Advice for a newcomer, please!

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Clarence

Hi everyone, I've never had piggies before and recently rescued a boar, Puddin, from a friend, who'd got it for her kids but ignored the poor little thing - everytime I visited it would be whizzing around wheeking loudly and even chiripping (not always a happy sound then?) and was so skittish and nervous because he never was handled or let out, save for being chucked into a little carrying box when his cage was cleaned :'( He's a cheeky little buggar, confidant and now fairly used to being handled and popcorns and tears around wheeking when let out for floor time. He can't keep still long enough to have a cuddle when he's on my lap but when I'm on the floor with him he's happy to jump on me and purrs when I give him a good stroke. I now have ANOTHER boar, same scenario - bought and totally neglected, not handled much or given any attention, so I was desperate to have him to give him a better life and was gonna be getting Puddin a friend anyhoo. Pie is a rex, bigger than Puddin and so gentle and laid back. I introduced them on neutral ground and Puddin is totally dominant, rumblestrutting and everything and Pie just sits there! There hasn't been any other agression so think it maybe ok to join their cages together (after a thorough clean and rearrange) - should I try it out and keep an eye on them? They're a year old approx. Also any tips on things to put in to amuse them both? Pie's still quite quiet and not that social, though he will have a very short cuddle, and I'm concerned that both of them will never be that enamoured of humans due to their neglected childhood!
 
I have recently aquired two girls who were unwanted, and a boy who needed a new home. Both can be agressive toward each other, but i'm hoping time and patence will fix that.
I would say give it a go. Put them together for a while, but under constant supervision. Hopefully you'l be able to stretch the time longer and longer until they are fully bonded.

Welcome and well done for rescuing those little piggies. :)
 
Aww they sound adorable little fellas, as they have very different characters it may work. Susie (barmy4boars) has a great website and also Michellemuffin has had lots of experience bonding boars.

Welcome to the forum :)

Bev x x
 
I'd say check out the barmy website and read up on intros.

Do keep a close eye on things though, many boars do live very happily together, especially litttermates and those introduced as babies. Older boars are generally more problematic, but it can be done depending on the personality of the boars.
If I was in your situation, my main concern would be that Pie, doesn't get too bullied by the more dominant Puddin and his life made a misery.

Good luck and let us know how you get on. You could maybe pm barmy4boars or michellemuffin, in case they don't see this :)

Barbara
 
Hiya i bonded two boars succsessfully back in summer, do watch them for a while but if there isnt any fighting then your ok to calm down, although eddie was 7weeks when he met Zubin so it might be a little different x
 
Thanks for all the replies, guys. Sorry I haven't posted back sooner but I've been away on holiday (missing the little piggies!). I let them out for their first floortime together in 2 weeks and they got on really well, Puddin only rumbled a few times and Pie did try to mount Puddin's head a couple of times ;D but otherwise all was fairly calm! I'm trying to find grid cubes at the mo so I can make them a large cage - anyone know where I can find them, all the Argos' near me have sold out and discontinued the line? I'll continue letting them out together as much as possible and hope that once they're roomates with plenty of space they'll be buddies :)
 
Thanks a lot, I've just ordered some, just gotta get some correx now from a local sign shop and the piggy cohabitating experiment will begin!
 
Welcome to the forum, two rescues that's fantastic well done :)

They sound gorgeous hope all goes well, remember patience and yes a towel in ready in case of a 'disagreement' happening.
Good luck :-* :-*
 
I've got the grids and am collecting the correx this afternoon.

I'm still a bit apprehensive about putting them together as when they're out for floortime Pudding chases Pie and rumblestruts occasionally but then breaks into a purring/chirping type happy noise as if he's not sure if he's dominant/angry/happy or what! Is this normal? Also I went to feed them both when they were out yesterday but Pie wasn't confident enough to eat whilst Pudding was. so I put up a grid divider in the hall yet Pie just went and sat next to it, folornly staring at Pudding. He also does this when they're in their cages, he sits next to the bars and stares at Pudding, occasionally making a little squeak. Pudding seems to not really care and I think would like a more active pig when they're out as Pie mostly sits in the corner - lazybones! You would think when they were out together Pie would interact with Pudding but he just runs away.
 
hi you I would persevere with them, being as they had bad starts with humans might mean it takes them longer to feel comfortable around you to relax and enjoy each others company only time will help here , as pie is quite laid back thats a good sign as he is'nt trying to dominate pudding who has found pie to be not bothered in trying to be boss, I would make sure there is 2 of everything bottles food pots hidey holes drain pipes are good for hiding in and igloos, if they have their own things theres less reason for fighting, I think Pie needs confidence building bringing out of himself, when I first got my floo he was a petrified little man who went berserk if touched now he is mummys little man and hates it if anyother pigs comes near me,
so start by making sure everything is neutral and clean make sure they have their own of everything start tempting pie with titbits like cucumber and be very pateint, pudding has not got any competition for boss pig so I think with time they will be great mates , another thing to get them confident with you is to wrap them in a small towel or t towel and make them feel secure then walk around with them talking away this will benefit pie and will get him at ease with you and probably puddin,
always remember though they can fight and for the first week you need to watch for signs of fighting, that does'nt mean alls lost though , but i really think you stand a good chance of a happy bonding,
 
Thanks for the advice Michelle, I will try all that you've said. Pudding has already changed so much in the short time I've had him and now accepts smooths and tickles in his cage and jumps onto my lap at floortime, even wheeking for me if I disappear into another room. I hope that if I do give Pie lots of attention he'll end up the same way, it's just hard at first as you think they'll never get used to being petted, Pie jumps a mile everytime I go near him but perseverance will hopefully pay off!
 
Well, I set up the cage, which is bloody massive and takes up far too much space in my lounge :-\, and put in 2 Pigs, 2 hidey holes, 2 food bowls, bottles etc and stood back and watched. There wasn't too much rumbling from Pudding (and it was followed by chirping, tweeting happy (?) noises) but Pie just sat in the corner until Pudding chased him into another corner, then another and so on. Also when Pie tried to eat Pudding performed and kept him away from the bowl. I put a partition in when I went to bed cos was worried about leaving them unsupervised and immediately Pie seemed a lot more relaxed and happy and began to explore and eat. So my question is do I leave it like that so Pie is happier and less bullied or does everyone think Pudding will get bored of hassling Pie and Pie will gain confidence?
 
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