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BambiPaws

BambiPaws

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hiya,
Last month one of our sows died - leaving behind a very depressed cage mate..
So we brought two baby sows to keep her company (haven't introduced them just yet). We brought them from pets at home (yes I know, it was my mum that brought them, I wouldn't have brought the there myself!)
Anyway, one of them has been chasing the other one around, away from food, water & bed. They do have a seperate bowl each & bed. She's very very timid and screams when being chased.
It doesn't seem to be getting any better..I'm at a loss on what to do now.
Does anybody have any suggestions?
 
How long has this been going on? It could be that one of your sows is in heat. My dominant sow Marla chases my other sow Charlette around sometimes, and goes quite obnoxious when she is heat. It usually goes on for a day or two, then settles back down to normal. Is your cage large enough for two piggies? Is she able to get away from the other piggy? Make sure there is no place, (like a hidey with only one entrance etc,) your bullied pig could get chased into and trapped. Also you could try separating when feeding, if she isn't getting enough food, another one or two more water bottles spread in different areas of the cage may help as well. Unless it gets to crazy, with actual fighting and blood drawing bites, or she seems to be stressed to the point of getting sickly, you should be able to keep them together. I think sometimes it's looks worse to us than it feels to them. It's amazing how much my little Charlette gets pushed around, yet she clearly cares for her sister, and Marla always seems a bit protective over her. I hope your piggies settle down soon, and you are alright dealing with all the stress! :) It's so hard sometimes!
 
its been going on for almost two weeks now. I didn't think of the one entrance thing! I'll replace the igloos with a different kind of bed tomorrow, will also try another water bottle too.
Really don't want to have to seperate them as at the moment we only have one cage and a hutch and ideally want them to all live together.

Quite worried about introducing them to older sow as worried she may also pick on little bambi :(

Thank you for the advice will definitely try and hopefully it resolves
 
BambiPaws said:
its been going on for almost two weeks now. I didn't think of the one entrance thing! I'll replace the igloos with a different kind of bed tomorrow, will also try another water bottle too.
Really don't want to have to seperate them as at the moment we only have one cage and a hutch and ideally want them to all live together.

Quite worried about introducing them to older sow as worried she may also pick on little bambi :(

Thank you for the advice will definitely try and hopefully it resolves
Click to expand...

Awww sorry to hear this, it must be so hard on you! Hope things get better. :hug: I'm sure some other members will be by in awhile who are more able to help you than I can.
 
Are your new girls with your bereaved sow or not?

Please make sure that you provide only hideys with two exits (ideally one more than you have piggies) and feed pellets and veg in small portions 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per piggy (if necessary, have an extra bowl at the ready). If you can, each bowl at least one length apart, so access to food cannot be bodily blocked. Also make sure that you have hay (which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake) in two places; again to prevent blocking access.

If all these measures don't work, you can follow the protocol for dysfunctional boar bonds and conduct a trial separation by splitting the cage for a night. If your bottom girl is noticeably perking up when she is on he own, then she is in fact being bullied and you will need to find a solution away from the bully piggy for her. If she wants to be back with her mates, you know that she is OK as she is.
Sows can be very sneaky bullies. Trios often don't work out and end up with some outsider problem or other, but you have to carefully work out each case what exactly is going on.
Sow Behaviour
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
If I was you I would put them in with the older one. Make sure they is 3 bowls of food, 3 bottles of water & 2 bowls of pellets. All houses must have 2 Entrances. Put them in a run while you clean the cage throughly put the all the stuff back but in different places, providing you do that all the piggies go into a neutral cage. Do this when you have time to first watch how they interact in the run & again when they are in the cage. You may find the older one will protect Bambi. At the end of the day they will find there pecking. Only take them out if they draw blood. They have to work it out. Are they indoor or outdoor pigs. What is the size of the hutch & also the cage. Please. Good luck.
 
Thank you -

I had absolutely no problems with my previous sows so this is all new to me.
The cage is 48 x 140 x 71cm & the hutch is 112 x 152 x 60cm .. Are these big enough?
Shall I introduce them all at the same time or try one at a time? Quite nervous about introducing them as I've watched quite a few videos and it looks horrifying even when it's harmless :blink:
 
The hutch we have, can be divided into upstairs/downstairs so I may pop paws into the downstairs for a day and keep bambi alone in the cage and see how it goes. I only have the hutch and cage, so will be the only option.
 
BambiPaws said:
Thank you -

I had absolutely no problems with my previous sows so this is all new to me.
The cage is 48 x 140 x 71cm & the hutch is 112 x 152 x 60cm .. Are these big enough?
Shall I introduce them all at the same time or try one at a time? Quite nervous about introducing them as I've watched quite a few videos and it looks horrifying even when it's harmless :blink:
Click to expand...

Please introduce them all at once on neutral ground that is not part anypig's usual territory, but that is easily accessible for you in case things don't go to plan. over the top dominance is often a sign of insecurity. The loud squeaking is submission.

I have written and step-by-step guide with illustrated key behaviours to look out for and what dysnamics to expect; you will hopefully find it very helpful. Much more than the videos. Dominance will be happening between the bully and single sow. The undergirl will not be involved as she is out of the race.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
Thank you so much, that was very helpful not feeling as nervous now. Think I'm going to introduce them tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!
 
Just thought I'd update you.
Things have settled down a lot, I took your advice and added extra of everything and made them up a corner each with their own hay and put each of their bowls in their corner as far away as possible..
Paws has left bambi alone since and they have played together nicely, groomed eachother and bambi actually popcorned :clap: thank you so much for all your advice.
 
BambiPaws said:
Just thought I'd update you.
Things have settled down a lot, I took your advice and added extra of everything and made them up a corner each with their own hay and put each of their bowls in their corner as far away as possible..
Paws has left bambi alone since and they have played together nicely, groomed eachother and bambi actually popcorned :clap: thank you so much for all your advice.
Click to expand...
Wow that's great to hear! :) Hooray for Paws and Bambi! :yahoo:
 
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