CherryCoke_x
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi everyone! Following your advice, I wanted to update you on the bonding process; we began yesterday. I have some photos and videos below.
I am cautiously confident… going by the guides here with bonding/behaviour/about boars, we seem to be having an OK time so far with Eddie (white) and Rory’s (B&W) bonding journey. (you were not joking about it being a breath-holding time in my other post!)
Just about their area: two water bottles, one is hidden in the photos under the black blanket; two blankets for a feeling of shelter (not added right away), separate ends of the enclosure; filled the centre with hay, fresh greens, some nuggets and some treats (it was neat, they spread it ha ha); the enclosure is a C&C 5 x 2, we have made into an L shape. The total square footage is 13.1 sq ft.
When the guys first went in, we put Eddie in first as we were pretty sure he would be dominant. We were correct in this assumption; Rory seems to have taken to submissive immediately. He has not shown dominant behaviour, bar once chin raise within the first few mins, but his body language was facing sideways to Eddie. Eddie has been facing him when doing this and exhibiting other dominant shows.
Rory made the initial move and approached Eddie while eating hay. Then began about 45 mins of chasing, humping, teeth chattering, and rumble-strutting, with Rory trying to avoid Eddie (this was not continuous, it was interspersed with laying down and eating). Nothing seemed too extreme, and no teeth were baring or lunging, so we trusted the process. Rory did not once show any dominant behaviour and was retreating from Eddie’s advances (which I was thankful for).
After approx 45 min - 1 hr, Rory was being a little more confident again, trying to approach Eddie for a bum sniff, even though he was being chased off. He was also eating more, and we had seen him drink a few times since. This made me feel a little happier, as had he not interacted, I know it would have been a stop situation.
Eddie was still doing some rumble-strutting now and again, but the teeth chattering and humping had all but stopped. There was the odd yawn, but honestly, as worried as I was, I thought this was genuinely down to tiredness (I still watched close and took it seriously, being a potential warning sign). After about another hour, I did not add any hides into the house but covered two opposite corners with a blanket to give some shelter. When I walked away, the boys headed to one and lay together to sleep (once Eddie ensured he had the prime spot) there is a photo of them together from last night below. When they woke, there was a little rumble-strut from Eddie but nothing more.
I had seen Eddie wash himself a couple of times during the time too, and Rory once. Though only once were right next to each other (when Eddie grooming himself), so unsure if this was a coincidence. There had also been nose touching from Eddie, and no teeth were shown.
As we went to bed (at 1 am as my partner forced me to leave them finally
), both boys were awake together, with Rory following Eddie around when they walked. Sometimes Eddie would follow Rory too, without any noise. Rory managed a few bum sniffs, with Eddie continuing to eat and not chasing Rory off. And they had laid down next to each other a few times, having slept twice.
Today, we have awoken to two very chatty boys - Rory’s chatter can be pretty loud when approached by Eddie.
There are no signs of any fallouts from the night, albeit no longer a nice neat pile of hay, but a hay carpet of sorts (please excuse that in the photos - we definitely put that in neatly, haha).
Eddie has begun to rumble-strut again, but I am not worried about that as he is not doing anything else that is on either the warning or danger signs. Just his regular rumbling show of dominance, sometimes when approaching or walking past Rory, other times if Rory is sniffing his bottom (though he did do it once when Rory was in a corner, Rory could have got away if he wanted - I have a video if needed).
I am watching them and ensuring Rory is acting “normally” - I have seen him eating. If noise makes them jump, they run together and sit under a cover together too. I also saw Rory yawn, but as it was in isolation, I think it was tiredness or a little stress (again, watching closely).
So, all in all, I hope. I know it is just day two of a longer process, so I stick to them like glue. I am also at home all day until Thursday and then beyond during the two weeks, so I am watching extremely closely.
I wanted to post to update, including promised photos! I also wanted to ensure I am not missing any obvious signs of anything “bad”, as this seems to have gone (unnervingly) OK so far, and I know it may not stay this way, and it may change in a second.
I will put their hides in a little later today, maybe in an hour or so (they are log tunnels). As they were in their separate cages, do I need to wipe their scents over both hides before putting them in? I read that somewhere but have read so much that I cannot remember if it was from here. (The hides have two exits, and both doorways will be fully open).
