Ophelia

I tried to capture their mutual rumblestrutting. They strut cheek against cheek, Ophelia joining in with Hamlet. However, whilst he popcorns and chunters away once he has passed the end of the grid, she remains there -- squished between water bowl and grid, her cheek pressed right against it. It does not look very comfortable at all. He seems delighted. Whilst, to my eyes, she seems to be taking it very seriously, reading it as a threat of dominance. (She's not taking any s&$* after Betsie!) I just hope they get on ...

I apologise for the photos being sideways -- I don't know why they uploaded like that as they should be portrait mode.

rumblestrut 1.webprumblestrut 2.webprumblestrut 3.webp
 
Ophelia popcorned! :hug:

This really is newsworthy because she never was a popcorner like Bianca, and past babyhood, hardly ever did so. She hasn't popcorned at all for the past few years.

He rumblestrutted a little, she put her nose to the bars and he paused. Then she turned away and popcorned as she went into her hutch.
 
KHBz said:
I tried to capture their mutual rumblestrutting. They strut cheek against cheek, Ophelia joining in with Hamlet. However, whilst he popcorns and chunters away once he has passed the end of the grid, she remains there -- squished between water bowl and grid, her cheek pressed right against it. It does not look very comfortable at all. He seems delighted. Whilst, to my eyes, she seems to be taking it very seriously, reading it as a threat of dominance. (She's not taking any s&$* after Betsie!) I just hope they get on ...

I apologise for the photos being sideways -- I don't know why they uploaded like that as they should be portrait mode.

View attachment 275060View attachment 275061View attachment 275062
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Post number 38 in this thread will show you another way to post pictures.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/photos.213481/page-2
 
We are going to try to bond them tomorrow.

This does mean that it will be impossible to gauge how much Ophelia is eating, if Hamlet can indeed join her. Should we continue to give Ophelia critical care (and therefore, inadvertently, Hamlet, as we serve it in a bowl)? Her weight is not increasing, but neither is it going down. I've realised that it is going to be a long, gradual process for her to put the weight back on. I think that she doesn't look as gaunt as she did, however, even though her weight is much the same.

(We don't want to go back to syringe-feeding -- too distressing all round, for very little.)
 
Got everything crossed for you! I think as long as she’s not actively losing weight then she’s eating enough. Gaining weight does take a long time, my older boy has stabilised but he hasn’t gained at all either

I’m not an expert, just my thoughts ☺️
 
JaseChase said:
Got everything crossed for you! I think as long as she’s not actively losing weight then she’s eating enough. Gaining weight does take a long time, my older boy has stabilised but he hasn’t gained at all either

I’m not an expert, just my thoughts ☺️
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Thank you!
 
Oh very best of luck. So sweet that she popcorned and so lovely that they will be together very soon. I so hope that it goes smoothly for them (and for you)!
 
You may get frazzled posts throughout the day. Our hand was pushed to do it now, 12 days after Hamlet's arrival, because of the start of sixth-form for mini-slave tomorrow. He is 4 days post-neutering. 🤞
 
Lots of chasing and mounting and squeaking but Ophelia has frequently held her own and told him to get lost. She did a long wash to which he responded, albeit with his back to her, before chasing resumed. For quite a long while now there have been two separate piles of hay, from which emanate munching sounds. Watching it all, I wanted to say that I hoped we'd see some popcorning, but rather unfortunately switched around two crucial letters and replaced the second p as well ... (am I allowed to say that?) Thanks, subconscious.
 
KHBz said:
You may get frazzled posts throughout the day. Our hand was pushed to do it now, 12 days after Hamlet's arrival, because of the start of sixth-form for mini-slave tomorrow. He is 4 days post-neutering. 🤞
Click to expand...
Sorry to question things, but how many weeks post-neuter is Hamlet? I'm sure 4 days is a typo but it's not something one can risk getting wrong ...
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Sorry to question things, but how many weeks post-neuter is Hamlet? I'm sure 4 days is a typo but it's not something one can risk getting wrong ...
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Oh crumbs -- that really was quite some thoughtless typo! I missed out the rather crucial 'six weeks' bit. He was neutered six weeks and four days ago. Thank you for picking me up on it.
 
After Hamlet's first enthusiastic hour, with Ophelia sometimes telling him to back off, he hasn't bothered her at all. It seems very harmonious 🤞

They have been there six hours. Perhaps we will move them back to their shared run at supper time in about an hour-and-a-half. We'll use the fleeces we have down in their bonding pen and not put in any of the fabric hideys today -- just huge piles of hay and perhaps a couple of the carrot cottages with the four entrances/exits.
 
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