Help and advice needed for bonding!

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austin and bandit!

Hi everyone this is my 1st post.I have had a look through all the stuff about bonding and will be trying some of them. what i would like is some guidance.

Ok i have 2 lovely male piggys. Austin i have had sice a baby and got him last october and Bandit who i took in over christmas because someone didnt want them and is about 2 months younger. I hope to slowly introduce them but after yesterdays results I'm a little unsure now.
1st thing i did when i brought Bandit home was to give the play area a good clean up to remove scents. I put both GPs next to each other in their respective cages whilst i did this. I then put down a old bed sheet placed some food and hay around. I then put both of them in the play area at opposite ends. The 1st time they met and seemed ok for about 10 mins. I got the normal buff sniffing, mounting and squeeks that i was told to expect. They then started with the teeth grinding sound quiet at first but its got worse since. Eventually after 20 mins they had stopped. Austin took up residence at one side of the play pen and Bandit the other. Now everytime austin goes over to see who this new GP is bandit gets very angry instantly making loud noises with his teeth and even haunching back on his paws. Austin always runs off at this point. this has happened about 3 times now but neither has actually tried to attack the other.
When i put them both on a low table they sit together no problems with only the ocasional nudge from the nose. they were happy to just stay like that for about an hour so i thought i would try them back in the play area again. this time they followed each other chassing each others backs for a little while before getting distracted by the food. i have noticed trouble only starts now when austin goes near one corner that bandit seems to have claimed for himself.
Because it is early days they are still seperated when not in the play area but are next to each other and are constantly supervised when out.
am i doing thigs right introducing them this way or have i got trouble brewing? and is there any handy tips about? I'm thinking going by other posts that giving them a bath together would be a very good idea. I think i have got 2 very adolesent piggies!

Sorry that this thread is so long need to show a good picure of whats gone on i think!

Andy Muff
 
The more you separate the more you have to go though this same routine, I wouldn't separate them unless they lunge... or aggressive deafening teeth chattering.. which you can't mistake. I have heard this with my males and separated it was awful but I then reintroduced the next day my piggies did bond but after 6 weeks had to be separated due to wounds being inflicted :(.

They do need to establish dominance though! Will be lots of chasing and humping etc! Aslong as one backs down it's fine!
 
oh i do get the loud teeth chattering a lot. they had a fair few hours in the same area yesterday and il try again tonight when home from work! Austin is very inquizitive but always backs down and runs away! I'm expecting that it will take some time and will be taking it slowly.
 
I found the problem was with the cage but mine was a boar and a baby... I ended up leaving them on my bathroom floor for 24 hours together! Always do introductions when you have plenty of time to watch.
 
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i get the feeling its to do with the corner bandit has moved into! they next door to each other atm whilst there is no one home but il be letting them out all night unless they start fighting! Il update tommorrow
 
You need space and time for bonding. Two flat plates with food or hay can help if you have them out for some time.

As little interference as possible, as the boys need to work things out between themselves. Have a towel ready in case you need to separate the boys in case there are bloody fights, so you don't get bitten!
 
morning! Well i gave the terrible 2 a bath last night which scared the life out of bandit but austin was loving it jumping in and out of the bath bowl! I then dried them off and wrapped a towel round them they happily sat there chuntering away. Once in the again well cleaned play area things got interesting. For about an hour they resumed the teeth chattering and squaring up then that stopped and was replaced by bandit chasing and following austin everywhere. It seems that austin isnt liking this too much as he is always trying to hide away where as bandit has become more livly doing laps of the play area, popcorning and every so often going up to austin and nudging his backside then running off. I am worried that introducing them is causing austin a lot of stress. hes not eating as much although he is a fatty and could do with i diet but i hope he doesnt get too stressed that he stops eating all together.
 
boy am i tired! let them both stay out in the play area last night! hardly splept worrying that it would all kick off! usual boys stuff aparently with the chasing though it is just bandit doin the chasing. Austin seems to just want to left alone though. they were still squabling but stopped chasing each other when i fell asleep last night. caught Austin this morning giving Bandit a cheeky lick so they slowly getting there though i am conserned that i might have traumatised Austin with it all. Ive had to separate them whilst I'm at work but the second i get in il be letting them back out with fresh towels and food all over so long as they dont make the place a bombsite again!
 
I think you should go for the cage tonight... I'm no expert but I recon If they were going to fight they would have by now! They still do need to sort out dominance!

Keep weighing the boys... incase one of them becomes withdrawn.
 
I don't think you needed to separate.

After some time in the play area, you should transfer tham to their (freshly made-up and alittle bit differnetly arranged cage).

That Austin was licking Bandit was an EXTREMELY good sign - he's accepted his new friend and likes him. Licking is the piggy equivalent of cuddle.
 
thanks for all the support so far guys and dolls! first time trying something like this! the cage is tonights plan. Like i say they nudge and jump on each other a bit but there is no biting showing of teeth or very agressive sign so I'm pleased. Il weigh them tonight when i get home i never thought to do that. it is a good way to keep an eye on them. thanks for telling me that JoanneG111. Austins always nice and loves to lick. even people when being cuddled. He is a right softie! I would post a pic but i dont have internet at home atm and we cant upload onto work computers!
 
I weigh mine weekly, as it also indicates illness... if they lose alot of weight. A good thing to do :).

Good luck I'm sure you won't need it :)!
 
I weigh my growing piggies weekly, my adults every two weeks, and an ill piggy daily.
 
morning fellow guinea pig lovers! hope the snows not affecting you too much! just a quick update!

Tried them both in the cage the other day and they both seem to getting on. every so often there a little bickering especially over cucumber which they both love but they sharing food from the food bowl. Bandit the younger one looks to be seeing Austin as a companion following him everywhere and cuddling up in the cage and the pigloo. Every so often Austin seems to get a bit fed up with Bandit following him and lets it be known my nudging bandit out of the house bit! never biting or fully fighting though. they seemed to be settling down now. Quite surprised because i was told my someone at my local RSPCA that 2 little boys at the age they are wont get on at all and if i did try to bond them it might take a few months for them to even accept each other being in the play pen together! well think i proved thats wrong!

Have fun making snow piggies everyone!
 
austin and bandit! said:
morning fellow guinea pig lovers! hope the snows not affecting you too much! just a quick update!

Tried them both in the cage the other day and they both seem to getting on. every so often there a little bickering especially over cucumber which they both love but they sharing food from the food bowl. Bandit the younger one looks to be seeing Austin as a companion following him everywhere and cuddling up in the cage and the pigloo. Every so often Austin seems to get a bit fed up with Bandit following him and lets it be known my nudging bandit out of the house bit! never biting or fully fighting though. they seemed to be settling down now. Quite surprised because i was told my someone at my local RSPCA that 2 little boys at the age they are wont get on at all and if i did try to bond them it might take a few months for them to even accept each other being in the play pen together! well think i proved thats wrong!

Have fun making snow piggies everyone!
Click to expand...

The longer I'm on the forum, the more convinced I get that character compatibility is as important a factor as age (or even more so)! I am glad that austin and Bandit are working out and are behaving perfectly normally!
 
well they do look alike! Austin is quite a shy timid pig untill cuddle time then he wont stop talking! Bandit on the other hand hardly ever makes a sound and is out exploring everything as much as possible!
 
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