Enough attention?

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animalpsycho

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Hi all,

It's been about a week and a half since Herbert went in with my two girlies. Initially I thought things had gone really well, but now I'm not so sure; they tolerate each other, but only because there's enough sleeping areas for each pig. The two girls are still happily bonded but poor Herbert seems on the outside. Also he's not tried to mate at all, could this be because he's so submissive? One of the girls is behaving quite aggressively towards Herbert, lots of teeth chattering and running at him, he does teeth chatter back.

I guess what I want to know is if this is normal, is Herbert happy? Would he be better off with a young male or a girlie of his own?

Help please...

Pippa
 
No, I don't think he's accepted by the dominant sow. It can happen.

He'll probably be happier with his own girl or two. I'd recommend that you stay with girls, unless you can keep the boys always well away from the girls. Cross gender pairings are usually very stable when they get past the initial "acceptance" stage. Have a look/phone up round your local rescues, to see whether they have girls and would be prepared to bond them with your boy or you. That way you can be sure that everything is OK.

I'm sorry that it didn't work out. It's always gutting!
 
Vickyt said:
No, I don't think he's accepted by the dominant sow. It can happen.

He'll probably be happier with his own girl or two. I'd recommend that you stay with girls, unless you can keep the boys always well away from the girls. Cross gender pairings are usually very stable when they get past the initial "acceptance" stage. Have a look/phone up round your local rescues, to see whether they have girls and would be prepared to bond them with your boy or you. That way you can be sure that everything is OK.

I'm sorry that it didn't work out. It's always gutting!
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I fear you're right. So, here's my 2nd problem; we've only got the space long-term for one group of pigs. The original two girls have always been pretty unaffectionate and very independent, we don't really have any kind of bond. Herbert on the other hand is the nicest guinea pig I've ever met; he talks to me, he loves cuddles, he enjoys coming out and I love him so very much that I really don't want to part with him.

Is it wrong to consider re-homing the two girls and keep Herbert with a new friend?

Piggies are such heart-breakers!
 
animalpsycho said:
I fear you're right. So, here's my 2nd problem; we've only got the space long-term for one group of pigs. The original two girls have always been pretty unaffectionate and very independent, we don't really have any kind of bond. Herbert on the other hand is the nicest guinea pig I've ever met; he talks to me, he loves cuddles, he enjoys coming out and I love him so very much that I really don't want to part with him.

Is it wrong to consider re-homing the two girls and keep Herbert with a new friend?

Piggies are such heart-breakers!
Click to expand...

i wouldnt think its wrong at all but if you do go get Herbert a friend and they happen to fall out then you are back to square one.It would make more sense to keep the two bonded girls if you really can't spare the space for more than one cage because if they are happily bonded they are probably less likely to fight than two newly bonded piggies xxxxx
 
Are both girls aggressive towards him or just the dominant sow? How old are they, anyway?

It is a hard decision to make for you, whichever way you go!

Have you got a rescue centre or the RSPCA near you where you could go and have a chat with about your dilemma?

I'm sure that your boy will be fine with another group of girls, especially younger ones, so if you could work out an "exchange" that might be a way to go?

The member fi.cantillon rehomes from Bristol, but she takes in/rehomes further afield. Perhaps you would like to pm her?
 
Vickyt said:
Are both girls aggressive towards him or just the dominant sow? How old are they, anyway?
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It's really just the dominant sow, when she's upstairs the other two seem to get on alright. They're about 2 years old.

Vickyt said:
The member fi.cantillon rehomes from Bristol, but she takes in/rehomes further afield. Perhaps you would like to pm her?
Click to expand...

Oh that's not too far from us, will certainly drop her a pm. There's got to be a solution!
 
Just keep trying - she'll get a message that her mail box is full as soon as she comes on the board again. I haven't seen any posts of her in the last few days and I don't know what her rescue is called.

She offered to take in a girl of mine that wouldn't bond. Perhaps have a ring around? http://guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp#Avon

You have the choice of either keeping your two girls or your boy with the undersow.
 
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