding in process. I’m holding my breath with you that this all works out but it certainly looks very promising. Welcome to the forum Rusty. Hope to see much more of you x
 
Congrats on your new baby boy, Rusty is a lovely name. You did the best for Bracken. He needed a friend quickly & going to Pets at home was the fastest way in the circumstances. Just enjoy the 2 of them.
By the look of them, you have a great bond there.
 
piggieminder said:
My OH has named the newbie Rusty. He is mostly mouse coloured which is shot through with red, he looks like he is going rusty. :lol:

To start with they got to know each other through the bars for a few days.

View attachment 73810
Then they met in the puppy pen with a pile of hay.View attachment 73811
After a while the hay walked to the side of the run.
View attachment 73812
If you look closely you can just see a little and a large fluffy bottom! They slept for ages in the hay with an anxious slave waiting for them to wake up for the next stage when there could be some problems. They had other ideas and just went back to eating! I left them in the pen until early evening when I moved them into the altered and completely refurbished cage. This way I could monitor them until bedtime and decide if I was having a night on the sofa. They were fine other than Bracken being a bit upset his loft had gone, he kept looking for the way up. They were so good together all evening I decided it was safe to leave them and sleep in my bed. The next day they enjoyed floor time together.
View attachment 73813
So far so good. Bracken is being a very patient uncle and putting up with a lot from Rusty including being barbered to the extent he's lost his skirt and his lovely peacock tail, he looks like he's been hacked with a carving knife. We've a lot of months of hormone spikes and dominance issues to go through I'm sure, but so far I've not heard a single grumble or rumble strut (more than I can say for the old boars unstairs!).
Click to expand...

The hay walking to the other side of the pen had me laugh! Looks like they're already up to something! Bracken appears to love the new addition and I'm glad it went well for you. X
 
piggieminder said:
My OH has named the newbie Rusty. He is mostly mouse coloured which is shot through with red, he looks like he is going rusty. :lol:

To start with they got to know each other through the bars for a few days.

View attachment 73810
Then they met in the puppy pen with a pile of hay.View attachment 73811
After a while the hay walked to the side of the run.
View attachment 73812
If you look closely you can just see a little and a large fluffy bottom! They slept for ages in the hay with an anxious slave waiting for them to wake up for the next stage when there could be some problems. They had other ideas and just went back to eating! I left them in the pen until early evening when I moved them into the altered and completely refurbished cage. This way I could monitor them until bedtime and decide if I was having a night on the sofa. They were fine other than Bracken being a bit upset his loft had gone, he kept looking for the way up. They were so good together all evening I decided it was safe to leave them and sleep in my bed. The next day they enjoyed floor time together.
View attachment 73813
So far so good. Bracken is being a very patient uncle and putting up with a lot from Rusty including being barbered to the extent he's lost his skirt and his lovely peacock tail, he looks like he's been hacked with a carving knife. We've a lot of months of hormone spikes and dominance issues to go through I'm sure, but so far I've not heard a single grumble or rumble strut (more than I can say for the old boars unstairs!).
Click to expand...
Looks like it’s working out! I know there’s hormones to go through but a stable start together should certainly help any niggles!
The travelling hay was so funny!
 
The travelling hay was so funny and they worked together to move it so well, wish I had a video camera! When the hay finally moved as far as it could go this is all I could see! I was worried they were over heating snuggled together under all that hay for so long.
IMG_6563.webp
 
piggieminder said:
The travelling hay was so funny and they worked together to move it so well, wish I had a video camera! When the hay finally moved as far as it could go this is all I could see! I was worried they were over heating snuggled together under all that hay for so long.
View attachment 73829
Click to expand...
They’d soon move if too warm! Just enjoying snuggle time! Away from nosey humans! Lol
 
I've just become a real worry wort at the moment, Peanut can't make a sound without me peering anxiously into the cage to see if he's squeeky peeing! After Willow I'm terrified of missing something, even though in my heart I know if we'd known about his illness quicker we couldn't have saved him into old age.
 