I would also like to tidy the hay up and put their two hay bags in (each bag also has two holes in it, so four access points in total) - is this OK at this point? Or will sweeping the hay up, and adding the bags, be a trigger for Eddie this early on? I am happy to wait if that is best for the process.
I’ll update this thread with any developments, but please, all of you and your piggies send lots of love this way in the hope that my boys can finally have the lives they deserve and that I wanted to give them the moment I saw them looking sad and alone at adoption.
Frankie
PS. There are two water bottles; the second is under the black blanket.
ADD ON:
The only thing that has worried me literally just now, that I can't work out, is as I was writing how well they are doing in this post, Eddie began to chase and try and hump Rory again. This is ok, I know, so I carried on. Rory wouldn't let him, he kept running, but once he stopped and Eddie stopped trying to hump, he went to Rory's face and did like a head flick up? He didn't hold a chin raise, it was more of a flick up. I can't be sure if he was trying to lift Rory's head or if it was just his own, as I couldn't see, and it was too quick for me to move (I did try). I then think he either nipped Rory's ear or like nudged his head. I don't think it was a lunge, as he was right next to him, but I can't be 100% sure. I am obviously going to keep an eye out, but any advice (if you understand what I am trying to describe), would be appreciated massively. They have been laid in separate ends and calm, sleeping - the last photo. This was about half an hour ago, I was waiting for my videos to upload to youtube before posting.
As of this moment, Eddie is trying to lie with Rory, and Rory moved a short few steps away to eat (I tried to get a photo, but made Rory jump and he moved.)
Last night:
Today:
Rory sniffing Eddie's bottom - no rumbling here, and Eddie continued to eat.
Laid down and relaxing together
excuse the panoramic photo. This is the most recent, taken at 1.15 pm after the humping and head flick.
Video 1: general behaviour this morning:
Video 2: Eddie rumble-strutting:
Video 3: Immediately after Eddie had been chasing and trying to hump Rory:
I am cautiously confident… going by the guides here with bonding/behaviour/about boars, we seem to be having an OK time so far with Eddie (white) and Rory’s (B&W) bonding journey. (you were not joking about it being a breath-holding time in my other post!)
Just about their area: two water bottles, one is hidden in the photos under the black blanket; two blankets for a feeling of shelter (not added right away), separate ends of the enclosure; filled the centre with hay, fresh greens, some nuggets and some treats (it was neat, they spread it ha ha); the enclosure is a C&C 5 x 2, we have made into an L shape. The total square footage is 13.1 sq ft.
When the guys first went in, we put Eddie in first as we were pretty sure he would be dominant. We were correct in this assumption; Rory seems to have taken to submissive immediately. He has not shown dominant behaviour, bar once chin raise within the first few mins, but his body language was facing sideways to Eddie. Eddie has been facing him when doing this and exhibiting other dominant shows.
Rory made the initial move and approached Eddie while eating hay. Then began about 45 mins of chasing, humping, teeth chattering, and rumble-strutting, with Rory trying to avoid Eddie (this was not continuous, it was interspersed with laying down and eating). Nothing seemed too extreme, and no teeth were baring or lunging, so we trusted the process. Rory did not once show any dominant behaviour and was retreating from Eddie’s advances (which I was thankful for).
After approx 45 min - 1 hr, Rory was being a little more confident again, trying to approach Eddie for a bum sniff, even though he was being chased off. He was also eating more, and we had seen him drink a few times since. This made me feel a little happier, as had he not interacted, I know it would have been a stop situation.
Eddie was still doing some rumble-strutting now and again, but the teeth chattering and humping had all but stopped. There was the odd yawn, but honestly, as worried as I was, I thought this was genuinely down to tiredness (I still watched close and took it seriously, being a potential warning sign). After about another hour, I did not add any hides into the house but covered two opposite corners with a blanket to give some shelter. When I walked away, the boys headed to one and lay together to sleep (once Eddie ensured he had the prime spot) there is a photo of them together from last night below. When they woke, there was a little rumble-strut from Eddie but nothing more.
I had seen Eddie wash himself a couple of times during the time too, and Rory once. Though only once were right next to each other (when Eddie grooming himself), so unsure if this was a coincidence. There had also been nose touching from Eddie, and no teeth were shown.
