Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2026/27
Happy birthday Macsen and Beti 
Wiebke's Tribe: Sows and the City Boars
- Thread starter Wiebke
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Happy birthday gorgeous piggies
It's been quite a busy and upsetting week at the Tribe
Sadly, I lost Esme on in the early morning hours of Friday, 22nd May, just a few weeks before her 6th birthday. She'd gone into organ failure on Wednesday evening, surrounded by the love of her companions.
Esme had come here as promised as the last of @Claire W 's piggies at the start of 2024 after she had lost her two companions in quick succession. She has spent the last 2 1/2 years with the Tribe, mostly with her new best friend Beti as a shoulder to lean on and take her cues from, but preferably snoozing under a bath mat or fleece blanket - Esme loved the subterranean lifestyle and was never happier than tightly tucked into her beloved fleece blanket next to a snugglesafe.
Esme was a rather quirky character, very vocal whenever she erupted late from her blanket to join a meal or protesting Macsen's rather mild attentions. She is dearly missed by her friends, Claire and me.
Here is the link to the full tribute: Esme
However, having my short-lived quartet turned into a trio again has meant that I could return to my previous layout, which is easier to clean and to access for hub. So a lot of grid switching in order to get a stable set before the worst of the heatwave hit. Merlin and Sulwen now occupy Dryw's pen.
Thankfully, all remaining piggies have survived the unseasonably record 32 C outside on consecutive days, which only touched 25 C shortly once in the lounge despite me not adding to the energy bill at all and without needing any extra cooling measures for the piggies.
Sadly, I lost Esme on in the early morning hours of Friday, 22nd May, just a few weeks before her 6th birthday. She'd gone into organ failure on Wednesday evening, surrounded by the love of her companions.
Esme had come here as promised as the last of @Claire W 's piggies at the start of 2024 after she had lost her two companions in quick succession. She has spent the last 2 1/2 years with the Tribe, mostly with her new best friend Beti as a shoulder to lean on and take her cues from, but preferably snoozing under a bath mat or fleece blanket - Esme loved the subterranean lifestyle and was never happier than tightly tucked into her beloved fleece blanket next to a snugglesafe.
Esme was a rather quirky character, very vocal whenever she erupted late from her blanket to join a meal or protesting Macsen's rather mild attentions. She is dearly missed by her friends, Claire and me.
Here is the link to the full tribute: Esme
However, having my short-lived quartet turned into a trio again has meant that I could return to my previous layout, which is easier to clean and to access for hub. So a lot of grid switching in order to get a stable set before the worst of the heatwave hit. Merlin and Sulwen now occupy Dryw's pen.
Thankfully, all remaining piggies have survived the unseasonably record 32 C outside on consecutive days, which only touched 25 C shortly once in the lounge despite me not adding to the energy bill at all and without needing any extra cooling measures for the piggies.
Claire W
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I am still feeling very sad that Esme has crossed the rainbow bridge
but want to thank you again for offering her a loving forever home with you and the tribe after Ella and Elizabeth both crossed the rainbow bridge unexpectedly. She had a lovely 2 1/2 years with you and her new friends especially Beti who I know she was with from the start. I will miss hearing about Esme’s antics But I am glad you have managed to rearrange the pens to make things easier for you and hub to access x
Esme is leaving a legacy: I had to reinstall her snuggle blanket after Llinos 'Linnet' kept trying to wiggle underneath the bathmats.
As far as Llinos is concerned, whichever way works!
Snuggled in
Snuggled on top
Macsen's comment? "This strange obsession with duvets. What's wrong with a soft mattress and a snug bedroom?"
@Claire W
As far as Llinos is concerned, whichever way works!
Snuggled in
Snuggled on top
Macsen's comment? "This strange obsession with duvets. What's wrong with a soft mattress and a snug bedroom?"
