Bonding advice

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Popps&Dais

New Born Pup
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Hello,

I’ve read all the forum advice, thank you so much to Wiebke for that. I just wanted to check, before I proceed later this afternoon, to make sure I’m not rushing things.

A 2 year old neutered boar came into our lives on Thursday. He’s gorgeous. The plan is to see if our 6 year old female likes him. Well, I guess if they like each other. He’s settled into a separate space really well and is curious about the world around him.

What I’d like to do now is to divide the 2x5 that our female is in so that they can see each other through the bars and spend a few days being aware of each other. This is so I can see how she gets on as I’ll know quickly from her if she’s interested or not.

Am I moving too quickly? Does he need a few more days settling before a shift? They can see each other but are about two metres away from each other.

Should I divide the other space evenly or is it ok to split it into a 2x3 and a 2x2 for a day or two? She has not been going beyond 2x2 even in her larger space but I know that it’s all about choice. The space he goes into will also be neutral and cleaned with her space staying the same for now.

I also have the neutral space set up for the actual bonding but this is more just them seeing each other.

Any advice as always would be gratefully received. I’m also ready with plans should either of them say no to bonding.
 
You can (and should) absolutely move them side by side, and they can stay like that for as long as necessary for you to find time to do the bonding.
He could have been side by side with her from the day you brought him home so moving him beside her now is not rushing anything.
He is too far away to be able to see her (their vision is not very good past 30cms so at 2 metres away he won’t see her at all well) at present but will be able to smell and hear her.

A 2x2 to be honest, I would not entertain the idea of having - it’s not even minimum size.
Are you able to move the cage he is currently in to be beside hers rather than dividing her cage?

If you are not able to move his cage, then you will have to go with a 2x3 and a 2x2 to enable them to be side by side before bonding but it would mean you may need to cut the side by side living shorter due to it being a small space.
That is unless you decide to go straight to neutral territory and skip the side by side living (not ideal but could be done if you have no choice but to do so).

When are you planning on doing the bonding? Ideally you’d want them side by side for a few days before bonding day so that is another reason why a 2x2 wouldn’t be ideal as it’s a bit too long to be in too small of a cage.
 
Piggies&buns said:
You can (and should) absolutely move them side by side, and they can stay like that for as long as necessary for you to find time to do the bonding.
He could have been side by side with her from the day you brought him home so moving him beside her now is not rushing anything.
He is too far away to be able to see her (their vision is not very good past 30cms so at 2 metres away he won’t see her at all well) at present but will be able to smell and hear her.

A 2x2 to be honest, I would not entertain the idea of having - it’s not even minimum size.
Are you able to move the cage he is currently in to be beside hers rather than dividing her cage?

If you are not able to move his cage, then you will have to go with a 2x3 and a 2x2 to enable them to be side by side before bonding but it would mean you may need to cut the side by side living shorter due to it being a small space.
That is unless you decide to go straight to neutral territory and skip the side by side living (not ideal but could be done if you have no choice but to do so).

When are you planning on doing the bonding? Ideally you’d want them side by side for a few days before bonding day so that is another reason why a 2x2 wouldn’t be ideal as it’s a bit too long to be in too small of a cage.
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Thanks so much, that’s super helpful. I’m going to work out something better for them and see if I can temporarily expand their space. Then they’d be able to see each other and interact better than if his space moved closer.

That then also gives us time to find the best day for bonding. We’re on a whatever is best for them schedule.
 
Popps&Dais said:
Thanks so much, that’s super helpful. I’m going to work out something better for them and see if I can temporarily expand their space. Then they’d be able to see each other and interact better than if his space moved closer.

That then also gives us time to find the best day for bonding. We’re on a whatever is best for them schedule.
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If they can be side by side for a week then that would be great. Gives them time to get to know each other between the bars and for him to have settled in.

(A 2x3 is the smallest size cage you’d want each of them in.)

Keep us posted when bonding day comes!
 
Piggies&buns said:
If they can be side by side for a week then that would be great. Gives them time to get to know each other between the bars and for him to have settled in.

(A 2x3 is the smallest size cage you’d want each of them in.)

Keep us posted when bonding day comes!
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Thank you, will do. Yes will be much nicer to give them time. They’re now next to each other in adjoining 2x3s. He’s been enjoying the new space and making squeaks. She came out for a look at a distance and has gone back to sleep. I’m taking that as a positive sign from her.

I know this may sound a silly question, but I have a couple of cable ties on the partition that are accessible to him. He’s already had a wee taste of them but that was it. Is there a trick to covering them? Even if he takes them away, he’ll not get through, but I’m worried he may eat them.
 
No such thing as a silly question.

I have side by side pigs with cable tied grids between. I have ties right at the top (so out of their immediate eyeline) and right at the bottom (covered by as much bedding as possible). Yes, mine have also had a taste of them but quickly lost interest and didn’t touch them after the first day at most.
 
Piggies&buns said:
No such thing as a silly question.

