Do I need to take my new piggie back? PLEASE HELP

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Sarah M

Hello,

I'm very new to guinea pigs. I got my first two from a rabbit and guinea pig breeder last sunday. I got two from the same hutch but one was slightly bigger (both male). for the first few days they were both lovely but for the last two nights the little one (Alfie) sits really lovely on my lap but the bigger one (Bailey) is hyperactive and will not sit still and avoids me. I know people will say he is frightened but he almost seems to be doing this more as he gets more sure of himself and his new environment. Will he ever be cuddly?

Also he just rumles at Alfie all the time and tries to mount him all the time. To me they don't seem to be aggressive but i can't imagine it is nice for little alfie.

When we got these two there was another little guinea pig the same size as alfie. the breeder has said they will take back the big one and I can have the other little one.

i am already attached to both of them and do not want to give him back as I will always wonder what happened to him but I am worried that
1) he will never be a friendly 'lap' guinea pig (which is why I got them)
2) Alfie will be unhappy.

PLEASE HELP - I need to tell them by sunday what I want to do.

Sarah
 
Hi Sarah guinea pigs can take a long time to settle. If the boys were in a cage with other guinea pigs they need to sort out who out of the two of them is the boss, they do this by Rumbling and humping. Once they have sorted out who is dominant there should be less of this behaviour.
With lots of handling most guineas get tamer to varying degrees some are very easy some take more work.
How old are the boys?
 
I wouldn't take him back, guineas need time to settle and sending him back will confuse him. :(

The rumbling is down to dominance they will sort it out.

I would probably handle your skittish pig less for now and let the two get on with it and they will come around. I've had many like this and they are all fine now.

Good luck! :)
 
Thank you for your replies.

In response to Vikki they are about 7weeks old? The humper is a little older.

I have kept rats for the past 5 years but wanted something more cuddly. LIke I said Alfie is adorable and already climbs back up onto my lap if I put him down but Bailey is completely nuts when he is out and will not sit on me at all.

I read in a book that some stay like that forever.

I'm glad to hear that the humping may stop. At the moment I feel that they are not living 'harmoniously' but that they are 'putting up with each other'

would it make any difference if I got the other little one too? (Alfies brother) I am getting a 4.5foot cage so room is not a problem. Not sure if it would help or make things worse - at least Alfie may get a friend!

Sarah
 
It sounds very much like piggy puberty. Bailey is just doing what his hormones are telling him to do and the chances are it will settle down. Boars tend to get much more laid back as they get older. Like Vikki says, they're just establishing dominance and there's every chance Alfie will start doing this too as he gets a bit older. Adding a third one to the mix is likely to make it a bigger problem - a 4.5 foot cage is not big enough for 3 male piggies.
 
I wouldn't advise getting another pig.

Sounds like you have an exceptionally friendly pig if one of them climbs in your lap for a cuddle! The other one sounds more normal :)

I have two male pigs, brothers together from birth, who seem to tolerate each other. I think in a lot of cases this is as good as it gets. If they are not fighting then they are happy.

stick with it and enjoy their different characters. Snuggle the lively one in a towel on your lap and fed him treats. He will settle more as he gets older.
 
Ditto to the above, piggies need to sort out who is in charge. Hopefully they will calm down soon enough, just remember they can be very, very skittish animals and take a while to settle down. You just need to take things slowly. I think getting a thrid could make the situation a lot worse. Getting three boars to get along will be much harder than two O0
 
Thanks guys,

from what you are saying it sounds like things aren't as bad as I thought

I was in tears to my mum last night - I had them out on my bed and Bailey was running all round the bed like a nutter, he kept trying to get down beside my bedside table so I would put him back the other side, he would prompty runh round again only for me to put him the other side again and this went on for a good 20 mins - the good thing is he lets me pick him up fine

I just hope Alfie is not so friendly cos he is unhappy.

