hot fox
Junior Guinea Pig
We have five rescue piggles, two girls about 15 and 18 months, the originals, Daisy and Flobble, one handsome male, Oscar, about 12 months, the second addition, and our two babies must be about 9 months, possibly more, Amber and Pixie. They are sisters and we've had them for 9 weeks. The introduction were a little fraught, but they settled down eventually. Amber is definitely the underdog, I understand there's a hierachy system in colonies, but she's always left out in the rain! :-(
Oscar sustained an injury so they're currently in two cages during the night inside, Oscar and Daisy are together, and Flobble and Pixie and Amber are in another. It's slightly smaller than their outside hutch, but we've put two igloos in there, and neither Flobble or Pixie will let her in to either! I think the dynamics of the group work better when they're all together, we put them in the run for as much of the day as is feasible.
I'm concerned Amber's not so happy. She's a squealer but she gets pushed around so much I don't blame her! It's nothing serious, just head buts and nips to the ear region, so is this just normal behaviour? She is such a sweetie, and is maintaining a healthy weight and has a tremendous appetite, and these confrontations don't happen all the time.
What should we do> We're relatively new to this only having had pigs since May, but we've had injuries, lice, an unexplained death, so we're learning fast! Any advise gratefully received.
PS We had to split them up as we are nearly certain Oscar nibbled through a splint he had on for a ruptured tendon, through to his bone! His toe is likely to fall off, or may need to be amputated. He had a bandage on for 5/6 weeks. We weren't entirely sure if it was him or one of the others. He was missing his friends, so we put Daisy in with him, as she's the friendliest and gentlest. And no nibbling of bandage has occured. As his injury heals, they're in together more and more. His bandage was removed on Wednesday, and so far so good! We have made sure they had at least a couple of supervised hours together all the time.
Any advise gratefully received. 8=)
Oscar sustained an injury so they're currently in two cages during the night inside, Oscar and Daisy are together, and Flobble and Pixie and Amber are in another. It's slightly smaller than their outside hutch, but we've put two igloos in there, and neither Flobble or Pixie will let her in to either! I think the dynamics of the group work better when they're all together, we put them in the run for as much of the day as is feasible.
I'm concerned Amber's not so happy. She's a squealer but she gets pushed around so much I don't blame her! It's nothing serious, just head buts and nips to the ear region, so is this just normal behaviour? She is such a sweetie, and is maintaining a healthy weight and has a tremendous appetite, and these confrontations don't happen all the time.
What should we do> We're relatively new to this only having had pigs since May, but we've had injuries, lice, an unexplained death, so we're learning fast! Any advise gratefully received.
PS We had to split them up as we are nearly certain Oscar nibbled through a splint he had on for a ruptured tendon, through to his bone! His toe is likely to fall off, or may need to be amputated. He had a bandage on for 5/6 weeks. We weren't entirely sure if it was him or one of the others. He was missing his friends, so we put Daisy in with him, as she's the friendliest and gentlest. And no nibbling of bandage has occured. As his injury heals, they're in together more and more. His bandage was removed on Wednesday, and so far so good! We have made sure they had at least a couple of supervised hours together all the time.
Any advise gratefully received. 8=)
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