Divider in bonding pen or not?

[Helen82]

Hi - I'm going to be attempting a bonding between two boars. I've read and re-read the guides but I have a question or two... My recently bereaved boar Stanley is about 5 and a half and living in his usual cage in one room upstairs. My newly acquired and also recently bereaved boar George is approx 3 years old and living in quarantine in the holiday pen in another room upstairs. I've had him 9 days. George is off for a health check at the vets on Wednesday and then hopefully the bonding will happen this coming weekend. I don't think either of them have realised that they aren't the only guinea pig in the house. I will be putting together a bonding pen downstairs in the lounge but I'm in two minds as to whether to put a divider in it to start with or not. On the one hand having a divider will mean their first encounter with each other can perhaps start more gradually and I can see how they interact first on either side of the bars, before removing them. But on the other hand, would it mean they each consider their side of the divider their own territory and lead to problems when I remove the divider? Also if I started with a divider I would need two water bowls, when the divider was removed would there be problems about ownership of water bowls? If I start by putting them both in the bonding pen together with no divider, would I only need one water bowl or two to avoid possible conflict?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi - I'm going to be attempting a bonding between two boars. I've read and re-read the guides but I have a question or two... My recently bereaved boar Stanley is about 5 and a half and living in his usual cage in one room upstairs. My newly acquired and also recently bereaved boar George is approx 3 years old and living in quarantine in the holiday pen in another room upstairs. I've had him 9 days. George is off for a health check at the vets on Wednesday and then hopefully the bonding will happen this coming weekend. I don't think either of them have realised that they aren't the only guinea pig in the house. I will be putting together a bonding pen downstairs in the lounge but I'm in two minds as to whether to put a divider in it to start with or not. On the one hand having a divider will mean their first encounter with each other can perhaps start more gradually and I can see how they interact first on either side of the bars, before removing them. But on the other hand, would it mean they each consider their side of the divider their own territory and lead to problems when I remove the divider? Also if I started with a divider I would need two water bowls, when the divider was removed would there be problems about ownership of water bowls? If I start by putting them both in the bonding pen together with no divider, would I only need one water bowl or two to avoid possible conflict?

Hi

It depends on the situation and piggies involved but I often start with a divider just to feel the situation. They won't get territorial within a day or two to allow them to get over the initial (over)excitement when you remove the divider as long as you remove all the furniture for the face-to-face meet.

As a rule of thumb:
- If both boars are middle-aged and older and/or have successfully lived with another boar before then I would proceed quickly if signs through the bars are positive. The older boars are the more their need for companionship comes before any testosterone output, which starts to fizzle down after 4-5 years of age when even dominant boars mellow noticeably.
- If you are bonding teenagers/young adults or an ex-single boar, then it is better to give them time with a divider. They are the hormonal boys and the boys you don't know how they will react when meeting another piggy for the first time.
- Babies/sub-teenager up to 4 months you need to introduce straight away. Their need for companionship has priority. Fails are usually down to rejection by the older boar if there is a personality clash.

I hope that this helps you? It is not quite a one rule for all situation. I have tried to simplify it as much as possible.

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck. I hope the bonding goes well and they choose to live together

 

[Helen82]

Hi

It depends on the situation and piggies involved but I often start with a divider just to feel the situation. They won't get territorial within a day or two to allow them to get over the initial (over)excitement when you remove the divider as long as you remove all the furniture for the face-to-face meet.

As a rule of thumb:
- If both boars are middle-aged and older and/or have successfully lived with another boar before then I would proceed quickly if signs through the bars are positive. The older boars are the more their need for companionship comes before any testosterone output, which starts to fizzle down after 4-5 years of age when even dominant boars mellow noticeably.
- If you are bonding teenagers/young adults or an ex-single boar, then it is better to give them time with a divider. They are the hormonal boys and the boys you don't know how they will react when meeting another piggy for the first time.
- Babies/sub-teenager up to 4 months you need to introduce straight away. Their need for companionship has priority. Fails are usually down to rejection by the older boar if there is a personality clash.

