Successful Male Bonding

[Hank288]

So just before Christmas I rescued a little boy called Cookie (monster) from someone who kept him in filthy conditions, the cage smelled so bad. He had been alone for over a year. I kept him alone until now as I wanted to get him neutered but this was no longer an option.
So today I saw an advert for male guinea pig living with a male rabbit in the same hutch. Giving them away free together or separate. I thought I would take a chance and get him out of the bad situation so I have picked up the guinea pig today. I had no idea what he looked like or what condition he was in just felt so bad for him.
I got there and it turns out he is a beautiful rex coated himmy and is gorgeous. Closer inspection at home shows he is very dirty and has lost all hair on his grease gland. Has been cleaned with baby wipes for now until I bath him later in the week.

So to the bonding. I put them together in a pen in the kitchen with a ton of grass. Cue the humping and chattering and chasing. I have never bonded boars before so it was an experience. You really do have to remember not to loose your nerve and separate them. After 20 mins it fell silent and they just sat near each other. So I cleaned the cage out and put then in together. Watched them for half an hour more and they are now fine together. Some more odd chasing and chattering but I think they will be best friends soon.
Cookie is a bit perturbed that he has lost his stick house as he has been moved to outside it by his new friend. I think the original pig is now the under pig. I just hope they become best friends soon. But I am glad to have rescued both of them and hopefully made both of them happy.

So sorry for the length of the post, but not many people I can tell about this as my family doean't know I have them as they do not approve of me having 7 pigs.

 

[Wiebke]

Fingers crossed that it works out! it sounds very promising.

 

[Swissgreys]

Sounds good and I really hope the boys can be friends.
And I fully sympathise with the nerve wracking part - I spent my entire first bonding perched on the edge of the sofa, either wearing oven gloves or madly reading the bonding threads on the iPad.

 

[Dorothy&Coco]

Well done......Fingers crossed it continues to go well

 

[4pigs&counting]

So glad you have found Cookie a friend, and at the same time given another piggy a better home. Hope that they continue to get along

 

[Hank288]

Little bit of a disagreement at tea last night but nothing more than pushing noses up, some squeaking and rumbling. I just feel a bit bad for Cookie as he is now the underpig. He looked a bit sad and reverted to keep coming to me at the edge of the cage for reassurance. I mean he loves being fed at the cage bars but he just kept wanting cuddles last night. Bless him. Hoping they will learn to share soon.

 

[Swissgreys]

I think given that Cookie has been on his own for so long, it might just take him a while to get used to having a guinea pig friend.
I actually found that establishing a bond and hierarchy took almost a week to really settle out for my lot.
But I also know that once Cookie works it out he will be so happy to have a friend.
You are definitely doing the right thing for both boys.