Re-bonding after babies?

[ag7v3x]

Hello all -

I have two sows, Rumor and Spooky, both under a year old. Didn't know Ru was pregnant when I adopted them, but isn't that the way? She was already in late phases by the time I found out, so the ladies were separated accordingly.

Five days ago she had her babies, two sows and a boar. First introductions did not go well, with Ru chasing Spooky around the cage nipping at her, and I've removed her again with a fence between their enclosures.

All three babies are super curious about Spooky and will sniff and vocalize at her through the fence. She'll sniff them back, nothing aggressive - until Mama Rumor steps in, teeth chattering, hackles raised, and Spooky backs off with a similar display.

I know Ru is getting frustrated with the piglets chasing her around all the time, and Spooky seems pretty bummed that there's so much activity Over There while she has no friends on her side of the wall anymore The single time Ru wiggled her way over, the babies followed, and Spooky was super chill about it until Ru realized what was happening and did her whole aggression dance again.

Any ideas how to reintroduce Mama and her former cagemate?

Location: Great Lakes, US

 

[Piggies&buns]

The guide below has a section on this subject. While the babies are nursing, she is not likely to accept her companion back as she will be protective of her babies. You could need to wait until the babies are weaned.

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/after-birth-mother-and-baby-care.109389/

do ensure you separate the baby boar in time (at 3 weeks of age or 250g so he doesn’t cause any further pregnancies). He will need to be kept in a separate cage alongside the others for company.

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sexing-separating-baby-boars-and-rehoming-babies.109391/

 

[Siikibam]

As above you may have to wait it out. When you did the introduction, was it on neutral ground or did you put Spooky into Rumor’s cage? When sows have pups, their position in the hierarchy changes. So at the moment she is top pig.

You’ll just have to hope that they go back together. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.

What are your plans for the single boar? Are you going to keep him and neuter to re-bond once he’s 6 weeks past operation?