Agressive Piggie

[skip_rat]

Poor Honey is on her own since her partner Eaton died. He had been with her a long time and she's about 4-5 years old now.

She's been a bit down unsurprisingly and isn't eating as much as she used to.

I don't like the idea of her being on her own, but I've tried pairing her with another guinea to no avail.

She doesn't get on with our other trio and has to have her own seperated area during floor time. The other day they managed to get through to her and she saw all three of them off.

I've tried pairing her with a few possible candidates from our local rescue but she is very aggressive and it has always ended up in a fight usually with her trying to take a chunk out of the prospective partner.

Should I continue to try to find her a freind or just leave her as a single piggie? Is there anything I can try to help with an introduction so that she may accept another piggie?

 

[Abi_nurse]

How did you introduce the girls on neutral ground? Only other idea is to bath all the piggies being introduced so they smell the same. Lots of veggies and plenty of space to run away from each other and hide. Trying a very young sow or a neutered boar may be more successful also.

It may be that your piggie is just a grumpy older sow who simply doesnt want to accept a friend. Some piggies dont fit into the way of living in pairs of groups and simply wont accept another. If she really wont accept any pig at all she may just be happy alone. But so long as she has lots of attention or can live close to other piggies she can see and be happy with then simply leave her be.

x.

 

[skip_rat]

The introductions were on neutral ground. I have tried a sow (who was so lovely she's with our other pair now making the trio), a neutured boar (she took a chunk of fur out of him) and a very young sow who she also tried to bite. The bath idea may help.

For now I'm making sure she gets lots of attention and cuddles. She seems to like cuddle time alot more than she used to.

I make sure she can see the other piggies during floor time, but if they get too close to her section she just rattles her teeth at them.

 

[Abi_nurse]

She sounds like shes quite upset by other pigs if they get too close. Ive got a boar who's similar, teeth chatters at most who come nearby, including me sometimes. She may well be happier on her own with lots of attention and cuddles. I dont have a problem with piggies being on their own providing they get lots of attention and all attempts have been made to get her a companion which it sounds like you have.

x.

 

[Doeylicious]

I am little confused where you say you have tried pairing her with rescue pigs - is the rescue not helping and supervising the bonding?

Most of the rescues on here prefer to do the bonding themselves. Some will let their pigs go to people they know have bonding experience, but not many.

As Abi said the territory must be completely neutral. I have personally never bathed piggies to aid with bonding largely as mine live outside and I am always worried they won't be dry enough.

Have a read of SuzyGPR's fantastic boar dating thread and other bonding threads for tips, but I do think the rescue should be helping you out if they are not - usually they know their pigs and will know who is more likely to mix.