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Reenie

Reenie

Adult Guinea Pig
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I posted the other day that I sadly lost Bailey. This leaves me with a dilemma for my remaining piggies. I now have my boar trio in one cage, and Bailey's surviving cage mate Bobby, living in a separate cage. Soooo. The dilemma. Do I try to pair one of my (much younger) trio with Bobby, or do I let him live out his life in an adjoining cage? I know Bobby is an old guy now, and it would probably be nigh impossible to rebond the trio when the time comes. What would you do?
 
Oh gosh difficult decision.
I think I would see how bobby copes over the next couple of weeks and let him guide you but it’ll also give you some more time to think. How old is bobby?

Of course you are right in that if you have one of the trio go live with him, then I think the chances of rebonding the trio once bobby passes would be unlikely to work, so you’d then need a new friend for bobby’s then left behind companion. Continuing the cycle of two pairs if you’re happy with that? Do you have one of the trio in mind to attempting a bonding with?

What would you do if bonding one of the trio with bobby fails and you can’t get said piggy back in to the trio either - youve then got the pair and two singles. Are you happy to have more piggies to keep everybody happy? If the answer is yes then I if it was me that I’d split the herd and see how things go and happily take on more piggies.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Oh gosh difficult decision.
I think I would see how bobby copes over the next couple of weeks and let him guide you but it’ll also give you some more time to think. How old is bobby?

Of course you are right in that if you have one of the trio go live with him, then I think the chances of rebonding the trio once bobby passes would be unlikely to work, so you’d then need a new friend for bobby’s then left behind companion. Continuing the cycle of two pairs if you’re happy with that? Do you have one of the trio in mind to attempting a bonding with?

What would you do if bonding one of the trio with bobby fails and you can’t get said piggy back in to the trio either - youve then got the pair and two singles. Are you happy to have more piggies to keep everybody happy? If the answer is yes then I if it was me that I’d split the herd and see how things go and happily take on more piggies.
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Thanks @Piggies&buns. I never really intended to have 5, so I'd rather not increase the numbers. I've always thought Bobby would go before Bailey, and he would have paired nicely with Groucho, but Bobby's a bit of a grump so I don't know which would be best. I don't actually know how old Bobby is, I'd guess 7 or 8. I've had him nearly 3 years and he was definitely a mature adult when I got them. The trio are only about 3 and a half. I've had them since they were babies so I'm sure of their ages. I think you're right in 'see how he is' on his own. Once the decision is made to split the trio, there's no going back, so I'll see how it pans out before making any rash decisions. Thanks again. I think I just needed an unbiased opinion to sort my thoughts. X
 
Reenie said:
Thanks @Piggies&buns. I never really intended to have 5, so I'd rather not increase the numbers. I've always thought Bobby would go before Bailey, and he would have paired nicely with Groucho, but Bobby's a bit of a grump so I don't know which would be best. I don't actually know how old Bobby is, I'd guess 7 or 8. I've had him nearly 3 years and he was definitely a mature adult when I got them. The trio are only about 3 and a half. I've had them since they were babies so I'm sure of their ages. I think you're right in 'see how he is' on his own. Once the decision is made to split the trio, there's no going back, so I'll see how it pans out before making any rash decisions. Thanks again. I think I just needed an unbiased opinion to sort my thoughts. X
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I think given your reply here - their ages etc - wait and see is definitely the best way to go. It would be an utter shame to split the trio with the wider consequences of failed bonding etc.. ..Bobby may be absolutely fine with through bar interaction if he is a bit grumpy anyway. Keep us posted x
 
Sadly the decision was taken out of my hands. Chicco, one of the trio was very ill, not eating, hunched up etc, and after trying syringe feeding and antibiotics and gut stimulants, he wasn't getting any better. When on Sunday he tried to walk, he collapsed on the ground, and his little legs just wouldn't hold him up any more. I felt he'd suffered long enough, and to keep persevering any longer would just be cruel, so I took the heartbreaking decision to help him off to rainbow Bridge. It all seems so empty now with only 3 instead of 5. Thank you everyone for your advice and support. X
 
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