They are very settled. Rusty is the boss, all 420g of him, he's restyled Bracken's hair, claimed the best hidey, took food from my hand day two of being here, knows the fridge door opening, expects grass every time the back door opens and no one dare rustle a bag! He's not afraid of anything or anyone, no diving to hide away at strange movement or noise. I keep getting the spooky feeling this one's been here before!
 
I thought some of you might be interested in an update on Bracken and Rusty's bond. It's hard to believe Rusty has been here 12 weeks now. These two are still getting on very well and happily share their home, they look anxiously for each other if they become seperated at floor time. We are still not over the difficult ages for hormone surges but the bond is looking very good so far. Bracken is approx 13 months and Rusty is approx 6 months. In the beginning Uncle Bracken let baby Rusty walk all over him and have his own way but now he is standing up for himself. I am dreading one of them going for a strong dominance but am pleased that Bracken is not going to allow himself to be bullied.
IMG_9366.webp
 
piggieminder said:
I thought some of you might be interested in an update on Bracken and Rusty's bond. It's hard to believe Rusty has been here 12 weeks now. These two are still getting on very well and happily share their home, they look anxiously for each other if they become seperated at floor time. We are still not over the difficult ages for hormone surges but the bond is looking very good so far. Bracken is approx 13 months and Rusty is approx 6 months. In the beginning Uncle Bracken let baby Rusty walk all over him and have his own way but now he is standing up for himself. I am dreading one of them going for a strong dominance but am pleased that Bracken is not going to allow himself to be bullied.
View attachment 78220
Click to expand...
They are looking really good together!
 
Just a few days after my last thread Rusty started mounting Bracken incessantly, the rumbling and squealing was deafening. One evening I took Rusty out of the cage for lap time on his own to give Bracken a rest. This lasted for a week and settled down again. Bracken now lies down when Rusty mounts him and he soon gives up. So so far so good really. I managed to get a few pictures today but I can't load them onto the forum as the error message says they are too big! So here's one I took 2 weeks ago.IMG_9347.webp
 
Just a quick update. The boys are still getting along really well. The usual mounting and grumbling but more like play than anything agressive. One day last week I saw Bracken at Rusty's ear and I jumped up thinking he was biting him. I then realised he was licking him, Rusty lifted his head and Bracken licked his cheek. I have to admit this brought a tear to my eye. Long may this love affair continue. :luv:
I will probably make this the last up date on this thread, I hope it has been of interest to all and maybe some help to anyone embarking on a similar journey.
IMG_0154.webp
Almost the same size now!
 
piggieminder said:
Just a quick update. The boys are still getting along really well. The usual mounting and grumbling but more like play than anything agressive. One day last week I saw Bracken at Rusty's ear and I jumped up thinking he was biting him. I then realised he was licking him, Rusty lifted his head and Bracken licked his cheek. I have to admit this brought a tear to my eye. Long may this love affair continue. :luv:
I will probably make this the last up date on this thread, I hope it has been of interest to all and maybe some help to anyone embarking on a similar journey.
View attachment 83256
Almost the same size now!
Click to expand...
It’s great that they’re getting on so well!
They are both really handsome. Xx
 
This is our new baby Barnaby ... Thank you for referring me to your post the baby acts like boss and they were getting along just well I'm working right now but can't wait to get home and check in ..rhe first 24 hours went well
piggieminder said:
They are very settled. Rusty is the boss, all 420g of him, he's restyled Bracken's hair, claimed the best hidey, took food from my hand day two of being here, knows the fridge door opening, expects grass every time the back door opens and no one dare rustle a bag! He's not afraid of anything or anyone, no diving to hide away at strange movement or noise. I keep getting the spooky feeling this one's been here before!
Click to expand...

20180320_154703(0).webp
 
Gizmosis said:
This is our new baby Barnaby ... Thank you for referring me to your post the baby acts like boss and they were getting along just well I'm working right now but can't wait to get home and check in ..rhe first 24 hours went well

View attachment 83259
Click to expand...
Looks like the wee one is resting his head on your other ones nose! Sweet!
 
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