When To Introduce?

[Cuddles With Cavies]

I brought home a new piggy today, I gorgeous little Peruvian. She came from a hobby breeder who was keeping about 30 guineas in her garage - so it was fairly noisey and busy!

I set her up in a completely cornered off section of the cage, so she can serve her quarantine time and I plan on introducing her to my other two girls on Sunday, when I'll have all of Sunday and all of Monday to ensure everyone is getting along.

But my worry is that she seems really quiet. She's not moved from the spot by her hay rack since being placed in the cage at 1:30pm. She's had some lettuce and hay but she refuses to move and just looks very unsure and lost.

She was kept in a herd of about 14 pigs and so I'm wondering if suddenly being alone is freaking her out.

Whilst I don't want to stuff quarantine, I'm worried it's doing more harm than good keeping her by herself.

What would you do? When should I introduce her to the others? The wall she's hugging it the contacting wall to the other half of the cage were my other two are.

Picture just because she's gorgeous :3

 

[Swissgreys]

Does she have an enclosed area of the cage and shelter to hide in.
She does look rather startled and also very beautiful.

To be honest seeing as she came from such a large herd in a garage I would be very tempted to keep her in a separate room for at least 10 - 14 days, as it may take that long for any serious illness to show.
But that's just me, and as you have seen the breeder set up you will have the best idea of how clean and healthy everyone looked.

I think for now she just needs somewhere cosy to hide.

 

[Freela]

Awww, she's beautiful! She is probably spooked to be on her own, especially as she has come from a big group. However, that's normal, most pigs (even in pairs) are spooked when introduced to a new environment. Honestly, I wouldn't skimp on the quarantine because she has come from a large group. I would give it a full 2 weeks to make sure nothing contagious shows up. Respiratory bugs can hide for a time. She is likely to settle in more after a few days even on her own, as long as you give her some quiet and a place to hide, and she is likely to still be spooked even if you do introduce her to your other pigs right away, so I would err on the side of caution and keep her separate for a bit.

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Thanks for both the responses. Yes she was completely cornered off from the others so she could have no contact. I took her to the vets yesterday who did a full health check on her and said everything was okey. She was still skitty and not eating very well, so I introduced her to my others this morning. The difference in her already is remarkable! I know the quarantine is very important, especially considering the situation she came from, but I think in this case there wasn't much choice. She was loosing weight and I wasn't sure what else to do to help her.

She's much happier now though. Eating, drinking and loving my two others. And my two others seem content with her too. Here's a pic of them chilling in their bonding pen. Amber is very chilled and friendly pig and has welcomed Pearl in with open arms (and cuddles!)

 

[flowerfairy]

What a sweet picture of them both.

 

[rome_italy]

Thanks for both the responses. Yes she was completely cornered off from the others so she could have no contact. I took her to the vets yesterday who did a full health check on her and said everything was okey. She was still skitty and not eating very well, so I introduced her to my others this morning. The difference in her already is remarkable! I know the quarantine is very important, especially considering the situation she came from, but I think in this case there wasn't much choice. She was loosing weight and I wasn't sure what else to do to help her.

She's much happier now though. Eating, drinking and loving my two others. And my two others seem content with her too. Here's a pic of them chilling in their bonding pen. Amber is very chilled and friendly pig and has welcomed Pearl in with open arms (and cuddles!)

View attachment 64940

well done!