I have side by side pigs with cable tied grids between. I have ties right at the top (so out of their immediate eyeline) and right at the bottom (covered by as much bedding as possible). Yes, mine have also had a taste of them but quickly lost interest and didn’t touch them after the first day at most.
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Oh brilliant, thank you. I’ll maybe rejig my ones at the bottom then as they’re possibly a bit too visible. I’ll do it when he’s not looking 🤞
 
Yesterday we introduced them to each other at 11.30am. From the beginning they were happy eating together. There was a bit of teeth rattling (both) and rumble strutting (him) but otherwise reasonably calm. Both seem interested in the other.

This morning I’m not sure if it is going ok. She is sticking to one corner, which she has done since we put them back yesterday and if he moves then she grumbles. The grumbling goes on for a bit and then all is calm again. I can’t see that he is guarding anything or stopping her from moving. If anything he gives her more space and tries to encourage although I have seen him chase once. The grumbling is the kind I’ve heard before when they’re expressing their opinion about a boundary, such as you’re standing on me, but they still like the other guinea pig. I’ve made sure she’s had water and food but she’s not moving to get them herself. Please any advice would be wonderful?
 
Rather concerning if she is completely refusing to move from one spot and isn’t eating?
Is that how it actually is?

While from the grumbling, chatting behaviours etc it doesn’t sound like it has necessarily immediately failed - it’s normal for her to tell him what she is willing to deal with, the sow will lead - if she is making it clear she isn’t happy sharing a space with him then this may well not work out
 
Piggies&buns said:
Rather concerning if she is completely refusing to move from one spot and isn’t eating?
Is that how it actually is?

While from the grumbling, chatting behaviours etc it doesn’t sound like it has necessarily immediately failed - it’s normal for her to tell him what she is willing to deal with, the sow will lead - if she is making it clear she isn’t happy sharing a space with him then this may well not work out
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Thanks so much for your advice. She is eating and companionably and looks happy. I just have to make sure the hay, veggies and nuggets are in reach and bring water as she’s not left her spot. At the moment they’re both sleeping, relaxed on their sides, a few inches apart on their respective heat pads. She did tend to prefer one spot before this too (a different spot) and didn’t move much then so it’s not completely unusual. She was moving around a lot more though when they had a divider.
 
In that case I would leave them together for now but keep a very close eye. She needs to be moving around - not leaving that spot is a worry if it is out of character.
With any luck she is just getting used to the arrangement.
 
Piggies&buns said:
In that case I would leave them together for now but keep a very close eye. She needs to be moving around - not leaving that spot is a worry if it is out of character.
With any luck she is just getting used to the arrangement.
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Thanks so much, I’ll do that. Yes, it’s not entirely out of character but I’m keeping an eye on her.
 
Well, we have two delighted piggies that are back to living side by side. I returned the divider yesterday afternoon and it was quite transformational. Popcorning for him and happily exploring for her and then they settled down together either side of the divide for a rest. No rumble strutting, no complaining, just companionably. They do like each other but maybe she’s not ready to share a space yet or ever.

Thanks so much @Piggies&buns for all your advice and that it might not be going well and to @Claire W for your encouragement. This forum is amazing.
 
It didn’t sound like it was an immediate failure, and that she did want a companion but you are right, sharing a space was perhaps a step too far - that can simply be the case with older sows.
While it’s a shame they’ve had to be separated, if they are both much happier and particularly for her to be moving about again, then it sounds to be the right thing.
 
Popps&Dais said:
Well, we have two delighted piggies that are back to living side by side. I returned the divider yesterday afternoon and it was quite transformational. Popcorning for him and happily exploring for her and then they settled down together either side of the divide for a rest. No rumble strutting, no complaining, just companionably. They do like each other but maybe she’s not ready to share a space yet or ever.

Thanks so much @Piggies&buns for all your advice and that it might not be going well and to @Claire W for your encouragement. This forum is amazing.
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I’m sorry that your little girl decided she didn’t want to share her space but I’m pleased that they’re happy to live side by side ❤️ Perhaps you can try them again in the future but they sound like very happy piggies x
 
Piggies&buns said:
It didn’t sound like it was an immediate failure, and that she did want a companion but you are right, sharing a space was perhaps a step too far - that can simply be the case with older sows.
While it’s a shame they’ve had to be separated, if they are both much happier and particularly for her to be moving about again, then it sounds to be the right thing.
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Thank you, yes it was quite positive, but they’re both much happier today. Maybe if they were more ages with each other then things would be different. Today she’s keeping to one spot too but it’s a different kind of not moving to yesterday. Just an older piggy relaxing and looking content and maybe she’ll bother to reach for a bit of hay or some water every now and again.
 
Claire W said:
I’m sorry that your little girl decided she didn’t want to share her space but I’m pleased that they’re happy to live side by side ❤️ Perhaps you can try them again in the future but they sound like very happy piggies x
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Thank you. I know, it might have been nice but they know what they want. Be that veggies, hay, grass or in this case space ❤️
 
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