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So upset....Montanna has to go back...

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Char-x

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I am really gutted.

As some of you know I got a new sow Montanna to go with my original girls Tallulah and Gypsey because we thought it would be a good idea to have a third, since Gypsey is blinde, incase anything happened to Tallulah (she was due to be spayed).

Anyway they fought at first and it didnt look too good at the beginning, however after a few weeks things seemed to settle down (although it was never perfect) but they seemed more tolerant, and I even got a picture of them eating from a small pile of hay together.

Then last night my mum said she heard the loudest squeek from them she has ever heard and ran upstairs as she thought one was injured...but they all seemed fine...

Anyway today I got home and checked them all, and had only been back for 2 hours when all of a sudden out of nowhere Montanna and Tallulah launched into the air and both skidded back down onto the floor, and they were literally in a furball like fight
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never seen a guinea pig fight like it.

Moment later and Gypsey was walking out and the same thing happened with her and Montanna. Montanna was snapping at the air even.
Poor Gypsey didnt know what was going on and ran away into a corner and looked sooo shook up and was whimpering. I went to pick her up and she did not want to be put back down, which is unlike her as she is a riggle bum.

I just dont think Montanna is settling here
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she seems so on edge the majority of the time and thats what I think is creating this defensive behaviour.

The breeder is willing to take her back, she is a caring and lovely owner to the pigs. Montanna is only 3 and the breeder was never looking to part from her, it was only because I got in touch to offer a retirement home...the breeder keeps her retired females until their last days.
 
Sorry to hear this, I have no experience with sows. I did witness my boars having a Fury of hell fight I had to throw my jacket over them and pull them apart! It is so scary, I also had to rehome MArvin! It isn't easy :(!
 
I just feel so bad because she will be going from a huge fleecy cage here back to the hutch with less space etc...feel like such a failure with them right now :(
 
JoanneG111 said:
Has there been blood drawn?!
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Not as far as I can see, but I'm shocked there wasn't. I'm more shocked they didnt break their backs from coming crashing down from the air like they did.

We have tried towels on them before but it doesnt seem to make a difference they just carried on under it...

We have already phoned the breeder and my mum seems adament she should go back before blood is drawn, I'm just so confused!
 
I remember reading a thread about sow's that happened and the person decided to separate, but now I believe they are living happily together. I wonder if all isn't lost, have you tried bathing them?

Hopefully someone with more experience with sows will be on soon!

Did you split the fight up, or did they stop on there own?!
 
They have had a bath together and put back into a fresh cage etc. They seemed fine for quite a while now and then all of a sudden last few days seem very bad :S

I just dont know what to do for the best. I feel terrible letting her go, but not sure if keeping her is in the best interests of the other two...I also realistically cannot afford a 4th pig incase of vet bills so seperating and adding another isnt really an option. So got a tough choice :(
 
I know it's hard, :(. Broke my heart rehoming Marvin, it wasn't possible for me to split and get another 2 pigs either :(....
 
They seem fine now! :( It would actually be easier if they were constantly fighting, then atleast I wold know I was doing the right thing...
 
I feel like I should keep her, and if they did ever get to the point there was wounds then make the decision...but then at the same time I would hate for it to get to that point knowing they had already fought =S hmmm!
 
Char-x said:
I feel like I should keep her, and if they did ever get to the point there was wounds then make the decision...but then at the same time I would hate for it to get to that point knowing they had already fought =S hmmm!
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Do you weigh your pigs? Are they all eating and generally happy together apart from these fights?

How long you had montana for now?
 
I had to do the same thing; twice :(

I got several 'bonded' boars from the RSPCA - they were adamant they would all live happily ever after, despite my misgivings about a group of boars (I had previous experience of guinea pigs and was an experience pet owner). Still, they were very persuasive. It ended up in a bloodbath and I had to seek help from an alternative rescue as that RSPCA branch were very unhelpful about it. Roman was then rebonded for me with Dexter. He was bullied no end and again I sought advice (and again without much success). In the end I took Dexter back as Roman's life had become a nightmare and he had sustained traumas. Dexter also bit my husband very badly when he tried to split up a fight, and he ended up at hospital with blood poisoning! Roman went on to lead a happy, although too short, life (he had been heavily inbred) with me. It was mutual adoration. I have to say that these experiences are what lead me to go to a breeder for my four sows. However my experience from another rescue with my 2 newbies has been much better .

In the end you must do what is right for your 2 pigs. It broke my heart having to admit defeat but Roman's welfare was paramount. Dexter was eventually neutered by the Rescue and went on to lead a happy life with a sow.

Montanna is probably not enjoying the arguing either, so it maybe beneficial for all three if she goes back, and at least it will be to a breeder who loves her pigs rather than to an unknown. It will be hard for you but you will know she will be well looked after.
 
I do weigh them although lately its not as regular as I would have liked as I'm stuck with the cooking scales that are old and small. They all seem healthy in themselves.

I have had Montanna since the 30th January...so not too long.

Redfrock - were there any signs that it was getting to the point of a bloodbath being on your hands? Would you say you saw these kinds of fights mine are having with yours?

I just dont want to jump the gun, but on the other hand I dont want to leave it for something very bad to happen to any of them.
I do go to college and my mum goes out, so we arent always here incase something like that happened.

Montanna and Gypsey just nudged heads by the food bowel and Montanna has jumped off and gone into a cat bed - now its like normal behaviour =S I wish pigs could talk!
 