@Claire W
Claire W
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Aw it’s made me sad to see Esme’s friends without her but your oldies have also brought a smile to my face that Esme has left behind a legacy and that Llinos has taken over her role Macsen has the right idea 
x
Macsen has the right idea x
What a summer it has been and what a battle to keep the piggy lounge ideally below 25-26 C even on the hottest days when it was 10 C hotter outside.
Until last week, I thought I was doing well with my efforts when I sadly found my strongest and largest boy, Brangwyn collapsed and unable to take on food or water in morning of the start of our 5th heatwave. He passed away early on the following morning; it was not just Eclipse Day but also his wife Lleian's 5th birthday. Her cousin Llinos (who lives now with Macsen and Beti) had her special day 5 days earlier.
For Brangwyn's story: The Sun Covered Her Face When You Died, Brangwyn
In all the sadness, I want to firstly congratulate my two tiny girls who have stopped growing at 6 months old who have always just hovered around the 600g mark. Considering their background and their small size, I never expected them to live a full normal healthy lifespan; I am therefore extra happy to have given them this.
Llinos 'Linnet'
Brangwyn 'White Raven' and Lleian 'Smew'
Anyway, I turn round from wrapping up Brangwyn's body to give the piggies their breakfast and find his dad/half-brother Barcud 'Red Kite' not turning up for breakfast and having lost nearly 200g since I weighed him just 2 days ago during cage clean.
So I have spent my hottest ever day in the UK on the day after the near total eclipse of the sun and then another insanely humid day, which has made me feel ill, trying to get enough food into Barcud to firstly slow down and then stop the weight loss. The locum at the local vet clinic was also not able to find anything that could explain him running away with his food but not eating it...
Anyway, I have managed to get Barcud through the crisis and back eating again. He still has a lot of weight to put back on but he is thankfully stable again and only needs some top up feeding.
On Tuesday, I dated Lleian with Merlin (half-brother of Brangwyn) and big Sulwen 'Blessed Sun' but while there was no aggression in it, it didn't really get anywhere with Sulwen, either.
You can see the difference in size between my largest and my smallest sows - little Lleian at not even 600g is actually two months older than Sulwen!
So, onto plan B today - Barcud, who has been very much the underdog to his very greedy and dominant sister Millyn 'Sweet Violet' (a clear misnomer) and dominant mother Modron 'Mother Goddess'. Thankfully, both parties assured the other that they wanted to be friends with the other early on with a some demonstrative piggy washing, and the rest was - for Lleian - very much on the minimal drama side, especially once Barcud understood that she accepted his dominance but would not allow herself to be mounted.
Lleian has a wash near Barcud to signal her positive interest.
Anyway, Barcud has now moved in next door with Lleian and has shown no desire to return to his mum and sister although he has said a friendly hello to Modron. At least, he won't have to fight for his food while being in charge, which will hopefully help his further recovery.
I am left with the exciting task of cage cleaning the other cages and finally hopefully getting some much needed rest and proper sleep...
Until last week, I thought I was doing well with my efforts when I sadly found my strongest and largest boy, Brangwyn collapsed and unable to take on food or water in morning of the start of our 5th heatwave. He passed away early on the following morning; it was not just Eclipse Day but also his wife Lleian's 5th birthday. Her cousin Llinos (who lives now with Macsen and Beti) had her special day 5 days earlier.
For Brangwyn's story: The Sun Covered Her Face When You Died, Brangwyn
In all the sadness, I want to firstly congratulate my two tiny girls who have stopped growing at 6 months old who have always just hovered around the 600g mark. Considering their background and their small size, I never expected them to live a full normal healthy lifespan; I am therefore extra happy to have given them this.
Llinos 'Linnet'
Brangwyn 'White Raven' and Lleian 'Smew'
Anyway, I turn round from wrapping up Brangwyn's body to give the piggies their breakfast and find his dad/half-brother Barcud 'Red Kite' not turning up for breakfast and having lost nearly 200g since I weighed him just 2 days ago during cage clean.