As we went to bed (at 1 am as my partner forced me to leave them finally
), both boys were awake together, with Rory following Eddie around when they walked. Sometimes Eddie would follow Rory too, without any noise. Rory managed a few bum sniffs, with Eddie continuing to eat and not chasing Rory off. And they had laid down next to each other a few times, having slept twice.Today, we have awoken to two very chatty boys - Rory’s chatter can be pretty loud when approached by Eddie.
There are no signs of any fallouts from the night, albeit no longer a nice neat pile of hay, but a hay carpet of sorts (please excuse that in the photos - we definitely put that in neatly, haha).
Eddie has begun to rumble-strut again, but I am not worried about that as he is not doing anything else that is on either the warning or danger signs. Just his regular rumbling show of dominance, sometimes when approaching or walking past Rory, other times if Rory is sniffing his bottom (though he did do it once when Rory was in a corner, Rory could have got away if he wanted - I have a video if needed).
I am watching them and ensuring Rory is acting “normally” - I have seen him eating. If noise makes them jump, they run together and sit under a cover together too. I also saw Rory yawn, but as it was in isolation, I think it was tiredness or a little stress (again, watching closely).
So, all in all, I hope. I know it is just day two of a longer process, so I stick to them like glue. I am also at home all day until Thursday and then beyond during the two weeks, so I am watching extremely closely.
I wanted to post to update, including promised photos! I also wanted to ensure I am not missing any obvious signs of anything “bad”, as this seems to have gone (unnervingly) OK so far, and I know it may not stay this way, and it may change in a second.
I will put their hides in a little later today, maybe in an hour or so (they are log tunnels). As they were in their separate cages, do I need to wipe their scents over both hides before putting them in? I read that somewhere but have read so much that I cannot remember if it was from here. (The hides have two exits, and both doorways will be fully open).
I would also like to tidy the hay up and put their two hay bags in (each bag also has two holes in it, so four access points in total) - is this OK at this point? Or will sweeping the hay up, and adding the bags, be a trigger for Eddie this early on? I am happy to wait if that is best for the process.
I’ll update this thread with any developments, but please, all of you and your piggies send lots of love this way in the hope that my boys can finally have the lives they deserve and that I wanted to give them the moment I saw them looking sad and alone at adoption.
Frankie
PS. There are two water bottles; the second is under the black blanket.
ADD ON:
The only thing that has worried me literally just now, that I can't work out, is as I was writing how well they are doing in this post, Eddie began to chase and try and hump Rory again. This is ok, I know, so I carried on. Rory wouldn't let him, he kept running, but once he stopped and Eddie stopped trying to hump, he went to Rory's face and did like a head flick up? He didn't hold a chin raise, it was more of a flick up. I can't be sure if he was trying to lift Rory's head or if it was just his own, as I couldn't see, and it was too quick for me to move (I did try). I then think he either nipped Rory's ear or like nudged his head. I don't think it was a lunge, as he was right next to him, but I can't be 100% sure. I am obviously going to keep an eye out, but any advice (if you understand what I am trying to describe), would be appreciated massively. They have been laid in separate ends and calm, sleeping - the last photo. This was about half an hour ago, I was waiting for my videos to upload to youtube before posting.
As of this moment, Eddie is trying to lie with Rory, and Rory moved a short few steps away to eat (I tried to get a photo, but made Rory jump and he moved.)
Last night:
Today:
Laid down and relaxing togetherexcuse the panoramic photo. This is the most recent, taken at 1.15 pm after the humping and head flick.Video 1: general behaviour this morning:
Video 2: Eddie rumble-strutting:
Video 3: Immediately after Eddie had been chasing and trying to hump Rory:
there must be a perfect match out there somewhere! 
But I really do feel for you ... I cannot imagine the stress. I am following his journey and really hope he meets his piggie buddy very soon, for him and you! xx
boys.
x
I am sorry you had a really frightening one, that must have been awful.
I joke, I, of course, will still be hovering
we couldn't do this alone x
we have now bought a new cable, so here I am again lol! We couldn't buy one immediately as we bought extra things that Eddie and Rory needed for their home. THEN Luna went into GI Stasis last week, so we are currently treating this at home with syringe feeding, painkillers, etc. (but with Vet advice/input/visits).
x