peacelovesandie
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello!
Please may I ask for some advice regarding my bonding attempt?
(Sorry this might be long..... I'm rather confused by the various behaviours being displayed)
I have a neutered boar (Sweep - 1 year 3 months old). Three days ago I introduced him to a new baby sow (Coconut - 5/6 weeks old).
It seemed fairly successful. They seemed to accept eachother without any fighting. Obviously, being a baby, she was leaping and popcorning with all manner of joy, whilst he mostly sat there with this expression on his face as if to say "if I don't move or make a sound, it might go away". She eventually cuddled into him and they both layed down for a good hour. I then transferred them into a brand new cage.
It sounds positive, but I get the feeling that he is merely tolerating her, rather than actually liking her. Is that normal? She is very keen to be around him, follows him around, and copies whatever he's doing. He also does his fair share of following/copying and will sit down next to her, but some of his behaviour seems rather predatory/aggressive (chasing, rumble strutting, nudging) and she just wants to get away from him. These pursuits don't last particularly long, and he does not mount her. Preceding this, she seems to behave in a very flirty manner, and he then gets all boar-like and yeah......
There is a decent amount of playful behaviour between them both, but there's also a little bit of bickering and I have seem him go to nip her several times. Not actual biting, just threatening, to which she squeals and runs away. So I'm concerned that he may actually try to hurt her at some point.
They are happy to eat together.
I don't think they are sleeping together. Atleast 4 or 5 inches between them. I think she would quite like to be able to cuddle up though.
Lap time together is ok... they'll lay next to each other for about 30 mins. He might get annoyed once or twice if she is poking her face into his too much.
He doesn't like to share a hidey. She tries, but he'll nudge her away and she sits just outside. Maybe I just need bigger hideys.
((( Right now, they are both popcorning in the cage.... He's just dragged his butt on the towel..... She is wheeking like a rat. Now they are both laying at one end of the cage, in opposite corners, facing eachother. Clearly just exhausted themselves. )))
......... I'm so confused! Is this all normal? Is it a successful bonding or not really?
Please may I ask for some advice regarding my bonding attempt?
(Sorry this might be long..... I'm rather confused by the various behaviours being displayed)
I have a neutered boar (Sweep - 1 year 3 months old). Three days ago I introduced him to a new baby sow (Coconut - 5/6 weeks old).
It seemed fairly successful. They seemed to accept eachother without any fighting. Obviously, being a baby, she was leaping and popcorning with all manner of joy, whilst he mostly sat there with this expression on his face as if to say "if I don't move or make a sound, it might go away". She eventually cuddled into him and they both layed down for a good hour. I then transferred them into a brand new cage.
It sounds positive, but I get the feeling that he is merely tolerating her, rather than actually liking her. Is that normal? She is very keen to be around him, follows him around, and copies whatever he's doing. He also does his fair share of following/copying and will sit down next to her, but some of his behaviour seems rather predatory/aggressive (chasing, rumble strutting, nudging) and she just wants to get away from him. These pursuits don't last particularly long, and he does not mount her. Preceding this, she seems to behave in a very flirty manner, and he then gets all boar-like and yeah......
There is a decent amount of playful behaviour between them both, but there's also a little bit of bickering and I have seem him go to nip her several times. Not actual biting, just threatening, to which she squeals and runs away. So I'm concerned that he may actually try to hurt her at some point.
They are happy to eat together.
I don't think they are sleeping together. Atleast 4 or 5 inches between them. I think she would quite like to be able to cuddle up though.
Lap time together is ok... they'll lay next to each other for about 30 mins. He might get annoyed once or twice if she is poking her face into his too much.
He doesn't like to share a hidey. She tries, but he'll nudge her away and she sits just outside. Maybe I just need bigger hideys.
((( Right now, they are both popcorning in the cage.... He's just dragged his butt on the towel..... She is wheeking like a rat. Now they are both laying at one end of the cage, in opposite corners, facing eachother. Clearly just exhausted themselves. )))
......... I'm so confused! Is this all normal? Is it a successful bonding or not really?