So I have spent my hottest ever day in the UK on the day after the near total eclipse of the sun and then another insanely humid day, which has made me feel ill, trying to get enough food into Barcud to firstly slow down and then stop the weight loss. The locum at the local vet clinic was also not able to find anything that could explain him running away with his food but not eating it...
Anyway, I have managed to get Barcud through the crisis and back eating again. He still has a lot of weight to put back on but he is thankfully stable again and only needs some top up feeding.
On Tuesday, I dated Lleian with Merlin (half-brother of Brangwyn) and big Sulwen 'Blessed Sun' but while there was no aggression in it, it didn't really get anywhere with Sulwen, either.
You can see the difference in size between my largest and my smallest sows - little Lleian at not even 600g is actually two months older than Sulwen!
So, onto plan B today - Barcud, who has been very much the underdog to his very greedy and dominant sister Millyn 'Sweet Violet' (a clear misnomer) and dominant mother Modron 'Mother Goddess'. Thankfully, both parties assured the other that they wanted to be friends with the other early on with a some demonstrative piggy washing, and the rest was - for Lleian - very much on the minimal drama side, especially once Barcud understood that she accepted his dominance but would not allow herself to be mounted.
Lleian has a wash near Barcud to signal her positive interest.
Anyway, Barcud has now moved in next door with Lleian and has shown no desire to return to his mum and sister although he has said a friendly hello to Modron. At least, he won't have to fight for his food while being in charge, which will hopefully help his further recovery.
I am left with the exciting task of cage cleaning the other cages and finally hopefully getting some much needed rest and proper sleep...
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Hope life settles down now and you can focus on your own wellbeing
munchmonster
Forum Donator 2026/27
Hoping its all going in the right direction for you x
Rivervixen
Forum Donator 2026/27
Hope everything calms down for you and you can get some well earned rest 
Roselina
Forum Donator 2026/27
Ah I hope every piggy settles and you can get the rest you need
Claire W
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I am so sad you have lost Brangwyn but I’m glad Barcud has rallied and I really do hope things settle down for you now and you can get some well earned rest.
Your little girls are doing so well
but I’m glad Barcud has rallied and I really do hope things settle down for you now and you can get some well earned rest. Your little girls are doing so well
LucyP
Forum Donator 2026/27
What a difficult time, the heat has been such a battle and totally the last thing you needed with everything else going on.
It sounds very busy and demanding, and I was very sorry to read about your boy last week.
Well done to the girls, that picture of little linnet is especially adorable but they also look lovely! Haven’t they thrived under your care. Happy little things
Well done with Baracud, that sounds like quite and intense and exhausting mission. Your dedication is fantastic.
And I did smile at what you said about sweet violet being a misnomer!
You have some real characters- who needs a soap opera with all your tribes comings and goings?!
Take care and I hope the late summer/autumn leaves us all with more manageable weather, and some time and energy to do something nice for yourself amongst all of the piggy drama.
All the best
It sounds very busy and demanding, and I was very sorry to read about your boy last week.
Well done to the girls, that picture of little linnet is especially adorable but they also look lovely! Haven’t they thrived under your care. Happy little things
Well done with Baracud, that sounds like quite and intense and exhausting mission. Your dedication is fantastic.
And I did smile at what you said about sweet violet being a misnomer!
You have some real characters- who needs a soap opera with all your tribes comings and goings?!
Take care and I hope the late summer/autumn leaves us all with more manageable weather, and some time and energy to do something nice for yourself amongst all of the piggy drama.
All the best
What a difficult time, the heat has been such a battle and totally the last thing you needed with everything else going on.
It sounds very busy and demanding, and I was very sorry to read about your boy last week.
Well done to the girls, that picture of little linnet is especially adorable but they also look lovely! Haven’t they thrived under your care. Happy little things
Well done with Baracud, that sounds like quite and intense and exhausting mission. Your dedication is fantastic.