Hi Char

Yes mine had a HUGE fight (hence hubby's hand injury), and more than once. They had a 5ft indoor cage yet still there was problems. Dexter would chase Roman around no matter where he was, and yet at other times peace reigned. However one day I picked Roman up for his check over etc, only to find he was covered in scabs from where he had been bitten. I was devastated. It was never going to end happily so I had to give him back. It did put me off having pigs again as i was so upset by it all, especially with losing Roman early (due to in-breeding) and his brother Oscar (kidney and heart failure - again due to in-breeding) who he had got on well with. In the end though I missed having them so much that I decided to go to the breeder for my 4 sows (a hobby breeder who loves her pigs) and it renewed my faith and I regained my confidence, resulting in my collecting Mango and Badger from Anna T

Just remember to do what is right for you and your pigs. x
 
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So were their first fights with blood? Or did they have ones without? Sorry to be asking 21 questions just want to get an idea if my girls will get any worse!

Sorry to hear about your dilemas, can imagine it would put someone off having pigs for a while! :(
 
My rule is usually that I split if there is any blood drawn. Sometimes a big bust up will establish dominance and then things calm down. But you do have to be very careful. Always make sure that there is a hiding place for each of them - preferably the sort that a piggie can get in, turn around and defend the doorway.

Paula
 
Char-x said:
So were their first fights with blood? Or did they have ones without? Sorry to be asking 21 questions just want to get an idea if my girls will get any worse!

Sorry to hear about your dilemas, can imagine it would put someone off having pigs for a while! :(
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If you don't ask you don't know! You can ask me a 100 questions and if I know the answers I'll tell you them :)

No, their first fights were bloodless. the original group had one big bloodbath and were split immediately, but Dexter and Roman seemed to be mainly ongoing aggression with the occasional sudden massive flare up - like a whirling dervish. It wasn't fair on Roman to be covered in nip marks though. I have to say I really miss him. he was truly unique and a character. I joke that Willow is his daughter though as she reminds me of him so much. Dexter was a real beauty. he was a silver agouti, but his looks hid a real nastiness (just like with some humans!)
 
I found this photo from the time I introduced Angel (far right) to Charm (far left) and Smudge. Don't they look happy and cute. Smudge the little rotter is about to shove Angel so hard that she flips her over.

I can remember one day out in the garden when I was doing intros in the run that I had to bring them in as Angel was squeeling so hard that it sounded like I was torturing her when what was actually happening was Smudge had her cornered. They sorted it in the end, provided they all had their own box in the 5 x 2 C&C cage. Charm just used to keep out of it.

They were all quite elderly as well - you'd have thought they'd be more laid back.

Paula
 

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Hmm does sound abit like my three.
Some moments they seem to be getting on amazing, other times they are bickering and then all of a sudden they have a massive fight, and all retreat and go back to looking fine =S

So confusing!
 
paulag said:
I found this photo from the time I introduced Angel (far right) to Charm (far left) and Smudge. Don't they look happy and cute. Smudge the little rotter is about to shove Angel so hard that she flips her over.

I can remember one day out in the garden when I was doing intros in the run that I had to bring them in as Angel was squeeling so hard that it sounded like I was torturing her when what was actually happening was Smudge had her cornered. They sorted it in the end, provided they all had their own box in the 5 x 2 C&C cage. Charm just used to keep out of it.

They were all quite elderly as well - you'd have thought they'd be more laid back.

Paula
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Thanks for sharing that. Thats the kind of picture I have of these three now, and I loved watching them like that :(.

I have no idea what must have made one of them squeal last night to the point my mum heard it downstairs with the TV on and made her come running up =| but they all seem fine now.

My girls are in a 4x11 cage, with about 8 places to retreat and hide...and also their hay boxes they use. They dont seem too territorial over space though, or food too much....I have no idea what sets them off :{
 
We are suppose to take her back at 8pm tonight...I have until then to make a decision...but looks like its best she goes back?
 
I have spoken to my mum and we have decided to give it a week, and if anything happens e.g. another bad squabble then she will have to go back. I think its fairer that way, although I will make sure everything is kept a close eye on to make sure nothing gets out of hand.

I was in tears about this earlier, so I think it would have been too soon to cast her off for one mistake. The girls seem relaxed around her again now.
 
sounds like a good idea. If she does have to go back you know that you will have thought it through very carefully and done everything you could have, and even then you will find it hard.

Keep us posted x
 
Ah how sad. I think you made the right decision giving it another week.

When I added my 4th to a group of 3 they chased her round for a good few months but they settled in the end. If bloods not drawn I would always try again.

I find that odd numbered groups are sometimes tricky because they pick on the new one together. My 3 were mother and 2 daughters with a very close bond so they bullied the new one. Since I added a neutered boar they have not chased/bullied/ bickered once. I think he balanced them all out. :))

I hope it all settles down.
 
BIG HUG

It is so worrying when things do not work out the way you wish them to. Give it a bit more time; Montana feels obviously very much put upon.
 
Hi Char :)

I had the same thing with my lot when I first introduced Tilly to the bunch, they all chattered and rumblestrutted like mad until eventually Tilly, who's 5, came rolling down the ramp in a blur of fur with one of my less dominant ladies, Hoster. Scared the living daylights out of me, never seen a fight like that before. In fact it freaked me out so much I kept her in a seperate cage for over a month after that. I knew I didn't want to take her back as she's so adorable but I felt awful keeping her on her own.

I got in touch with my auntie who runs a rescue for her advice and she said - flat out - DON'T interfere! It's far more stressful for us as the owners than it is for them, they're busy doing what comes natural and working out who's boss while we sit there in tears thinking it's all gone terribly wrong.

Happily I tried again and they all get on GREAT now! Tilly and Hoster are best friends despite them wanting to kill eachother initally. Occasionally I'll hear a big SQUEEEEEEK and come tearing in expecting to find a huge brawl...... only to find their sweet little faces looking up at me as if to say 'what's the matter mum?!'
If you can sit on your hands and let them get on with it they'll be fine :)
x
 
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