Boars finally in same enclosure!

[BaldwinandNormie]

Hi! I'm hoping to get some insight into how things are actually going with two adolescent boar skinny pigs!

We started with a 6 month old boar named Baldwin who, after some time in his new home, really flourished. But it became very clear that he needed a friend to love with! After searching for a month's, we came across Norman, another skinny pig just 3 months younger than Baldwin. Baldwin is currently 9 months and Normie is 6.

They've had over a week, nearly 2 in fact, in an enclosure with a little over 8 sq ft for each of them, sharing a long wall of c&c sections. They've been getting along pretty well from what we've been able to suss out. No tooth chattering, just regular rumble strutting from Mr. Baldwin. Norman hasn't engaged in much rumble strutting back. Basically none. They got some free roam time together over the weeks, some tandem lap time, and some towel tunnel games to interact with each other. There was a bit of tooth chattering during tandem lap time and during the towel discovery game, but it never escalated beyond that.

They've been getting calmer and calmer with each other as the time has gone by. We thought it could be time to try them in the same enclosure, finally! It's a DIY 13 sq ft enclosure with plenty of space, several tunnel style hideys with both ends open, 2 fleece couches, 2 hanging blankets to hide in, 2 water dishes, 2 hay/litter trays, 2 food dishes, and plenty of fresh veggies for each of them when we're feeding. Because of the rumble strutting, we're assuming Baldwin has sort of taken the top spot in their little two piggy herd, so he's been getting the first treat, first taken for lap time, etc.

Since they've been in their enclosure today, there's been no tooth chattering. No humping. Baldwin is still doing his rumble strutting, Norman is playing hide and seek in the hidey tunnels. He doesn't rumble back or chatter his teeth. They smell each other's back sides plenty, touch noses, eat beside each other, they both get zoomie and popcorn a fair bit.

Is this going well? We've been so anxious about the boys getting along, and this sounds like a very successful introduction so far, but we're both too inexperienced to know for sure! Any thoughts or insight would be so welcome!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Bonding is done in a neutral territory bonding pen, and then after several hours in the bonding pen, they are then moved to the cage they are to live in together and left together permanently. It’s a one time, all or nothing event.
Unfortunately as you have been allowing them to have free roaming time together and then separating them into separate cages again, bonding has been interrupted repeatedly and they have not been able to form their relationship until they are permanently left together.
Now you have put them together in the same cage today, please don’t separate them again. It will now take them two weeks to be able to form their relationship.

As long as neither of them have lived in the 13sq ft enclosure before, then it is fine for that to be used as their bonding pen and cage.
Its important no hides are used in the cage during the introduction stage. Only add hides after several hours together and once they have got through the initial stages of bonding successfully.
If they have had a sleep and things are still ok once they’ve woken up, then often that is a good sign. The behaviours you are seeing all sound positivd. However, as I mention, it does take two weeks for a relationship to form so you do still need to keep an eye on them particularly given their ages and the fact they are both at the ages for hormone spikes (the largest at 6 months of age and another at around 9 months of age)

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[BaldwinandNormie]

Thank you so so much for the reply! We did read about the start\stop being an issue, which is what led to today. We introduced them in their new enclosure (with freshly laundered lining) and not much else. We let them wander around and feel each other out for a few hours before we added the hideys and cuddle cups. With just some sniffing and rumbling and a bit of wheeking here and there, we thought it seemed pretty safe to move forward.

Norman took very quickly to the hideys when they were introduced after about 3 hours. We are really hoping they'll never need to be separated again! Baldwin has been popcorning and zooming more today than he has for a while, even when Norman is hogging one of the hidey tunnels. We've just read so much about unsuccessful introductions and bonding that maybe our anxiety is getting the best of us. Hopefully the next two weeks are smooth sailing!

 

[Piggies&buns]

It does sound like they are getting on well!

 

[weepweeps]

Sounds like it’s going well

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so so much for the reply! We did read about the start\stop being an issue, which is what led to today. We introduced them in their new enclosure (with freshly laundered lining) and not much else. We let them wander around and feel each other out for a few hours before we added the hideys and cuddle cups. With just some sniffing and rumbling and a bit of wheeking here and there, we thought it seemed pretty safe to move forward.

Norman took very quickly to the hideys when they were introduced after about 3 hours. We are really hoping they'll never need to be separated again! Baldwin has been popcorning and zooming more today than he has for a while, even when Norman is hogging one of the hidey tunnels. We've just read so much about unsuccessful introductions and bonding that maybe our anxiety is getting the best of us. Hopefully the next two weeks are smooth sailing!

Hi

PLEASE read our bonding links in previous posts; they take you through the whole complex bonding process, which takes around 2 weeks when uninterrupted step-by-step with all attendant behaviours and dynamics so you can understand at every stage what is going on without constantly frustrating your boys who clearly WANT desperately to be together but who will still have to work through the whole instinctive piggy bonding manual.

With so many owners having anxiety issues, it has unfortunately become fashionable to bond in tiny increments in some quarters, which is frankly totally frustrating for the piggies when you basically bond against all their natural instincts and they only stick it out because companionship is so crucial for them. When the chips are down, a bonding is only successful where piggies really want to be together. There is no way and no magic wand to make them, whichever you go about it - it always comes down to mutual liking and a personality match. And you cannot change your piggies personalities. When you bond yourself, you have to always have a plan B at hand in case a bonding doesn't come off and not take it personally if things don't work out.

If you suffer from anxiety issues, there should be some things you should be aware of - especially staying away from any online research if possible. Please keep in mind that social media are entirely driven by human interest and do not reflect reality in any way. You will get all the videos that are considered 'cute' or 'funny' by humans, but they do not necessarily reflect normal behaviours. You will also inevitably get all the horror stories and any miracle cures but never the majority of the things that go to plan because they are too 'normal' to be worth talking about. This will give you a very unbalanced view on everything if you are not aware.

We are running this forum as a safe and friendly space so you will get a practical and balanced view and constructive advice. Unfortunately, since we are all doing this for free in our own free time, we cannot give you the whole detailed low down in every post and still answer everything. For this reason, we have had created our very practical guide links, which take you through the topic in the kind of practical and precise how-to that anybody new to an area would like, anticipating the most common stumbling blocks for new owners - after 15 years of this forum running and tens of thousands of enquiries we have a good inkling where they are. Please always take the time to read any links in your thread.

In order to for you to have as much enjoyment of your piggies, I would also recommend to read this link here. It is an
article I have written for Guinea Pig Magazine last year. It is very practical and down to earth but can hopefully save you unnecessary worries: Pet Owners Anxiety - Practical Tips For Sufferers and For Supporters

Anyway, you are welcome to ask any questions on this forum, whether they are large or small. We will answer them all in a friendly and helpful way to help you learn. We have all started out knowing nothing and haven't forgotten that the little questions can be as much of a stumbling block as the big ones. And that lots of other people usually don't know the answer, either, but do not dare to ask 'simple' questions and will be relieved when that can read it.

All the best!