Possible Depression?

Chickenpies

Chickenpies

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Hi.
If you haven’t read my threads before, I had 2 boys who fought a lot. They had an extreme fight and ripped each others hair out. I seperated them (I have a 2 storey hutch), so that meant they couldn’t see eachother. After that, they didn’t come out as much (especially Berty) I was worried because they didn’t have much to do. I gave Berty back to the rescue yesterday so he can have a friend, and I can get Teddy neutered to get a sow. But in the meantime, Teddy just sits all day all alone. When I come and spend time with him, he popcorns and lets me stroke him. But I’m worried when I’m not there, that he’ll get lonely and bored. Unfortunately, I can’t get him neutered until 18th of September, and he’ll get his sow late October/early November. I don’t think it’d be depression, but is there anything to help Teddy in the meantime? Thank you.
 
Claire W said:
Is he indoors or outdoors? If he’s outdoors, is there anyway you could bring him in to a room like your living room so he has company?
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He is outdoors, unfortunately I won’t be able to bring him indoors because we have a cat. I try and spend as much time with him as possible. I just don’t know what I could do further :(
 
Siikibam said:
Have a read of the guides I’ve linked below. The thing with them is that they need companionship 24/7. Can I ask why you wouldn’t consider bonding him with another boar? The ideal would be to find him a sow that he can live alongside for now, but you can’t try bonding because it only takes a second if the time is right 😉
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
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Unfortunately, we don’t have a cage big enough for 2 boars (he’s also in the teenage months), so we thought getting him a wife would be perfect. I’m trying to make the hutch last a long time so I don’t think we can get him a sow he can live beside. Teddy is a confident piggy, he was comfortable with me on the third day of living with us! I thought he was the dominat one to begin with, but then Berty started testing his dominance. Do you think getting an older sow would be any different from getting one younger/the same age? Thank you!
 
Are you going to be rehoming a new friend for teddy from the same rescue you took berty to? Do they allow for piggies to be rehomed outdoors? I’m only mentioning it because if you get him a sow and it’s November by then, then it is too late to be put piggies who are only used to indoors, outside

Chickenpies said:
Unfortunately, we don’t have a cage big enough for 2 boars (he’s also in the teenage months), so we thought getting him a wife would be perfect. I’m trying to make the hutch last a long time so I don’t think we can get him a sow he can live beside. Teddy is a confident piggy, he was comfortable with me on the third day of living with us! I thought he was the dominat one to begin with, but then Berty started testing his dominance. Do you think getting an older sow would be any different from getting one younger/the same age? Thank you!
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Age is largely irrelevant, a successful bond comes down to mutual liking and character compatibility
 
Piggies&buns said:
Are you going to be rehoming a new friend for teddy from the same rescue you took berty to? Do they allow for piggies to be rehomed outdoors? I’m only mentioning it because if you get him a sow and it’s November by then, then it is too late to be put piggies who are only used to indoors, outside




Age is largely irrelevant, a successful bond comes down to mutual liking and character compatibility
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Yes, they’ll come from the same rescue. They do allow them to go outdoors, her piggies are outdoor piggies. And thank you, do you think with Teddy’s character, a relaxed sow would be okay?
 
Claire W said:
I have 3 cats and my piggies live indoors. He will be fine if in a secure cage
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I do have a run, that comes with a plastic netting to put on top. Do you think that would be okay? I don’t want my cat to jump on top.
 
Chickenpies said:
Yes, they’ll come from the same rescue. They do allow them to go outdoors, her piggies are outdoor piggies. And thank you, do you think with Teddy’s character, a relaxed sow would be okay?
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a sow/boar pairing is the most stable, once they have accepted each other then they are less likely to fall out down the line. But, it could still take a couple of tries to find the right sow
 
Piggies&buns said:
a sow/boar pairing is the most stable, once they have accepted each other then they are less likely to fall out down the line. But, it could still take a couple of tries to find the right sow
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I understand. I have been reading about sow/boar relationships a lot and thought it’d great. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly.
 
Chickenpies said:
I do have a run, that comes with a plastic netting to put on top. Do you think that would be okay? I don’t want my cat to jump on top.
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I would put something else solid on top of you can. Perhaps a temporary indoor cage with lid. Otherwise I would try and stop the cat going in that room - that may be impossible - or always be there to supervise.

He really should be indoors. But the issue is then moving him outdoors later on.
 
