Not a good start with Pippin introduction..

Hannah_xx

Hannah_xx

Forum Buddy
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
3,445
Reaction score
13,373
Points
1,765
Location
Australia, Victoria. (originally from Essex, UK)
I introduced my new rescue girl, Pippin to my bonded 3. And unfortunately it didn’t go well :(
She was trying to challenge Mary constantly, Mary wasn’t interested in the slightest in fighting for top dog position, Mary is very easy going to life and never wants to cause arguments. But Pippin just wasn’t letting it go, rumblestrutting sideways with her hair on end. Even when Mary ran off as she was scared, Pippin just kept chasing her, and tried fighting her on a couple of occasions, pulling out a tuft of hair.
Opal was really worried and just stayed out of it but Pippin went over and pulled out a tuft if her hair too while Opal ran off.
Poor little Olive was so scared and just Wheeking passively saying ‘please don’t hurt me, you can be boss’ But Pippin also tried attacking her.
All 3 girls where running anyway from her in the end, but Pippin kept chasing them. Part of myself is to blame, I tried far too soon. Pippin has only been here a couple of days so everything was new and unfamiliar to her. It wasn’t fair for me to try after her only being here 2 days.

I’ll keep Pippin in her own little pen for a week. It’s attached to the girls so they can get use to each other’s smells and faces. I do feel the damage is already done though, it’s unlikely after such a bad start that it will work next time :’(

I did read on Wiekbes awesome bonding advice, about fear-aggression. I do feel that may have been what Pippin was displaying.

I love her so much already, I’d be devastated if it didn’t work out. I haven’t got room for 2 cages so she would have to go back to the rescue which I’d feel absolutely awful about!

AB5F01EE-837C-4BA4-9AF8-968649FA0844.webp69AAA789-673C-43CA-9D97-0D5369B08470.webp
 
I’ve just done the same thing and now have to build a cage and find a friend for a pig I’ve just taken on. I have just enough room for another cage so I’m lucky - but no more after this!
 
Oh no I'm sorry to hear you aren't off to a good start. I've had it once and had to take the piggy back to the rescue after two weeks and it's awful as you get so attached so quickly
 
So sorry it’s not gone well for the girls. Perhaps Pippin can be homed next to the girls and at some point in the future have introductions again x
 
Sorry it didn’t go well - I hope something goes right somewhere for pippin and the girls xx
 
Swissgreys said:
Sorry it hasn't gone well initially.
How old are your piggies and what is Pippin's background?
Click to expand...

Pippin is 2 years old, The rescue lady said there shouldn’t be any problem bonding her as she’s so sweet. I’ll contact her today and ask if she was with other pigs while in her care. (She was surrendered with no explanation by her original owners)

I’m unsure of my other girls ages. I recon Mary is about 2-3 years old.
Opal and Olive maybe about 1.5 years old.
 
So sorry to read that Pippin bonding hasn’t gone well. Sometimes it takes time but also sometimes the initial reaction from one or more of the piggies is a key to how things may continue.

As with humans the instant attraction or friendship isn’t there instantly but it can grow and flourish ... however again as with humans, you dislike someone from the start and then it doesn’t change.

After writing that I can understand why humans and guinea pigs are so like 🙂👍

I apologise if I wasn’t much help there as I know how disappointing it is when bondings don’t go to plan.
 
I feel you. I have 8 females, 4 pairs. I have tried every combination and there is always one female that ruins it and starts a fight. Would you be able to stack your cages?
 
Livia Rabideau said:
I feel you. I have 8 females, 4 pairs. I have tried every combination and there is always one female that ruins it and starts a fight. Would you be able to stack your cages?
Click to expand...

In a perfect world, I’d happily keep her (and find her a friend) and somehow fit another cage in, stacking is an option but I don’t like how the one underneath would not have as much light. It would also be difficult to clean out.

I’d happily find a way. But I’m not sure how impressed my partner would be. I’ve been dropping hints the last few days about how I don’t want her to go back lol
 
Yeah. I stacked mine and it us difficult to clean 😔. I was as just throwing out ideas. I totally understand. I hope everything works out some how.
 
Shes not been as bad during the girls floortime this week. Pippin is in her cage next to them. Mary comes over and does a little mini butt wiggle, but Pippin hasn’t been reacting to it too much and not teeth chattering as bad.
So hopefully that’s a good sign.. 9712F53A-6875-4AE5-8FA6-8A1404E6340F.webp
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Do you think it's fear aggression then?

@PigglePuggle went through something similar with her new Tallulah when she first got her. Maybe can help
Click to expand...
Yes we had a dreadful bonding attempt with Tallulah that must have been fear aggression (alternative explanation being that Tallulah is just a crazy psycho hippo!) but unfortunately I cant offer any advice here as our solution was for Tallulah to live in her own cage in a different room with her own loveable husboar...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top