Edward And The Girls Bonding Preparation.

Status
Not open for further replies.
klee

klee

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
2,371
Reaction score
1,093
Points
820
Location
Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
I wanted to open this thread to prepare myself for bonding the pigs next weekend. For those who don't know, Edward has been living next door to the girls where he can see them, rumble at them and grab their attention/ annoy me by biting on the bars for about 4 weeks now. Edward is incredibly excited and can't wait to be with the girls, both girls have shown no negative behaviours towards him, they are interested in him although I think they are a little bemused with his antics.
They have all met and sniffed each other whilst being held, and again there has been no negative behaviours so I am hopeful that everything should be fine.

I have had a look at most of the behaviour/bonding stickys so I know what I am watching for behaviour wise, I just have a few questions about how to go about the bonding process.

Should I first introduce them on the settee in the living room with less supervision than I have been doing, for about 20 minutes.

Then pop them into a 4ftX2ft run setup in the living room. Do I just pop them all in together and let them get on with it? What hideys do I need? How long should I leave them in the run for, providing there is no negative behaviours?

Thanks

p.s. I'm sure I will think of some more questions as the week goes on.
 
I would put them in the run without hideys. They will only hide and not interact or one will chase another into a hidey. I always add vegetables with the hope they will all share them. I suspect Edward will be so excited he will chase and mount like anything!
 
As they have been next to each other for so long, I would just pop them into the run with a flat plate of grass or hay in the middle and no hideys whatsoever.

When putting them back into the rearranged cage, make sure that for the first day or so there are no hideys with just one entrance or other corners a piggy could be trapped. You can put them back in once all the excitement has settled down.

Be warned that Edward could go a bit bonkers when his homrones go into overdrive and that things can get VERY smelly when a mutual pee fest ensues! Neutered boars can still produce the same testosterone laden pee as full boars and they will mark any sow in their reach as "theirs", whereas sows use well aimed squirts to defend their precious behind... "p*ss off" in this context is very literally meant.
 
He is bonkers enough already just living next to them and he has on one or two occasions scent marked near the divide, so i can get it will be pretty smelly.
The girls already tell each other to p*** off when one is in season and chasing the other.

I expect piggyfan that will be the case as he is so excited anyway, hopefully he will calm down a little once he tires himself out. At present he zooms around for a while and then flops down and falls asleep.
 
Boars can lose the ON Switch to their brains for a couple of days... They just go mad in between crashing out, poor things! Hopefully, the girls will accept him; if it gets to the point when tempers are fraying, separate if necessary and restart on the following day. Unlike with boar bonding, you can do that.
 
Wiebke said:
Boars can lose the ON Switch to their brains for a couple of days... They just go mad in between crashing out, poor things! Hopefully, the girls will accept him; if it gets to the point when tempers are fraying, separate if necessary and restart on the following day. Unlike with boar bonding, you can do that.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you have said that, at least that gives a little bit more time for them to figure things out if necessary. He already tires himself out bless him, he runs that fast with his zoomies he can't always slow down before running into the side of the cage.
 
Not got much advice to offer but just wanted to wish you and the gang good luck and I look forward to seeing how they get on....
 
No advice either, have been eagerly awaiting this! Good luck x
 
Hope everything goes well! Hopefully Edward gets on well with the gorgeous caramel girls!
 
Thanks everyone. I am incredibly nervous about it all so I'm just keeping my fingers very tightly crossed that they all get along well.
 
Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Edward is officially 6 weeks post op tomorrow. Nothing will be happening until Saturday, but I am so nervous. Fingers crossed
 
Have decided to try them together today as I got back sooner than planned. They have been together for about an hour and a half so far and all is going reasonably well. Minimal mounting- the girls keep telling him where to go.
Little bit of squabbling between the girls which is pretty normal and Ruby squabbled a little with Edward but it calmed down.
 
I've had to separate as it was getting a little bit too stroppy, and I'm not prepared to leave them over night yet. So I'm starting again early tomorrow and hopefully we may get there. My pink ratty got used when the girls kept shooing him away.
 
klee said:
I've had to separate as it was getting a little bit too stroppy, and I'm not prepared to leave them over night yet. So I'm starting again early tomorrow and hopefully we may get there. My pink ratty got used when the girls kept shooing him away.
Click to expand...
Good idea, I'm sure they're be more calm tomorrow :P
 
Sounds like it went really well! :D
Fingers crossed for you tomorrow.
Maybe Edward won't be too over-excited now he's had a little alone time with the girls :) x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top