Advice needed about bonding methods.

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Nettie

Nettie

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Hi everyone, I need some advice please.
I am relatively new to piggies but had a rapid introduction when I found my 2 new sows were both pregnant when I got them in December.
I now have 6 gorgeous piggies, 3 boars and 3 sows, who live very happily together In their neighbouring hutches and runs.
My dilemma is this, a friend of a friend bought his daughter 2 sows in Feb as a birthday present, which she is now bored with and Is not looking after them, I have offered to take them but wondered if I would be able to try and bond them with my 3 girls. I don't want to upset my very happy trio but thought it would be nice if they could be a little herd.
What do you think? Is it worth it? Or should I keep them separate?
If I should try and bond, where do I start?

Sorry it's lots of questions but really am quite inexperienced and dont want to risk getting it wrong.
Thanks in advance.
Annette
 
Your very luck to have all of your boars living together, and as the boys hit their hormones this is unlikely to last. Please be aware of the problems that can arrise with boar trios (you may like to research ways to help them get along best)

But now to your actual questions :) It very well may be possible to bond them all together! But be aware that it will depend on piggy personalities, and they may not like eachother. Here is a link about sow behaviour http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561

Introductions should always be done in a neuteral space. (Ie somewhere neither group of piggies have been before) Ie a fresh patch of grass in a garden run. If your going for a garden intro, its best to have nothing but the piggies in the run (as theres grass on the floor to distract them)

Plenty of people will come along with more specific bonding advice (I hope) And if you use the search bar at the top of the forum you should be able to find some other information.
 
Hi Annette
and welcome to the forum!

For bonding and behaviourm, check out this link http://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm which is very useful (the whole website is great). You are quite near two fab rescues, Milhaven (Keighley) and Bramley Cavies (Bramley, Leeds) and I am sure they would be happy to have a chat with you about it - says she, offering other people's help! They would also be able to advise on cage size, and if you really think that you have enough atm, taking into account increased sizes of cages, vets bills etc etc, they would be able to take the sows off you. Using a rescue means that you are sure that the piggies will be found a good forever home, will never be bred from, and the eventual owner will also be able to receive follow up care (and will probably be pointed in the direction of this forum anyway lol).

I have a little herd - one neutered male, with currently, four sows. The sows range in age from 10-12 wheeks, to about 2 years. Every time you add a piggie to the mix, all the relationships have to change, which can mean disruption. I have one sow, Bubbles, who I have now separated from the herd, as she was being bullied. This has been going on at a low level for some time, but just recently, has got much worse, and escalated into actual biting, and far worse than just the normal bottom pig in the heap status and behaviour that goes with that. So you do need to think carefully about introducing a pair into a herd, and whether this would be the right thing to do. It is certainly possible, and I have done it, and I'm no expert.

HTH.
 
Thank you both.

Thanks for the great advice.
The cage I have the girls in is actually a chicken coop so is really quite big with a 6ft x 3ft run and large sleeping area above. I am reluctant to alter the dynamics of my groups as they seem to be working, so your advice is really helpful.
As for my boars, they were all born at the end of Feb so are still babies. When do the hormones kick in so I can be extra vigilant to there behaviour? They are all kept outside on the decking so I can see them all the time but don't Want any of my boys to get hurt.
 
The hormones can kick in anywhere between 2-5 months and will last untill they are over 1 year old. I know I keep saying this, and I dont want to be a buzz kill but very few people have boar trios that make it through the hormonal months in tact, so I just want to prepare you.

You have a few options if things do go wrong though. One option is to neuter one of the boys and have him living with your sow group. Another is to take the lonely boar to one of your local rescues so he can be boar dated (this is where he gets to meet other males, to make sure the friend he comes back with he definatly gets along with)

To give your boys the best shot at staying as a trio they will need 13square ft+ of space (the bigger the better with boys) All hiding places in their home ideally need to have two entrances/exits. cardboard boxes are very good for this (available from your local supermarket, just cut two holes in, turn it upside down and away you go). I have found hammock corner houses are also good as the piggy can just walk through the fabric side should they want to get out. There should also be a hidey house each to avoid squabbling. Same goes for other hutch furniture, 3 bowls, 3 water bottles. Depending on the bedding you use, I would also recomend piles of hay rather than one hay rack, so access cannot be blocked by other piggies :)

I hope that helps! Here is a link to help you determine what is normal dominance, and what you need to worry about http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949
 
Yes, I agree with Connie - boar trios that make it to adulthood and stability are a rare thing. Can be done, but it's rare. You might find that although there is no actual fur flying fighting, (gosh, I'm up on the alliteration tonight!) that one of the boars is bullied. This will mean that the other two gang up on him, chase him away from food etc. The risk of this can be minimised by having three of everything as Connie suggests.

Best of luck, and don't hesitate to ask again if we can help further. There is usually someone of experience around who can help, and I have found this forum to be really friendly, as well as helpful.
 
Thanks Katie and connie, I agree everyone on the forum seems really friendly and the advice is fantastic, the best advice comes from experience I feel.
I hope the boars get on but I am realistic that they may not. Whilst they are all happy at present the 2 brothers (duke and merrry), do seem to have bonded together more than with the other baby, (miles) that is a week younger.
I have them in a 2 tier pets at home hutch. Thistle hall I think it was called, maybe I need to swop them to the chicken coop and put the girls in the hutch? I am using sawdust and hay and they are sharing a pigaloo to sleep in but I like the suggestion of 3 of everything and will sort that out ASAP.
As for the 2 new piggies, which I should be getting at the weekend. I think I will keep them separate until I have got to know their personalities better before I decide to try and group them up or not.
I will keep you posted on progress. No doubt I will be back for more advice and support soon.

Thanks again
Annette xx
 
Just a tip - most people think that sawdust is a bad bedding option because the dust can cause respiratory problems. Do you want to search this forum under housing for more info?
 
Really, wow, yes i Will do thanks, you are a mind of helpful information. Gosh I never realised it would be so complex but so glad I have found the forum. :{
Thanks so much Katie.
 
Nettie said:
Really, wow, yes i Will do thanks, you are a mind of helpful information. Gosh I never realised it would be so complex but so glad I have found the forum. :{
Thanks so much Katie.
Click to expand...

I'm an addict - but at least it keeps me off eBay - OH says...little does he know that eBay sells piggie toys
 
We are happy to help. :) Generally people who come with a view to learning more get loads out of the forum. I certainly did and I'm still learning as I go!

How big is each floor of the pets at home hutch? :)
 
Hi and welcome!

We also have a thread with tips on how to conduct introductions: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

There shouldn't be a major problem why you can't try to introduce all girls; ideally on neutral ground and then transferred into a rearranged and thoroughly cleaned cage/ hutch. Usually, the face offs happen between the two top sows who have work out who's on top of the new group. If the two groups are a different age and size, intros are generally a bit easier as the hierarchy is clear. The dominance phase lasts about up to two weeks on average until every piggy has found her rung on the ladder. Please don't interfere and separate unless there are real fights.

Give any new piggies a couple of days to get their bearings in their new home and to get to know their new friends though bars/mesh. That takes a lot of the stress factors that can lead to problems out of the equation. Don't introduce if there are hositilies.

From about five guinea pigs onward, you will see group behaviour.

I have currently a group of nine sows and one very dominant neutered boar and a group of six (mostly older) sows living with a submissive neutered boar.
 
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