Anyway sounds like I should sit it out, just concious that if there was a problem, that they could still be 're-paired' as babies.

Sarah
 
Just to clarify in case it makes a difference - i wouldn't say he was skittish at all, I can pick him up really easily - he just seems like He doesn't want to be on me and wants to explore. He seems to get in a bad mood if I put him back on my lap.

I hope this will settle and he will become cuddly
 
He may never become cuddly but i bet he will be very entertaining to watch. It can be lovely to see pigs explore and if the other one is cuddly then you have the best of both :)
 
Maybe you could start floor time with them? If you have a space where they can't get themselves trapped under any furniture or run too far away they might enjoy working off some excess energy.

I've had pigs exactly as you describe Bailey, I used to wrap them in a towel when holding them as they were terrified of being in the big open and needed to feel they were hiding (instinct!) They soon settled down. Just perserve with it. Often 2 pigs the opposite will get on better than two similar pigs.
 
Sarah M said:
Just to clarify in case it makes a difference - i wouldn't say he was skittish at all, I can pick him up really easily - he just seems like He doesn't want to be on me and wants to explore. He seems to get in a bad mood if I put him back on my lap.

I hope this will settle and he will become cuddly
Click to expand...

i have a piggy who is like this he is absolutely crazy. he has gotten a little better, but he just doesnt like to sit still. i put it down to all piggies having different personalities and he just happens to be very hyperactive! :D
 
Sarah M said:
Hello,

I'm very new to guinea pigs. I got my first two from a rabbit and guinea pig breeder last sunday. I got two from the same hutch but one was slightly bigger (both male). for the first few days they were both lovely but for the last two nights the little one (Alfie) sits really lovely on my lap but the bigger one (Bailey) is hyperactive and will not sit still and avoids me. I know people will say he is frightened but he almost seems to be doing this more as he gets more sure of himself and his new environment. Will he ever be cuddly?

Also he just rumles at Alfie all the time and tries to mount him all the time. To me they don't seem to be aggressive but i can't imagine it is nice for little alfie.

When we got these two there was another little guinea pig the same size as alfie. the breeder has said they will take back the big one and I can have the other little one.

i am already attached to both of them and do not want to give him back as I will always wonder what happened to him but I am worried that
1) he will never be a friendly 'lap' guinea pig (which is why I got them)
2) Alfie will be unhappy.

PLEASE HELP - I need to tell them by sunday what I want to do.

Sarah
Click to expand...

It could be that Bailey will always be active ....i ve got two males who never sit down on my lapmthey just run back and forth along the sofa! ;D :)Hope this helps...xxxarranxx
 
Just to add to what the others have said;
I have had a couple of pairs of boars and I find the "tollerating" each other seems to be the norm! They all took quite a long time to settle down and establish who was boss and they never really cuddle up together much, but they seem quite happy to keep to their own space a lot of the time. So I wouldn't worry if they don't seem to be particularly close at the moment.
And, yed, if one climbs on your lap for cuddles then I'd say you're very lucky! I think all of my guinea pigs would rather be running around or eating grass than sitting on my lap given the chance! That's not to say yours wn't both become very friendly. But I think the joy of guinea pigs is not just having a cuddle with them, but watching them do their guinea pig thing and just observing their natural, funny, fascinating behaviour! :)
 
One of my boars loves being cuddled and is more than happy to be cuddled for hours while the other one will cuddle for a few mintues and then want to run and play. xx
 
give it time as you have only had them a short time. i am having similar problems with my girls zoe is so laid back that jessie mounts her, chases her and is generally a pain in the a*se :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: good luck with it. and welcome to the forums from me and the girls in oz. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-*
 
i had this problem last week i ended up taking 1 of mine back to P@H as they were fighting loads. i feel it was the best choice for me cause i have not had piggys before so I'm happy to have the one for now so i can give him all my attention and no his not going to get hurt while I'm still learning :smitten: :smitten:
 