Siikibam said:
I would put something else solid on top of you can. Perhaps a temporary indoor cage with lid. Otherwise I would try and stop the cat going in that room - that may be impossible - or always be there to supervise.

He really should be indoors. But the issue is then moving him outdoors later on.
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Yeah, if I do move him back outdoors later, wouldn’t it be a big drop in temperature? I am worried about him. I could close the door overnight and when I got out. Someone is always in the living room during day time, and the cats outside so that’d be okay. If I did bring him inside, what would I have to do when he gets a female? Sorry for the questions, I’m a bit stuck at the moment.
 
Chickenpies said:
Hi.
If you haven’t read my threads before, I had 2 boys who fought a lot. They had an extreme fight and ripped each others hair out. I seperated them (I have a 2 storey hutch), so that meant they couldn’t see eachother. After that, they didn’t come out as much (especially Berty) I was worried because they didn’t have much to do. I gave Berty back to the rescue yesterday so he can have a friend, and I can get Teddy neutered to get a sow. But in the meantime, Teddy just sits all day all alone. When I come and spend time with him, he popcorns and lets me stroke him. But I’m worried when I’m not there, that he’ll get lonely and bored. Unfortunately, I can’t get him neutered until 18th of September, and he’ll get his sow late October/early November. I don’t think it’d be depression, but is there anything to help Teddy in the meantime? Thank you.
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Hi!

Please take the time to read these guides here; I hope that they will help you. It is thankfully only 3 weeks until his operation.
If he suffers very badly after that, please speak to the rescue re. temporary companionship options until he can be fully introduced to sows. Please keep in mind that you have already taken steps towards providing long term stable companionship; it is just a temporary problem.

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please take the time to read these guides here; I hope that they will help you. It is thankfully only 3 weeks until his operation.
If he suffers very badly after that, please speak to the rescue re. temporary companionship options until he can be fully introduced to sows. Please keep in mind that you have already taken steps towards providing long term stable companionship; it is just a temporary problem.

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
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Thank you! I’ll read them now.
 
I have noticed that since I gave Berty away, Teddy has gained a bit of weight (he has always been smaller than Berty). He has never been so thin that it’s unhealthy but he was definitely smaller. Anyone know why? They were seperated but I heard them do a low rumble at each other which made Teddy hide in hidey. If anyone could reply, that’d be great!
 
Chickenpies said:
I have noticed that since I gave Berty away, Teddy has gained a bit of weight (he has always been smaller than Berty). He has never been so thin that it’s unhealthy but he was definitely smaller. Anyone know why? They were seperated but I heard them do a low rumble at each other which made Teddy hide in hidey. If anyone could reply, that’d be great!
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Remind me of his age? Weight gain is perfectly normal though - if he is not adult then you would be expecting to see weight gain each week. How much exercise and time out of his hutch is he getting?
 
Piggies&buns said:
Remind me of his age? Weight gain is perfectly normal though - if he is not adult then you would be expecting to see weight gain each week. How much exercise and time out of his hutch is he getting?
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He is 6 months. Berty was really big. He had some time in the house today, but he hasn’t had much time on the grass because the weather has been up and down, and he’s been off of grass for a few days.
 
Chickenpies said:
He is 6 months. Berty was really big. He had some time in the house today, but he hasn’t had much time on the grass because the weather has been up and down, and he’s been off of grass for a few days.
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You would expect to be seeing steady weight gain each week until he is adult
 
you are doing the best for your piggies.ive had boar pairs and ive been unlucky that many have turned out to be on the dominant side.i neuter all my boars,and find ihe one boars and one or more sows the best combination.i have some herds out in 6 feet hutches all year round.as long as you are prepared to put the effort in with snugglesafes heat pads,stuffing hay everywhere i find they adapt well.i do have a cat,but she does not bother with the guinea pigs.the indoor piggies are in the spare bedroom and i shut the door to that room !
 
eileen said:
you are doing the best for your piggies.ive had boar pairs and ive been unlucky that many have turned out to be on the dominant side.i neuter all my boars,and find ihe one boars and one or more sows the best combination.i have some herds out in 6 feet hutches all year round.as long as you are prepared to put the effort in with snugglesafes heat pads,stuffing hay everywhere i find they adapt well.i do have a cat,but she does not bother with the guinea pigs.the indoor piggies are in the spare bedroom and i shut the door to that room !
Click to expand...
Thank you! My cat is 20 with no teeth so she isn’t so bothered, but I do worry if she does jump into the cage and claw him.
 
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