From two to three... Bonding in progress...

[hallie2985]

I have read the other bonding threads, but thought I'd start my own as I just want reassurance that I am not doing the wrong thing!

Very sadly, Bumble passed away last night; we'd been having a snuggle and she'd been really cheeky - no inkling that it was her last hour on earth... Then she had a fit and went floppy, and that was it. Really devastating, as she was only 18 months old, and such a cutie. My niece broke her heart when my sister told her, and we've had a lovely funeral today. I console myself with the knowledge that she was happy and loved to the very end of her short life.

Bumble had lived with Sooty, my mature sow (she's 5 in May, bless her). Following Bumble's death, my options were:

1) Go dating and get her another companion.
2) Leave her as a single pig
3) Bond her to Rose and Basil

Option 1 is not really an option, as my parents have stipulated no more guinea pigs (we are runnng out of space to bury them, apparently). As I live with them, I have to abide by their rules.

I really don't like Option 2; guinea pigs are social creatures, and Sooty has lived with companion pig since she was six months' old.

Option 3 should be straight-forward, but is not entirely, because I have tried to bond Rose and Sooty before, to no avail. Rose is very dominant, and Sooty squeals when they're in the same vicinity. However, it was definitely worth trying to create a trio if the alternative was a pair and a single.

So, first thing this morning I set up a bonding pen, with a copious pile of hay for nomming. Then I bathed all three guineas pigs so that they smelt the same, dried them off (my theory being fear of the hairdryer would bring them together) and popped them in the pen.

Initially, they were too busy nomming to pay much attention to each other, and it all seemed to be going rather swimmingly. Then Basil checked Sooty out - cue much squeaking, but Sooty gave him a little nip to tell him to back off, and he did. No problems there, then.

Rose, however, has been going through the dominance dance. Initially, she was just curious, but Sooty made the most horrible high pitched squealing. I hate the sound, but there was no fighting or aggression, so I left them to it. There has been some nipping, but nothing major.

This evening, the three of them are all in one cage (which has been thoroughly steam cleaned etc to remove any previous smells). They have a large pile of hay, three cosies and three food bowls. For the most part, things seem okay, but every now and then, Sooty squeals again. Rose has nipped at her a few times, but it's been dominance rather than aggression. I've deliberately not given them any hideys etc as I don't want Sooty to be cornered.

My question now is: am I doing the right thing? Sooty has been squealing for England, but no blood has been drawn, and there has not been any major bullying - for the most part the two girls seem to be keeping to themselves. Certainly, Sooty has been nomming on hay and food. It's the squealing that worries me, although I know it's not provoked by injury. Is she unhappy at being with the other two, or is she just showing submission?

Overall, things have gone better than I'd anticipated. The three pigs are used to sharing larger spaces, as they all share the run, but this is the first time that I've tried to get them all in one cage. The cage itself may be a shade too small - I have an Essegi 120. It was 2 stories, but I had them as two separate cages, and the wooden platform etc went in the shed, went mouldy, and were binned, so they're now in one cage. I don't really have space to get a bigger cage, unless I expand upwards again, but then I have the problem of not having the component parts to turn it into a 2 storey cage rather than two cages linked together.

Any tips would be most welcome!

 

[Wiebke]

I am so sorry for your loss!

The squealing is submission and a "please don't be mean to me", not pain. Over all it sounds like it is worth to sit it out even if it won't be easy for you at times; I have just gone through a similar bonding with Ceri and Heulwen and they are now friends after quite a bit squealing from Heulwen (some piggies can be real screamers). But as you are not allowed to date her, being in company is so much more preferable to being alone.

Give it time; in my experience it takes up to two weeks until a group is fully settled. Your bonding is perfectly within the normal range, so stop worrying. Just make sure to weigh Sooty regularly at first.

 

[Lady Kelly]

aww bless, bonding is terrifying isn't it. I always think the squeal sounds a bit like a squeaky dog toy but then I was bless with the two bondings I have done so far as both Peter and then Jemima were accepted very quickly. I think you are right to see if you can carry on allowing them to sort it out, as long as Sooty is being allowed access to food etc and no one is getting injured. Another idea might be to make a couple of your own hideys, use a shoe box and make sure it has two entrances so no one can get cornered

 

[guineapigs<3]

I'm so sorry for your loss, that's such sad news. I recently adopted an older sow (Holly) she's 4 and I already had Sienna and Lola who are 5 months, Lola started to claim dominance straight away, I kept them in a puppy run (you can get them off ebay for £20) as these go all the way to the floor they can see each other all the time and smell each other and I put the hay at he same walls so they had to meet each other in the middle but behind bars so they were safe from each other, after 3 days and a lot of dominance dancing from Lola, I let them all rome in the same cage and there was a few little bites and squeaks but I let them do their thing to sort out the hierachy order and now they all seem to be getting along fine and it's only been 9 days |) as long as their not drawing blood from each other they should be fine, just let them get used to each other, if they start viciously fighting just throw a towel on top of them to confuse them and split them up. Obviously some Guineas don't get a long with each other just like us humans don't like everyone we meet, but hopefully they will, just remember as well your piggy will be grieving as well so give them some time to come to terms with everything. I hope everything goes well.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Sorry for your news. Sounds like your doing the right thing. The screaming can be normal, some piggies prefer to make a lot of noise. Ive know a few to scream when others dont even touch them, just come too close. Its just a worried little squeal as Wiebke has already explained.

I would just leave them to it for now, sounds like they have accepted one another, although it will take a bit of time to work out the hiearchy of the little herd. Your boar should step in to put things straight, but not all boars are the dominant ones and in your case it sounds like your other female Rose is.

Let us know how things go.

x.

 

[hallie2985]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. We are persevering, and so far, so good. In fact, Rose and Sooty are currently snuggled next to each other on my lap! And Soots isn't squealing!

In the cage, there are still the odd skirmishes, but I am pleased to report that there has been no violence. My only concern is that Sooty isn't coming out of her cosy at mealtimes, but I have been putting her by a bowl and she is eating well. I'm hoping that as her confidence as part of the group grows, she'll be a bit less timid.