Are some pigs just miserable?

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I know my boy is on antibiotics, so maybe they are not helping, but he really does look a picture of misery. He just sits in the hay house and there he stays. He will nibble the grass occasionally and if I hold some food he will bite a tiny piece off, but then he loses interest and wanders off.

I haven't had him long enough to know if this is him or not, as the first few days the novelty of being with two girls filled him with joy, but that novelty has worn off. Matilda ignores him and Minnie head butts him, so they have got wise too,

The lady I had him from said he was very sad and obviously needed a home, but maybe he was just sad? It doesn't help that he is with Matilda pig, who is the happiest girl alive. She jumps and spins and eats all day long.

Maybe he would be better as a lone indoor pig, but that is not an option with me, so if he doesn't cheer up am I being unfair keeping him?
 
I dont think year unfair at all. He souns like hes got a happy home. He might just be miserable. Some humans are like that on a constant basis. I know one in particular.lol Just keep him safe and happy he will be fine.
 
When we got my first pig Spike he was very miserable, we didnt really know what we were doing with him and he was so depressed being alone and being taken away from his family that he just wouldnt eat. But after we spent time with him cuddling him and hand feeding him he eventually became a very happy chappy. So it might just take some time for your pig to settle in especially if he's ill and on antibiotics. I'd be patient with him and spoil him as much as possible.
Hope he cheers up soon.
 
Guinea pigs do have differing personalities, just like us.

Why is he on antibiotics? Has he been ill for a while? I would wonder if he's in pain or if it's perhaps just his general illness that's making him seem miserable. If he's on Baytril then it's definitely worth giving him a probiotic alongside his course of antibiotics. (Baytril can be harsh on piggy tums and can cause tummy upsets. Probiotics help to balance out the gut flora by replenishing the good bacteria which the antibiotics kill off)

I have heard of guinea pigs ignoring a poorly piggy or picking on them, just because they're ill.

If the girls are giving him a hard time then I'm not surprised that he's unhappy. I've not had a mixed group myself so I can't really advise on this but I'm sure others can so hopefully you can get something worked out soon.
 
He is on antibiotics for a possible abscess or swollen lymph node due to infection. He isn't on Baytril. I have some probiotics for him, but have to syringe them down him too and as he hates having his antibiotic I have decided not too stress him more. The antibiotic has more or less finished now, so I will see how he goes, he is back at the vets on Tuesday.

The girls don't pick on him, they are just bossy and because he eats soooo slowly they do try and take food off him. Sometimes he lets them and sometimes he throws his head back and turns around.
 
I dont think year unfair at all. He souns like hes got a happy home. He might just be miserable. Some humans are like that on a constant basis. I know one in particular.lol Just keep him safe and happy he will be fine.

Oh God, I nickname my husband Jack Dee, please don't tell me I have the Jack Dee of the guinea pig world too mallethead
 
Your not being unfair at all. Whats he on antib's for? It might be making him feel a bit rough?

As people have said, they all have different personalities. One or two of my girls will lounge about and look board etc, but other times they are jumping for joy. He sounds like quite a layed back submissive boar. My neutered boar really keeps his ladies in order, wont take any headbutting etc from them, totally the boss. But i guess he has to be with 6 to keep in order. See what hes like when hes finished his meds and getting better. He may surprise you and come out his shell a bit more, he might be still getting used to his new home.

x.
 
It does take some piggies ages to get used to a new home and you have to wait to see their true personalities shine through, I'm sure feeling poorly isn't helping either. One of my boars is an introvert and his favourite activity is lying in the hayloft and relaxing....alone! :)
 
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