And I did smile at what you said about sweet violet being a misnomer!
You have some real characters- who needs a soap opera with all your tribes comings and goings?!
Take care and I hope the late summer/autumn leaves us all with more manageable weather, and some time and energy to do something nice for yourself amongst all of the piggy drama.
All the best
Thank you for your understanding.
As you know as well, syringe feeding is very draining, especially when you are not well yourself. Losing piggies in a matter of days or even just a day of each other is something I really hate.
But my last piggies are now all between very close to 4 years and 7 years, so an extreme summer like this is inevitably contributing to any other health issues (not just mine) and can tip the balance. Considering that my youngest have a limited gene pool that is likely going back more than one generation, I am content with having given them a reasonable lifespan.
Barcud is unfortunately not out of the woods yet and still requires feeding support.
Edam
Forum Donator 2026/27
So sorry to hear this Wiebke, hope you are okay xx
xx
rhymer
Adult Guinea Pig
So sorry. Massive hugs to you all.xx
Sadly, Barcud 'Red Kite' hasn't made it, despite my and his best efforts.
Here is his full tribute with all the pictures and his story from when he was rescued living rough in dog walking wasteland by a forum member nearly 4 years to the day the previous hottest summer: The Moon Had a Red Face When I Said Goodbye, Barcud
I take comfort in having given him and his family coming up to 4 years of a happy, safe and busy piggy life after the bad start he had - that is the lower end of the average lifespan, which peaks at around 5-6 years. Whatever previous home dumped him, his sister Millyn and their mother Modron, was very clearly not a good place to be even before the little family were gotten unceremoniously rid of...
Seeing the amount of inbreeding that must have gone on for more than one generation, considering how little variation there is in Barcud's 4 babies with his mother and his sister, I have been braced for a shorter than average lifetime. The little family still needed a loving and stable home that had some understanding of the background and its potentially long ranging implications after all. I still have the other five, and I treasure every day with them.
Here is his full tribute with all the pictures and his story from when he was rescued living rough in dog walking wasteland by a forum member nearly 4 years to the day the previous hottest summer: The Moon Had a Red Face When I Said Goodbye, Barcud
I take comfort in having given him and his family coming up to 4 years of a happy, safe and busy piggy life after the bad start he had - that is the lower end of the average lifespan, which peaks at around 5-6 years. Whatever previous home dumped him, his sister Millyn and their mother Modron, was very clearly not a good place to be even before the little family were gotten unceremoniously rid of...
Seeing the amount of inbreeding that must have gone on for more than one generation, considering how little variation there is in Barcud's 4 babies with his mother and his sister, I have been braced for a shorter than average lifetime. The little family still needed a loving and stable home that had some understanding of the background and its potentially long ranging implications after all. I still have the other five, and I treasure every day with them.
CTWC
Forum Donator 2026/27
You are a complete inspiration to us all and Barcud is stunning but I'm sorry it was his time to cross The Rainbow Bridge 
tillyspiggies27
Junior Guinea Pig
Aww Nye is the absolute cutie! Also, loving Ceri’s hair! 
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So sorry for the loss of Barcud.
Hugs
I read your tribute which is very moving
Hugs
I read your tribute which is very moving
VickiA
Forum Donator 2026/27
Husboar #3 in less than a month and family #4 for poor Lleian 'Smew' after losing her beloved ersatz mummy Dryw 'Wren' to old age in April and then Brangwyn and his dad Barcud in close succession last month.
Anyway, I am very happy (and relieved) that Brangwyn's litter brother Baeddan 'Boar' has bravely stepped into the breach and that he and Blodyn 'Flower' (Barcud's only daughter) have accepted Lleian into their close bond.
Baeddan has currently his manly mad five minutes but Lleian has thankfully submitted to his mounting so all is well. Blodyn is happily napping in Lleian's tunnel while Lleian has taken over Blodyn's tunnel. Both girls are busy flattening Baeddan's favourite snug tunnel everytime they get a chance... and all three are sharing the hay tray.
