Feel so bad

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Ree

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A few weeks ago I got Tilly, an adorable 5 year old girl from my aunties rescue, she's always been on her own so I thought she would benefit from living with my other 4 but I'm having a blimmin' nightmare!

She was in a seperate cage next to them for 2/3 weeks so she could sniff and see them, there was a fair bit of dominance displaying from both sides but no real aggression so I introduced them in the bath, then in neutral territory. Apart from a few chatters here and there this was all fine until I put them all back into the cage together. She's VERY dominant and even Heidi, the top female dog, bowed down and let her be boss.

The problem is my boy Harry wanted to hump her every few seconds at this point, she tolerated it for a couple of minutes but soon had enough and attacked him which made everyone go mad. They were all chattering and rearing up like crazy and within seconds Tilly was rolling down the ramp with one of my other females Hoster.

There was no blood but she (and me!) were very shaken up, she was fine after a big long cuddle but I put her back in the seperate cage where she's been ever since.

I don't know what to do now, she's 5 so I don't want to stress her out with re-introductions but even though she seems happy enough on her own I feel so guilty when I look at her. As I'm writing this she and Harry are chattering at eachother through the bars :(.

I could get another piggy to pair with her but would mean a possible divorce from my husband and what if she didn't get on with a new one either?! It's not like I could ever give up a piggy so if she didn't get on with a new friend I'd have to start the whole process again.

I suppose what I'm really asking for is reassurance that she can stay on her own in a seperate cage without me feeling so awful about it? Does anyone else have a happy lone piggy?
x
 
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I have a lone boar! He's happy on his own, he sees the others through the bars and he chatters to them. We're hoping to get him done and in with the girls, but I know he's happy on his own too! You'll just need to smother her with love, but I know that wont be a problem! Maybe she prefers being on her own anyway? x
 
I know people say piggies should be in pairs, but aslong as she can see them though the bars she still technically has piggy companions! Don't feel bad.

If you could find a rescue you could take her to pick a new companion, I think piggies are better than husbands anyway so I wouldn't worry about the possible divorce lmao! Aslong as the piggies are happy thats the main thing! :p
 
My happy (single) chappie!

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience.:(

I think all piggies are different and some are happy, some not.

I have a single loan boar, he is on his own as he was ill when I got him and I have always intended to pair him up at some point - he is now just over 5 months old. He lives in a cage next to my two pairs of bonded boys and is very happy!

He likes to chat to the others from his raised platform but enjoys his own space and personal food supply!

That's him in my avatar.
 
I don't think that you will be able to successfully reintroduce Tilly. Your tribe has decided they won't have her (especially Harry) and they won't change their mind now! (Been there and have that t-shirt myself when an adoption went sour on me and in the end, I had to hand the girl in question - long term rabbit companion wihtout any contact to other piggies - back to the rescue.)

Sad as it is, I think at that age, Tilly will be happier on her own and away from the others now that war has broken out! The continued contact will only stress out all piggies. I noticed that my boy started to turn on his own regular girl when his hackles were up and take it out on her.

Could you have a chat with your auntie to see whether Tilly will be happier at your home or the rescue? You have tried your best and given Tilly a chance. You went about it in the right way; so you don't have to blame yourself about it going wrong. Sometimes, it just happens!
 
Thanks sooo much, you have no idea what those replies mean to me. This has been worrying me sick for the last few weeks but I was too scared to write about it on here in case I was told to try to re-introduce her and my nerves weren't ready for it. I feel like I can relax a bit now!

She's a little terror but I wouldn't be able to give her back to the rescue, we all love her to bits! My husband went mad when he knew I was getting her but every time I turn round he's picking her up or giving her a treat. Think he loves her more than he loves me! It should be me threatening divorce come to think of it lol

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. x
 
I felt pretty bad ( and lost about two kilos) when Olwen's introduction went haywire and then the (not specialised ) rescue had the guts to accuse me of "not sticking it out" after two failed attempts at reintroduction!

Like Tilly, Olwen was a great cuddler and people person - she just didn't know how to behave around other guinea pigs and went on the attack as soon as she felt threatened.
 
maybe you could pair her up with your hubby :))
it does sound like shes happier on her own so dont feel guilty about it
 
My two boys live on their own. I tried bonding Mimsi and Montgomery but they fought on sight. Both are very contented happy piggies but I think it would depend on the individual as to whether he/she wanted companionship. If the lone piggie can still talk to the others then she may be fine as she is. Thats a shame the bonding didnt work out..
 
Tilly should be fine on her own. Especially if you give her lots of love and attention, which it sounds like you're doing.

I sperated my two after three years together and the one, Beano, was actually happier than ever living alone. Since being on her own she likes to come out and sit on my lap more and loves being stroked, which she used to shy away from.

Plus, when they live alone they can take their time eating their treats (even save some for later) without worrying the other one will come and pinch it off them!
 
I've heard (my rescue says) that when they are separated pre-introduction and can see eachother they are not always saying polite things to eachother through the bars and it can escalate because both sides can be as rude as they want with no consequences.

It's not helping you now, but maybe if there are signs of dominance behaviour pre introduction the quarantine should be out of sight and smell so that the introduction can be truly neutral? Now they had all sorts of opinions on eachother before they got introduced.

I think it's different for neutered males waiting for the "pipes to clear" because then there will be more goodwill on both sides.

I've noticed a lot of you do quarantine this way though, in separate but adjoining cages, so maybe it's just one of all those things that differ between Sweden and UK piggie-knowledge.

I'm very sorry it's not working out for you... :( I recently got an older girl for my group and got help from the rescue to bond them because I have one very dominant already. I don't think I could have done it on my own.

hugs!
 
Just thought I'd let update this thread for anyone else in the same situation, Tilly has been in with the others for the past couple of weeks and they get on great!

Had a few heart stopping moments whilst they were trying to determine who would be boss but it came to nothing, just a lot of noise and jumping 10 foot in the air! So glad I perservered :).
x
 
I am so glad it worked out in the end for Tilly - I still can't get that picture of piggies rolling down the ramp out of my head it sounds like a wild west bar fight!
 
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