Bonding Questions

B

Bill&Bean

New Born Pup
Joined
Feb 15, 2022
Messages
8
Reaction score
2
Points
45
Location
UK
Hi, so I have two boars Bill (approx 8months) and Bean (approx 2months). I have started the boing process and was wondering if you can help me figure out the behaviours I'm seeing and if things are going smoothly.

I've noticed:
  • Some rumble strutting form Bill
  • Some happy squeaks from both
  • Both eating food
  • Some sniffing of each others behinds
  • Bill popcorning
  • Bill laying down
  • Bean headbutting Bill
  • Bean raising his head
There hasn't been any loud chattering, squaring up or humping though. I know it takes some time and that boars can be difficult but am I right in saying things are going well.

Could Bean be the more dominant piggie, even though he is still small.
 

Attachments

  • 16449389732356974400101164638834.webp
    16449389732356974400101164638834.webp
    50.3 KB · Views: 5
Piggies&buns said:
:wel:

From the information you’ve provided, then yes it sounds positive.

How long have they been in neutral territory for bonding?

As you are dealing with a teenage piggy and one soon to be a teenager, you will need to keep an eye on things. Ensure their cage is large enough (180x60cm or a 2x5 c&c) and that all hides have two exits.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Click to expand...

For about an hour, this has been outside both cages, what would be the best way to proceed as I've read up different ways. Clean cage and split it or clean cage with both in
 
Bill&Bean said:
For about an hour, this has been outside both cages, what would be the best way to proceed as I've read up different ways. Clean cage and split it or clean cage with both in
Click to expand...

Clean the cage they are going to live in and after a few more hours in the neutral territory to be sure things are going well, you can then move them into the cage together and leave them together.

Now you have introduced them, and all seems to be going well, they must remain together permanently. Please don’t separate them again.

The guide I linked in above explains the bonding process
 
Piggies&buns said:
Clean the cage they are going to live in and after a few more hours in the neutral territory to be sure things are going well, you can then move them into the cage together and leave them together.

Now you have introduced them, and all seems to be going well, they must remain together permanently. Please don’t separate them again.

The guide I linked in above explains the bonding process
Click to expand...
That's what I'm thinking, I'm leaving them out and then going to set the cage up so there is neither one of their smells, remove tunnels that have only one exit and keep an eye on them. I'm just a bit worried about going to bed later and things not being alright.
 
Bill&Bean said:
That's what I'm thinking, I'm leaving them out and then going to set the cage up so there is neither one of their smells, remove tunnels that have only one exit and keep an eye on them. I'm just a bit worried about going to bed later and things not being alright.
Click to expand...

Things sound positive so far.
Leave them in neutral territory for a couple of hours longer and then if theyve had a nap and woken up, eaten together and are still ok, then you can move them to the cage.
You will see dominance behaviours for the next couple of weeks while they sort out the fine details of their relationship (although in reality you will see dominance behaviours lifelong and particularly once the little one hits his teens)
 
Thanks so much for your help, I'm honestly suprised how well Bill has accepted Bean, think Bean just needs to find his feet
 
Bill&Bean said:
Thanks so much for your help, I'm honestly suprised how well Bill has accepted Bean, think Bean just needs to find his feet
Click to expand...

Bonding teen boars can be a tense time!
Hopefully they will be absolutely fine together going forward!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. They are gorgeous. I have two boars. I bonded them when Percy was about 6 months and Pepper was only 5 weeks. It went absolutely fine and they still get along now. 😁. Good luck with your bonding.
 
weepweeps said:
Hello and welcome to the forum. They are gorgeous. I have two boars. I bonded them when Percy was about 6 months and Pepper was only 5 weeks. It went absolutely fine and they still get along now. 😁. Good luck with your bonding.
Click to expand...
Thank you, it's good to hear it was successful. Bill seems to be really easy going with Bean, so I'm hoping he doesn't mind his teenage like behaviour soon
 
Yes Percy is very laid back and kind. He took to Pepper straight away. Once Pepper got to his teenage months Percy just let him get on with it. Lol. I always feed Percy first and pick him up first to show Pepper that Percy is the boss too.
 
Update: Both boys seem to be doing okay. There is still some chasing though, is this something I should be worried about?

They're still squeaking at each other and Bill is still Popcorning but Bean still seems a bit unsure
 
Chasing, mounting, rumbling are all normal. You will continue to see these behaviours throughout the next two weeks while they fully establish the finer details of their relationship.
Afterwards, you will continue to see dominance behaviours throughout their whole lives. Ifs how they communicate and maintain their relationship, particularly as both your boys are youngsters/teenagers.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Chasing, mounting, rumbling are all normal. You will continue to see these behaviours throughout the next two weeks while they fully establish the finer details of their relationship.
Afterwards, you will continue to see dominance behaviours throughout their whole lives. Ifs how they communicate and maintain their relationship, particularly as both your boys are youngsters/teenagers.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm new to all this. I'm just worried I guess that Bill might be too full on with Bean and he could be stressing him out. Both are doing well though, eating, drinking, sleeping but Bill is just so happy.

He's been popcorning a lot, getting so excited that when he does he rolls on his side a little.

All the research still hasn't prepared me for the stress and worrying that comes with bonding, especially boars
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top