There is going to be a round of 'Journey to Jerusalem' in terms of moving all groups one cage to the left and then dismantling the oldies cage. The lounge is going to look a lot larger all of a sudden with one cage less!
Anyway, I am very happy (and relieved) that Brangwyn's litter brother Baeddan 'Boar' has bravely stepped into the breach and that he and Blodyn 'Flower' (Barcud's only daughter) have accepted Lleian into their close bond.
Baeddan has currently his manly mad five minutes but Lleian has thankfully submitted to his mounting so all is well. Blodyn is happily napping in Lleian's tunnel while Lleian has taken over Blodyn's tunnel. Both girls are busy flattening Baeddan's favourite snug tunnel everytime they get a chance... and all three are sharing the hay tray.
There is going to be a round of 'Journey to Jerusalem' in terms of moving all groups one cage to the left and then dismantling the oldies cage. The lounge is going to look a lot larger all of a sudden with one cage less!
Claire W
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I’m glad that Lleian has friends again. They make a beautiful trio x
x
They are all holed up in their own favourite special places now and it is very peaceful this morning. It was one of the easier bondings.
Lleian has made it clear that she values company over position, and neither Baeddan nor Blodyn are very dominant piggies, either. But as they have been together since Baeddan was over his neutering post-op and are very close, there was the question as to how they would feel about a potential intruder. They had been my fallback option anyway.
Lleian has made it clear that she values company over position, and neither Baeddan nor Blodyn are very dominant piggies, either. But as they have been together since Baeddan was over his neutering post-op and are very close, there was the question as to how they would feel about a potential intruder. They had been my fallback option anyway.
Going down in piggy numbers has resulted in my first cage elimination since I have come out of hospital. All groups have moved one cage to the left (or to the back) so that I could dismantle the square oldies pen by the bay window. The room looks a lot bigger now!
I wanted to keep Llinos in touch with Merlin as they like to flirt through the bars occasionally (I've just seen her do a piggy wash for Merlin - translated: I fancy you!).
Macsen at 7 years is getting rather frail now and Beti at 6 years is also sleeping a lot more these days. For their comfort, I have kept the cage layout, just turned by 90 degrees so Esme's beloved legacy blanket corner is away from cold drafts and the flirting pavilion facing Merlin's cage is still the same for Llinos - and comfy enough for Macsen to have a territorial lie-in and still exercise some natural species behaviour.
For that reason, Merlin and Sulwen are now in the middle instead of the far back corner.
With Lleian nicely settled in with minimal fuss with Blodyn and Baeddan but needing a more spacious floor cage as a trio, I have moved my Cornish party girls Modron and her daughter Millyn up on the table, which they seem to like - they are now first in line for food, so no complaints about more human attention!
Blodyn still has her beloved covered watchtower from where she can keep an eye on the neighbourhood and have an undisturbed nap... Each of them has their favourite tunnel, and Baeddan the hut for sleeping in as well.
Millyn has been working hard on the interior design overnight to spread as much hay as far she could - by the mouthful!
As my numbers are coming down more and more (from 14 to 10 just this year), it is becoming more difficult merging widowed piggies. The unexpected deaths of Brangwyn and Barcud have thrown quite a spanner in the works; from here on in it is just about what works out in terms of re-bonding or living alongside...
I wanted a larger group of similarly aged piggies to bring up the rear so I am not faced with the classic large see-saw problem at the end but it doesn't mean that all piggies would necessarily get on with each other. Especially Modron and Millyn are very territorial and very definite about not having any offspring of theirs underfoot again, please!
I wanted to keep Llinos in touch with Merlin as they like to flirt through the bars occasionally (I've just seen her do a piggy wash for Merlin - translated: I fancy you!).
