to split or not to split

  • Thread starter Thread starter maisydaisystar
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

maisydaisystar

i have asked for opinions before about whether to seperate my two sows because they don't get along, maisy is timid and toffee does pick on her a fair bit, but generally they just get on with it and no blood is drawn, maisy usually runs away from toffee, but yesterday she was a little braver and confronted toffee. should i leave them be? or seperate and get another neutered boar to pair up with toffee (Star and Maisy love eachother so would keep them together). wouldn't maisy be happier if it was just her and star? maybe she wouldn't hide so much, What shall I do? I have 2 hutches anyway. although for winter i would have to make extra space in the shed?
 
Ummm id stick with it for a while and keep a close eye on them, this happened when we got a new sow, our abysinnian chucky was almost protective over her and maggs....like 'shes my friend you cant play with her'...we kept a close eye and now they are all as thick as thieves!

You know your piggies so just go with your gut, if you think all involved would be better off split, then do it.

The other thing i was thinking was are you sure that toffee only has the problem with maisy and not just with other female piggies in general?

One of our older teddy sows was okay with the one sow but introducing others has been a nightmare. We have tried lots of different pigs of all different ages but she wont have any of it, but she seemed fine around my neices neutered boars!

She is going to live with one of our boars once she has been neutered as the girl she gets on with is very attached to one of our other piggies and i dont want to end up with lots of split piggies. I have a big cage for ALL my sows (7) and then will have the teddy sow and neutered boar and then the two teddy boars!
 
this is why i thought another neutered male would be best, as i don't know if she will be same with another female, we originally had star toffee and Daisy, (my precious girl) she died at 6 months old after an op to remove an abcess, she got respiratory problems, and never got better, we think she had a heart problem.
Toffee was lowest ranking female then, but got on well with daisy, they played alot and followed each other around. we rehomed maisy 7 months ago now Toffee won't have anything to do with Maisy.(I Think toffee is jealous as she is second best in stars eyes).
Star often tells toffee off and is very protective of maisy.
 
Maybe take toffee out of the cage for a while, rearrange the cage, bed food bowl etc and let the other two settle, then reintroduce her so her settings arent as familiar and she will be the one coming in from the outside and hopefully maisy will feel better and more confident? I think that may work if she feels a little less like its 'her turf'! O0
 
Hmm maybe about an hour or two, not too long!

My neighbour actually told me about doing that, she has over 50 piggies :o but she says it works everytime! :D

It just takes them out of their environment and puts them in the 'picked on' piggies position! Hope it works! O0 O0
 
I think that since she's been picked on for so long and it hasn't gotten any better that a neutered male would be the best. Even if she isn't picked on anymore, wouldn't her being bonded and cuddling with someone else be better than always being alone? You also don't have to have a neutered male, a female would work just as well. Why don't you check the local rescues and shelters and see who you fall in love with? I'm sure that will help make up your mind rather quickly ;)

Kimmie
 
ok,will try this, they are all in the outside hutch right now, will, move things around after i clean out the hutch in the shed, and put maisy and star in there first. will leave them for 2 hours.
will let you know how it goes.
 
You may as well give it a try, nothing to loose! If not then at least you get to pick a new piggie :D :D :D Do you have any pics of your piggies? :smitten:
 
i'm concerned she might be mean to another female.Thought a male would keep her in her place,
Maisy isn't on her own all the time, there are times when the girls are together, a tolerated shared space.
But thinking I would rather Maisy didn't have to be concerned that toffee could along come and bully her.
i agree with what you are saying kimmie
 
Thats very true, poor little maisy :(

I have faith it will be okay and yes, I think a neutered boar may be better.....do you have any friends with sows? Maybe you can test it out? O0
 
Please keep in mind that it depends on the personalities of the guinea pigs. A boar can be bullied as easily as a female just like a female can stand up to her as easily as a male. It depends on the piggies.

Kimmie
 
ok kimmie will remember that, thought males would generally be the same
 
Not really. I've had some males and females that just loved everybody and would be submissive to a mouse if need be. I've also had some males and females that had to be the boss otherwise there would be heck to pay. You also may want a guinea pig that can stand up for him/herself, but be careful because you don't want one that will fight for the boss spot.

Kimmie
 
I guess you could always let them have a look at eachother before commiting! :)

Still...i love picking piggies :laugh:
 
Hi Smiler you asked to see photos of my piggies, Have finally posted photos of my three piggies in the Gallery, what do you think? BEAUTIFUL OR WHAT
 
Hi Smiler, I did what you suggested, left toffee in the outside hutch for 2 hours, I changed the hutch around and made it really different. But unfortunatly it didn't work, toffee was still up for scaring maisy, she lunged towards her a few times, making maisy run away, eventually maisy went upstairs into the sleeping compartment and toffee came and followed her, i watched sneakily, and toffee was creeping towards maisy, and then attacked her, mean girlie.
Have taken toffee out tonight, couldn't put her in the outside hutch as it's too cold so she's in the pet carrier for the night. will put her in the other hutch in the morning.
really didn't want to seperate them, but maisy needs a break, she can't live like that, poor girl.
looks like i will be looking to rehome a new piggie.
 
I would try vicks on thier bums and noses. My two sows had to be separated a few times in the end I did this and did it again when I put the boar in with them on neutral ground. I had no problems.
 
have tried this before, and it didn't work, will try again tomorrow before i finally give up.
If I do get another piggie Due to toffee's personality should I get a boar or a sow? I really don't know now kimmie has said that a male could be bullied too. HELP?
 
Take Toffee with you and make sure that they get along before bringing the new addition home. A boar can be bullied just as well as a sow can stand up for herself so I would get a piggy based on them getting along, not gender.

Kimmie
 
It should be rather quick. Make sure to do it on neutral ground and watch them carefully with a towel or something to separate them if something happens. She should try to let the other know she's boss right away so you shouldn't have to wait long to know if they're going to get along or not.

Kimmie
 
hi guys tried the vicks thing twice now, have made the decision to split them up, so I am on the lookout for a rescue neutered boar, or a female, Bit worried though that she may bully another female, so haven't yet decided what to go for.probably take kimmies advice and take toffee along to choose for herself.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top