Hi Sarah,

I started off with two piggies who were about 12 weeks old when I got them. Despite the fact that they knew each other, they had to sort out their dominance when they moved into my house. They settled down eventually. Garry, to this day, is a nervous piggy but he will happily sit for a cuddle. Minty, I just can't get near! I've had him checked out and he's healthy, but he just doesn't like to be touched. The only way I can get him out from the cage is to get him into his tube and block both ends! He enjoys floor time, but there is no way he's ever going to be a cuddly pig! >:D

After I'd had the pigs for just under three months, new boy Benjamin was introduced to them at the beginning of February. He was 9 weeks old at the time and was dominated by Minty. (Garry just lets them get on with it!) Touch wood, there have been no major problems yet, although it seems that dominance is shifting and Benjamin is looking to be boss pig! Anyhow, when I first got him, he was so difficult to keep hold of when he was out! Even if he was secure and he was on my lap, he'd run up me to my shoulder and try to get higher...nosy pig! He got better over time and he sits in my arms now, but he's still always got his nose in the air, searching for new things to see...we quite like a wander around the garden, looking at the birds! I think it'll depend on each piggy's personality, but it sounds like you've got a cuddly piggy there already. Who knows, maybe the other one is a bit like Benjamin...perhaps with age, he'll settle down? Either way, nothing to worry about!

End of essay!
 
missknight said:
i had this problem last week i ended up taking 1 of mine back to P@H as they were fighting loads. i feel it was the best choice for me cause i have not had piggys before so I'm happy to have the one for now so i can give him all my attention and no his not going to get hurt while I'm still learning :smitten: :smitten:
Click to expand...

Just remember that they are social animals and need a friend. I doubt you can give him 24 hours attention a day which a piggy friend could! It might be better for you but think about the piggy. They don't always sleep when we do so night times are especially lonely.

I would recommend getting in touch with a rescue to find someone to pair him with and hopefully he could select a friend of his own.
 
i have one that wont sit on my lap - she likes to explore i think... i believe it is just personalities - she does not like being caught and squeals when you do eventually manage to catch her - little menace! i think some piggies are just like that - one of mine does not like to be touched when she is sitting in her cage - you try to stroke her and she runs away - but once you hold her for a cuddle she loves the attention - strange piggies! just be patient with them - i am sure that they will settle!
88)
Good luck! ;)
 
daftscotslass said:
missknight said:
i had this problem last week i ended up taking 1 of mine back to P@H as they were fighting loads. i feel it was the best choice for me cause i have not had piggys before so I'm happy to have the one for now so i can give him all my attention and no his not going to get hurt while I'm still learning :smitten: :smitten:
Click to expand...

Just remember that they are social animals and need a friend. I doubt you can give him 24 hours attention a day which a piggy friend could! It might be better for you but think about the piggy. They don't always sleep when we do so night times are especially lonely.

I would recommend getting in touch with a rescue to find someone to pair him with and hopefully he could select a friend of his own.
Click to expand...

i would like to get him a friend but I'm scared they wont get on
 
They're more likely to get on if you can take your existing pig to meet a new friend from a rescue and you can get some good advice about how to introduce them - sad to have a single pig if there are other options, they are very social creatures. Hope it works out

Sophie
x
 
I know it's worrying with boars and fighting, but I agree rescues can always help, or if not have your boy neutered at 6 months by a reputable vet and get him a lady friend. Sows and boars normally always get on
 
Thank you so so much for all your advice.

Bailey and Alfie are seeming to get on better now, less mounting and grumbling and Alfie certainly looks happier.

As for Bailey, well he is still not cuddly (except with my mum - who wants him) but you very quickly love them for their quirky little personalities don't you! He is definately gonna live his days out with me and Alfie.

:D
 
that is great news. glad they have settled down and are now getting on better. once the boys have established a relationship you can work on yours with bailey. am so happy for you and alfie. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-* and way to go O0
 
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