Bonding day!

Phoenix1998

Phoenix1998

New Born Pup
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Hi,

It is finally bonding day and I have added my 4 little pigs and my 2 big girls into a neutral pen. The babies (5 weeks) have done really well. Bonnie (chief of the big pigs) has settled dominance over everyone and there haven't been any major scraps which is good. The problem I am having is that the middle pigs (Fluffy Pig and Gingerbum) are just sitting in the corners not moving or really doing anything. They either let the big girls come up to them and stay still or they run away. So far they don't seem to be wanting to interact. Gingerbum, who has just weaned her babies is running away a lot. Is this normal? I don't want to put them into the same cage if they are going to be scared all the time and hiding. We have done 1 hour so far and I'm going to keep going until 2 hours but then I will either put them back in their own cages and try again or mix them if they are all doing well.

I have read the guides and I don't feel its failed, especially the babies, but I do want to check that they aren't going to be bullied 🤔

Bons and Biscoff are in the corner together and Fluffs and Mummy pig are opposite corners with the babies in the middle like they don't know where they should be haha.

Thank you!
 

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I would give them more than two hours. You could leave them in overnight if you’re unsure. It’s not failed so I don’t know that I would them put them to bed separately.

Do they have hay? Have they been eating altogether etc?
 
They are all happy to eat together and they are all ok. I have given them some hay now and I have an essay to write so I can watch them for a few hours longer :) thank you!
 

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Phoenix1998 said:
Hi,

It is finally bonding day and I have added my 4 little pigs and my 2 big girls into a neutral pen. The babies (5 weeks) have done really well. Bonnie (chief of the big pigs) has settled dominance over everyone and there haven't been any major scraps which is good. The problem I am having is that the middle pigs (Fluffy Pig and Gingerbum) are just sitting in the corners not moving or really doing anything. They either let the big girls come up to them and stay still or they run away. So far they don't seem to be wanting to interact. Gingerbum, who has just weaned her babies is running away a lot. Is this normal? I don't want to put them into the same cage if they are going to be scared all the time and hiding. We have done 1 hour so far and I'm going to keep going until 2 hours but then I will either put them back in their own cages and try again or mix them if they are all doing well.

I have read the guides and I don't feel its failed, especially the babies, but I do want to check that they aren't going to be bullied 🤔

Bons and Biscoff are in the corner together and Fluffs and Mummy pig are opposite corners with the babies in the middle like they don't know where they should be haha.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Please keep them in the bonding pen for longer (2 hours is very short) and if necessary overnight to allow them to work through all the issues. By the sound of it, you are in the phase where the hierarchy is established. It happens in rounds and travels from the top down. Usually only the piggies that are punching in a similar weight class are involved in working out the next rung down on the ladder; the other piggies will keep out of it.

Just give them the time to work it all out. Don't rush putting them in the cage before the hierarchy has been hammered out and the group as moved into firming it up. I give my own piggies at least 4 hours and if necessary a full day or even a night in the bonding pen if all is going in the right direction. This will avoid a restart of the leadership contest as soon as they are in the cage if that stage has not settled and it can impact negatively on the bonding process. It is not easy to sit by and NOT interfere when everypig understands what is going on but you are the clueless one. ;)

Please take a look at the bonding guide. You are now in chapter V. Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?
 
Phoenix1998 said:
All of the girls are now in the big cage and are popcorning and zooming around! They seem very happy after their night together haha. Thank you all so much!
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It is really worth not to rush the bonding and allow them to get the roughest bit out of the way before moving them into their cage as a bonded group. :)

They still have to work out the fine print of their relationship over the coming two weeks but they HAVE bonded and are happy to be together as an established group. :tu:
 
Congratulations 👏
I’m glad the bonding went well.
As @Wiebke said it will still take a few days until they’re all settled together so don’t panic if there’s still odd tussles as they sort out their hierarchy.
 
Well done you and all your girlies :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Will be needing a line up photo once they are all settled x
 
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