I hope that this helps you? It is not quite a one rule for all situation. I have tried to simplify it as much as possible.

Thanks for your advice. So if I'm understanding you correctly you think they should be in the neutral bonding pen with a divider for a day or two first before removing the divider? And for this day or two they could each have hideys etc so long as I remove them when we actually get to the removing the divider phase?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your advice. So if I'm understanding you correctly you think they should be in the neutral bonding pen with a divider for a day or two first before removing the divider? And for this day or two they could each have hideys etc so long as I remove them when we actually get to the removing the divider phase?

I don't know the background of your new boy - did he live with another boar before or not and if yes, why were they separated? If he always has been a single or was involved in a fall-out, then I would see how they are with a divider and take it from there. The length of the division depends on whether there is friendly interaction (rumble-strutting followed with expressions of joy or just casual hellos), fear-aggression (over the top dominance behaviour) or dominance that results in teeth chattering and negative behaviours and whether they settle down or not.

Every bonding is unique as it is a meeting of two individual personalities and the dynamics that develop between them - it is those dynamics which are hard to predict. Overall the chances for a bonding success are the better the older the boars are but it always depends on whether the two personalities gel or not.

In the end it is your own assessment and insticts you need to trust and not fold at the first sign of dominance but be able to spot when dynamics take a turn for the worse. We can give you the instrumentarium but you need to trust yourself to ride the bonding tiger wherever it takes you with ideally minimal intervention once you commit to the face to face meeting. With most boars you should know fairly quickly whether it works, whether they clash or whether they need another night together to work through things before they are ready to be moved to the cage.

More information on behaviour complexes like fear-aggression, dominance and territorial behaviours: A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

All the best.

 

[Helen82]

I don't know the background of your new boy - did he live with another boar before or not and if yes, why were they separated? If he always has been a single or was involved in a fall-out, then I would see how they are with a divider and take it from there. The length of the division depends on whether there is friendly interaction (rumble-strutting followed with expressions of joy or just casual hellos), fear-aggression (over the top dominance behaviour) or dominance that results in teeth chattering and negative behaviours and whether they settle down or not.

Every bonding is unique as it is a meeting of two individual personalities and the dynamics that develop between them - it is those dynamics which are hard to predict. Overall the chances for a bonding success are the better the old boars get but it always depends on whether the two personalities gel or not. In the end it is your own assessment and insticts you need to trust and not fold at the first sign of dominance but be able to spot when dynamics take a turn for the worse. We can give you the instrumentarium but you need to trust yourself to ride the bonding tiger wherever it takes you with minimal intervention once you commit to the face to face meeting.

More information on behaviour complexes like fear-aggression, dominance and territorial behaviours: A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

All the best.

My boar Stanley lived for 5 years with my sow Primrose, who died just over 3 weeks ago. My newly adopted boar George apparently lived with a boar who died about a month ago (I think). If the bonding doesn't work out, the cage is big enough to be split in two for Stanley and George to live as neighbours but I'd like to give them a chance to live together first.

 

[Helen82]

Good luck. I hope the bonding goes well and they choose to live together

Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

My boar Stanley lived for 5 years with my sow Primrose, who died just over 3 weeks ago. My newly adopted boar George apparently lived with a boar who died about a month ago (I think). If the bonding doesn't work out, the cage is big enough to be split in two for Stanley and George to live as neighbours but I'd like to give them a chance to live together first.

So both boys are widowers; no fall outs and no potential singles hang-ups. Just put them in with a divider and see how they get on through the bars and take it from there - whether that is just after an hour or a day. Since both boars are used to a pet situation you should hopefully be able to proceed more quickly.

Fingers firmly crossed that they like each other and will become good friends!

 

[fluffysal]

Good luck with your boys

 

[Helen82]

Good luck with your boys

Thank you