Should I just go for it?

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I'm pondering whether to bond Squilliam and Clive. He's completed a two week quarantine and he's fine, I've had Clivey out next to Squilliam (through the bars) and I've just seen Squilliam popcorn for the first time! Not to mention he actually took a piece of cucumber from my hand because he saw Clive eating some. He seems to have livened up a lot, he's usually a wreck around me, very skitty. With Clive around though he's being very vocal and zooming everywhere, Clive seems to be getting a bit excited too. I've scrubbed Clive's hutch with disinfectant so it doesn't smell of him and I have the bonding pen set up. I never sleep at night so this is probably the best time for me to do it and observe them.

Basically, I need a kick up the bum from people :red I'm nervous but they seem to like each others company so far.
 
Well you dont know until you try, this could be the best thing you ever did! You'll wonder why you never did it before.

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They're in together. At first they just stood still and ignored each other. There is some rumble strutting from Clive and a bit of teeth chattering here and there. No mounting so far, they've both eaten a piece of sprig green and hay. Squilliam is staying away from Clive a bit, he seems to be a bit more submissive. They seem to be ok, I'm quite pleased so far. As long as no one bites I think all is good!
 
Quick update. Clive is trying to mount, Squilliam isn't liking it! There hasn't been a fight as such, just a bit of retaliation when Squilliam gets annoyed. They're still eating and Clive seems to be getting the message. The teeth chattering is still happening but they're also squeking in a pleasant way, the way that they do when they're exploring. I'm shaking more than them I think. A lot is riding on this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
Quick update. Clive is trying to mount, Squilliam isn't liking it! There hasn't been a fight as such, just a bit of retaliation when Squilliam gets annoyed. They're still eating and Clive seems to be getting the message. The teeth chattering is still happening but they're also squeaking in the way that they do when they're exploring, I presume they're talking to each other. I'm shaking more than them I think. A lot is riding on this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
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The mounting is fine as long as squilliam moans but tolerates it. My new boy mounted like crazy for weeks it was hell sometimes & Rodney would squeal & squinney. It does wear off tho you just have to let them get on with it. As long as you have one mounting and one submissively moaning about it should be ok. Chattering is ok to an extent too. They are sorting things out. It sounds good to me! It's nerve wracking tho I kno.... I was the same x
 
The chattering is only present when they go near each other mallethead I thought at first it were all Squilliam but Clive seems to be the main problem. I really want this to work and I know it's only early days but Squilliam doesn't seem to want a boss, which Clive seems dead set on being. I'm going to try a bonding bath and then try them in the hutch. No one has bitten or fought yet but there have been the odd nips when Clive gets too big for his boots, Squilliam clearly isn't a wimp but he does run off opposed to getting confrontational. They're both still eating and not bothering each other too much. My issue is, if this doesn't work I don't know what I can do with Squilliam, ideally I only have room for 3 c&c cages stacked.
 
Give it a chance they're not doing too badly. Mine get a bit annoyed with each other at times, if Clive runs off after being moaned at that's good. It's very early days for them, keep a very close eye. I never tried a bonding bath but I kno it has helped some people... The mounting etc really is horrific in the first fee days but then it really dies down. What are their ages again?
 
Clive is nearly 9 months and Squilliam is 14 months at least. It's obvious why Clive is the one trying to be dominant, hormones rolleyes

The bonding bath went amazingly well, they were so scared they huddled together for protection hehe they also had a nice time being dried with their nanny.
I've deeply cleaned the hutch with disinfectant and all toys ect I've redone some of the Lino squares. They have two huts at separate ends as well as two bowls, two water bottles a hay rack at one end a a massive pile of hay at the other. I've heard no teeth chatter since the bath and there has been no mounting. They actually seem to be together more than at separate ends so that's good. I'm going to be checking on them every 10 mins or so until I'm satisfied that I can safely leave them for longer. I have to say though, the bath has done wonders! :o
 
Toffeewoffee said:
How is it going today?

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It's going ok. Squilliam is now getting a bit braver and is mounting and rumbling Clive, this results in squeaking from Clive and mild teeth chattering/nose offs. Things cool down however and they both end up eating hay. At the moment I'm not too worried, if it doesn't work out however I may partition the hutch and re-introduce them in a couple of months when Squilliam is well out of the hormonal stages as I think he may take to being the submissive piggie. The only issue is I'm really tired but I need to keep checking them mallethead
 
Sounds great, it really does. There will always be little annoyances mine have very small nose offs at times but like you say, always results in an eating session so everyone is happy.

Your 14 month old should be calming now anyway, it does take a few weeks for the mounting to ease off ;/
 
Sounds great, it really does. There will always be little annoyances mine have very small nose offs at times but like you say, always results in an eating session so everyone is happy.

Your 14 month old should be calming now anyway, it does take a few weeks for the mounting to ease off ;/
 
You're right. It's all pretty normal at the moment. I remember when Kevin and Richie were together, they used to exhibit this behaviour and I'd have classed them as a stable bonded pair. At least both Squilliam and Clive are eating, there haven't been any major signs of bullying from either.
 
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