Two questions about adopting piggies!

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Loopylou

1) How hard is it to introduce two unrelated piggies, and particularly two unrelated males? Do they need to be neutered to have a chance of success? What is the normal "bonding" process?
2) Does anyone know if the RSPCA centres (Medawy in particular) have a minimum size requirement fro accomodation? I am trying to ring them (with no luck so far!) but I wondered if someone on here might know.

Thankyou ;)
 
Hi

It can be quite difficult to bond two unrelated males.But it does depend on the age and of course the nature of the piggies you are trying to bond.|( it can be done)I have just bonded two boars together one was about a year and half and the other was a baby of about 5/6weeks old, which has worked out very well still living happily together. Neutering will not make any differants. It will onlly stop them from breeding if it is a male and a female. Not sure about the RSPCA requirements sorry.
Good Luck
Carol
 
Hi, I am currently bonding Jeff and Skip together. Skip is about 2 years and Jeff is around 2 months now. I introduced them together in the bathroom. There was plenty of space, nowhere for them to hide so I could see what they were up to. I worked on the basis that it was neutral to both of them and it seemed to work. They both chattered and chirruped to each other as though getting support from each other.

I have also been changing their houses so one day Jeff lives in Skips hutch and vice versa. I am hoping that they will then both smell like each other and will accept each other better. It does seem to be working.

I have also successfully bonded two other boars, again one much younger than the other.

Hope this helps and good luck.
 
I have had no problems introducing unrelated boars - but have always made sure that one is particularly younger :)

Not sure on the RSPCA front
 
As regular readers here will know, I successfully introduced Sammy (then aged 4) and Roo (then aged 1 1/2) as adults. It was quite a slow, time-consuming process: for the first week the only contact they had was through the bars of adjacent enclosures. After that I had them together on a lap for an hour every evening for the second week - the first time they were quite tense and sat slightly apart but by the end of the week they were relaxed and snuggling, and I felt they were ready to be introduced on neutral territory.
We had the usual dominance behaviour - mounting and nose-to-nose face-offs - but nothing worse. We kept a close eye on them, and were gradually able to reduce the level of supervision.
They are now really close friends. :smitten:

Having said all that, though: If you are thinking of adopting from RSPCA Medway, they have several already-bonded pairs of boars so you could choose an existing pair and save yourself the worry of trying to bond unrelated boars.
We have adopted twice from RSPCA Medway, they have some really lovely pigs - definitely recommended.
 
I had my first piggy just a few months ago from a mate who no longer wanted him. I wanted a companion for him and it turned out my other friend had bought a male at the same time and didn't want him either (they know each other and both thought it a fab idea to get guineas for their children, then quickly couldn't be bothered with them, grrr) so I ended up with 2 unhandled boars, both around a year old.

The one piggy is an alpha pig and the other is very laid back and sweet so the bonding went fairly smoothly. I introduced them on neutral territory etc, placed cages side by side so they could sniff each other, then made large C&C cage and put them both in. Apart from Puddin (Mr Dominant) having the odd rumble and squeaky pop in the air at Pie (my gentle giant :) ) it has worked a treat - no mounting or anything which could indicate a fight was on the cards. They even lie in the same house together - until Puddin has one of his little fits, which seems a cross between stroppy and excited, he's a funny little scamp! Pie just ignores him and I swear he would roll his eyes if he could.....

So I guess it depends on the pig personalities and works well if you only have one dominant, though other more experienced owners could probably give you more informed opinions.
 
hairdi said:
:) Hiya, RSPCA min hutch for two guineas is 120cm x 60cm x 45cm :) :)

Diane
Click to expand...

i was told at my local rspca that 6 foot was the minimum size >:(

kerryx
 
all of my boars are in runs and I have 2 3 and 4 in some of the runs and have just introduced a 5 week old boy and a 3 year old male who have taken first time no problem also introduced 2 babes of 8 weeks with a 2 year old rex who is so laid back he is horizontal and again no problems also just introduce brother of 8 week old to 2 x boys one of 3 and one of almost 5 again no problems in fact i find the younger ones make the older ones happier,
I've been doing it for years and can pretty much judge when its going to work and know their characters so well as my pigs always stay all have forever homes so I know some of them from an early age or birth , they need space 2 or more drinkling bottles and food bowls and plenty of hidey holes my rex charlie loves to squeeze under the fiddle stix ment for the younger smaller ones and walk about with it on his back like a tortoise Tico and murphy then jump on it its like hes playing with them ,
 
doodles said:
hairdi said:
:) Hiya, RSPCA min hutch for two guineas is 120cm x 60cm x 45cm :) :)

Diane
Click to expand...

i was told at my local rspca that 6 foot was the minimum size >:(

kerryx
Click to expand...


:o :o :o :o Look on thier RSPCA website, its on one of THEIR leaflets ! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o You can point this out to your local RSPCA :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
 
hairdi said:
doodles said:
hairdi said:
:) Hiya, RSPCA min hutch for two guineas is 120cm x 60cm x 45cm :) :)

Diane
Click to expand...

i was told at my local rspca that 6 foot was the minimum size >:(

kerryx
Click to expand...


:o :o :o :o Look on thier RSPCA website, its on one of THEIR leaflets ! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o You can point this out to your local RSPCA :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Click to expand...

I guess the thing is that the RSPCA centres are independent of each other, they are not governed as such by one central body so each rehoming place sets its own standars.
6feet seems like a very big requirement for piggies though!
 
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