Aggressive sow

MrPiggles

MrPiggles

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi we have had a couple of failed (one we've not given up on yet) bonding attempts with our sow. She seems very intolerant and aggressive toward other sows and also a neutered boar. She will lunge chase nip and try to take food out of other Pigs mouths, she can't tolerate them being too close to her, even when the other pig is not showing threatening signs (I've read all through the excellent bonding guides, thanks!) I'm thinking she will live in her own cage but either just below or next to the others. Is this how others have responded to an aggressive (but I think very fearful) Sow? Thanks
 
Hey, hun.
I haven't got much experience (thankfully, huh) with failed bondings, but from what I have seen and learned from the forum, piggies should be fine living adjacent to the other piggies because that still gives them the social interaction that they need.
Bless her, she is a strong, independent woman! 😅
 
Josie&Galilei said:
Hi we have had a couple of failed (one we've not given up on yet) bonding attempts with our sow. She seems very intolerant and aggressive toward other sows and also a neutered boar. She will lunge chase nip and try to take food out of other Pigs mouths, she can't tolerate them being too close to her, even when the other pig is not showing threatening signs (I've read all through the excellent bonding guides, thanks!) I'm thinking she will live in her own cage but either just below or next to the others. Is this how others have responded to an aggressive (but I think very fearful) Sow? Thanks
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Hi!

The best way is keep her alongside with round the clock interaction through the bars, so she has her own space but can get used to companionship and has constant stimulation.

Working through a major case of fear-aggression is not a quick process at the best of times. It can take me anytime from several months to over a year to work with a piggy through their issues - and some may never work out. :(
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

The best way is keep her alongside with round the clock interaction through the bars, so she has her own space but can get used to companionship and has constant stimulation.

Working through a major case of fear-aggression is not a quick process at the best of times. It can take me anytime from several months to over a year to work with a piggy through their issues - and some may never work out. :(
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Thank you! Yes there is no aggression through the bars only lots of interest from our boar! It's a shame as he wants to be with her but hopefully living with bars will be okay for both for now and see how we go over time x
 
How old is she? I'm just wondering if a vet check would be sensible incase of ovarian cysts.
 
Hi Amy, she is 2 and 2 months so yes you could be right. We suspect she may have had a litter in her pre adoption life, don't know if this has any effect. We can get her checked out x
 
Josie&Galilei said:
Hi Amy, she is 2 and 2 months so yes you could be right. We suspect she may have had a litter in her pre adoption life, don't know if this has any effect. We can get her checked out x
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No, a pregnancy doesn't any effect on ovarian cysts (that is a long since debunked myth), but her previous life sounds rather stressful and potentially traumatising.
 
Yes she has been passed around a lot and had a chequered past before coming to us, bless her. Our newly adopted boar (who she can handle sometimes!) Seems to have picked up both of their spirits since they have been adjacent. He is blind in one eye from a previous fight so also had a stressful start. They are safe now though xx
 
Hi just a follow on from this, my boar Phoenix has been adjacent to Gal but he keeps going wild, chewing the bars trying to get to her. Gal is lying by the side of her cage and seems very jumpy. Apart from the bar biting driving is a bit loopy any chance this is stress causing? gal won't accept him and lunges if we put them together but Phoenix just keeps going back for more (hormones?) And won't leave her be which annoys her more. Have others had bar biting that has calmed down or does this just sound stressful? X
 
Josie&Galilei said:
Hi just a follow on from this, my boar Phoenix has been adjacent to Gal but he keeps going wild, chewing the bars trying to get to her. Gal is lying by the side of her cage and seems very jumpy. Apart from the bar biting driving is a bit loopy any chance this is stress causing? gal won't accept him and lunges if we put them together but Phoenix just keeps going back for more (hormones?) And won't leave her be which annoys her more. Have others had bar biting that has calmed down or does this just sound stressful? X
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Generally, it dies down within a couple of days. However, some piggies will persist and be stressed out. In these cass, an opaque divider is the best solution.

Gal sounds sadly very stressed and fear-aggressive.
Please use our piggy whispering tips when dealing with her: Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

Sadly some piggies can be very traumatised when you get them from the free-ads (they won't be put up for adoption in good standard rescues except for very experienced homes). it can take a very long time, if ever, to work past it. :(
 
Thanks Weibke, that's helpful and reassuring in the path we are taking with her. Just to check so you mean opaque as in like a screen? She's the most gorgeous girl and seems to love us, but I guess we aren't a piggie threat! 😊 I am learning loads about future piggie ventures from our current set up even if it's not easy. Will keep doing the best for them x
 

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Josie&Galilei said:
Thanks Weibke, that's helpful and reassuring in the path we are taking with her. Just to check so you mean opaque as in like a screen? She's the most gorgeous girl and seems to love us, but I guess we aren't a piggie threat! 😊 I am learning loads about future piggie ventures from our current set up even if it's not easy. Will keep doing the best for them x
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Opaque as in can't see through. You can improvise with a piece of cardboard etc. that you tie to the separating grids. See whether your girl is less stressed they can't see each other.

Your girl looks like my Tesni (2011-18)!
 
Josie&Galilei said:
Hi just a follow on from this, my boar Phoenix has been adjacent to Gal but he keeps going wild, chewing the bars trying to get to her. Gal is lying by the side of her cage and seems very jumpy. Apart from the bar biting driving is a bit loopy any chance this is stress causing? gal won't accept him and lunges if we put them together but Phoenix just keeps going back for more (hormones?) And won't leave her be which annoys her more. Have others had bar biting that has calmed down or does this just sound stressful? X
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I feel your pain - I am currently in a similar situation to you, with 2 piggies who can't live together, but one who is more desperate to be freinds than the other.

To help everyone settle down after the initial failed intro I did put up a cardboard divider between the cages.
I also made sure that Harry (the friendly piggy and bar biter) had lots of stimulation and enrichment in his cage to distract him a bit.
Slowly (over the course of a week I have cut away a small piece of divider each day allowing them more contact. It is taking time but they are interacting (though the bars) a little more each day, Harry is calming down, and Ruby is less furious with him. Over time I imagine I will be able to remove the divider all together.
 
Wiebke said:
Opaque as in can't see through. You can improvise with a piece of cardboard etc. that you tie to the separating grids. See whether your girl is less stressed they can't see each other.

Your girl looks like my Tesni (2011-18)!
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Thank you! X
 
Swissgreys said:
I feel your pain - I am currently in a similar situation to you, with 2 piggies who can't live together, but one who is more desperate to be freinds than the other.

To help everyone settle down after the initial failed intro I did put up a cardboard divider between the cages.
I also made sure that Harry (the friendly piggy and bar biter) had lots of stimulation and enrichment in his cage to distract him a bit.
Slowly (over the course of a week I have cut away a small piece of divider each day allowing them more contact. It is taking time but they are interacting (though the bars) a little more each day, Harry is calming down, and Ruby is less furious with him. Over time I imagine I will be able to remove the divider all together.
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Oh that's great news and I will try the same! Thank you x
 
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