Macsen at 7 years is getting rather frail now and Beti at 6 years is also sleeping a lot more these days. For their comfort, I have kept the cage layout, just turned by 90 degrees so Esme's beloved legacy blanket corner is away from cold drafts and the flirting pavilion facing Merlin's cage is still the same for Llinos - and comfy enough for Macsen to have a territorial lie-in and still exercise some natural species behaviour.
For that reason, Merlin and Sulwen are now in the middle instead of the far back corner.
With Lleian nicely settled in with minimal fuss with Blodyn and Baeddan but needing a more spacious floor cage as a trio, I have moved my Cornish party girls Modron and her daughter Millyn up on the table, which they seem to like - they are now first in line for food, so no complaints about more human attention!
Blodyn still has her beloved covered watchtower from where she can keep an eye on the neighbourhood and have an undisturbed nap... Each of them has their favourite tunnel, and Baeddan the hut for sleeping in as well.
Millyn has been working hard on the interior design overnight to spread as much hay as far she could - by the mouthful!
As my numbers are coming down more and more (from 14 to 10 just this year), it is becoming more difficult merging widowed piggies. The unexpected deaths of Brangwyn and Barcud have thrown quite a spanner in the works; from here on in it is just about what works out in terms of re-bonding or living alongside...
I wanted a larger group of similarly aged piggies to bring up the rear so I am not faced with the classic large see-saw problem at the end but it doesn't mean that all piggies would necessarily get on with each other. Especially Modron and Millyn are very territorial and very definite about not having any offspring of theirs underfoot again, please!
Claire W
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I’m sorry for the piggies you have lost I’m sure you’d still rather have them here but your new cage layout looks great and I’m glad every pig is happy and that Esme’s legacy blanket corner is still there and being used from her friends x
I’m sure you’d still rather have them here but your new cage layout looks great and I’m glad every pig is happy and that Esme’s legacy blanket corner is still there and being used from her friends x
piggieminder
Paw Holder
It's so sad to lose piggies but I'm glad your cages are working out for you and you can find every piggy some company. I have played an awful lot of guinea pig Tetrus this last year trying to suit every pig and the new arrangements are certainly making my cage cleaning easier and are better for my knees! May we both get a rest from playing this game for a good while.
Sadly, I don't think that Macsen and Beti are going to make it to end of the year or much beyond it but I would be very grateful if Llinos could fit in with Merlin and Sulwen, seeing that the two runty cousins have fallen out for good. Sulwen is double the size of Llinos and Lleian but she is a total wuss.
The Cornish mums have made it clear that they don't want any of their offspring back on their doormat. Especially Modron is very territorial, so I am rather looking at a living alongside scenario for whoever of the two lives longer.
But all my piggies are now within the wider range of the average lifetime. I have deliberately chosen to rather have a similarly aged wodge bringing up the end so I am hopefully not faced with a major see-saw scenario with one noticeably younger piggy left. It just turned out that my Cornish family ran to 4 boars and only 3 sows once all babies had been born. Hence the many cages.
Anyway, while my soul is missing my two boys, my hip and my washing machine are rather relieved about having less work to do. I have this year already lost nearly a third of my remaining piggies, going down from 14 to ten with old Dryw and Esme passing in the Spring and now Brangwyn and Barcud...
You feel that nevertheless; as much as you are braced for another stampede to the Rainbow Bridge because you do not love each single piggy any less.
The Cornish family were always going to be my youngest to bring up the rear but with the broken hip and my stage 4 cancer now added into the mix, I have had to make some tough decisions as to far to take any longer term health support and costly operations because I have much tighter physical and financial limits now.
My hub is the one with the problem with his knees, so I cannot rely on him, either. @Betsy
piggieminder
Paw Holder
I wish we had a hug response to the reaction emojis. I send you hugs and very best wishes. I love the oldies they are so confident and cheeky. I'm down to one real oldie now (7+) and he is suddenly piling on the health problems.
