Katiedid
Adult Guinea Pig
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 1,265
- Reaction score
- 1,640
- Points
- 725
- Location
- Jersey - Channel Islands
Hello
We got our piggies a week and a half ago from a rescue. After a lot of research we decided to chance 2 neutered 1 year old boars from a rescue who were already paired and happy together.
The rescue had them arrive there in a group of 6 (one died, one was bullied so went to live with a girlie and the other 4 were paired up into 2 pairs). Dozy is enormous - clearly likes his food - Jet is small and agile. Although not totally unhandled neither had been given the level of handling that would make them totally tame. Jet now will just about nibble food if you hold it at arms length and will let me pick him up, Dozy will squeal if you stroke him but haven't picked him up and will protest at being picked up until he is in your arms. Both will sit on laps quite happily.
We got them on the Saturday Jet and Dozy and instantly they started fighting (there were a few bites on Jets rear end - thankfully these have healed and there have bee. They have separate hides, separate bowls water etc. They are indoors in a 2' by 4' cage and get a couple of hours at least in a larger enclosure either inside or if the weather is good outside.
So to the fighting. They don't fight over food (though Dozy will go into Jet's igloo if new food is introduced to check that he isn't getting anything extra - this usually results in a rumble noise from Jet and Dozy does that strange strut outside the igloo and the occasional loud teeth chatter. Once Dozy has seen he goes off and eats peacefully). They seem to fight over igloos. This morning Dozy was startled by a noise in the room and ran into Jet's igloo. Jet was fine but and left the igloo but wanted back in so did the rumble noise, teeth chattering and strutting then then had a fight which didn't draw blood but ended up with Jet loosing some fur.
Yesterday I put them in their playpen and Dozy followed Jet around and around until Jet got fed up. Again Jet ended up loosing fur and with a little tooth graze on his back. Once they settled they were fine.
The thing I want to know is - is this new enclosure new home stress and they will settle down (if so how can I help them) given that they have lived happily together before. Or am I looking at separating them (and putting them with a girlie each - or sending one back to the shelter and getting a girlie for the other )
They still seem stressed by the move. Whilst they will tolerate each other they aren't pally (but I have only had single piggies as a child so I don't know how pally they should be). When one comes out the igloo the other makes the rumble noise in its igloo - which stops so long as the first potters around and feeds.
Both will hide if you walk into the room - although this is getting better and Jet will occasionally let you stroke him and if you don't move too fast they will stay out the igloos. Walk at a normal speed and they hide (along with teeth chattering and rumbling).
Will they settle? How can I help them?
Thanks
Kate
We got our piggies a week and a half ago from a rescue. After a lot of research we decided to chance 2 neutered 1 year old boars from a rescue who were already paired and happy together.
The rescue had them arrive there in a group of 6 (one died, one was bullied so went to live with a girlie and the other 4 were paired up into 2 pairs). Dozy is enormous - clearly likes his food - Jet is small and agile. Although not totally unhandled neither had been given the level of handling that would make them totally tame. Jet now will just about nibble food if you hold it at arms length and will let me pick him up, Dozy will squeal if you stroke him but haven't picked him up and will protest at being picked up until he is in your arms. Both will sit on laps quite happily.
We got them on the Saturday Jet and Dozy and instantly they started fighting (there were a few bites on Jets rear end - thankfully these have healed and there have bee. They have separate hides, separate bowls water etc. They are indoors in a 2' by 4' cage and get a couple of hours at least in a larger enclosure either inside or if the weather is good outside.
So to the fighting. They don't fight over food (though Dozy will go into Jet's igloo if new food is introduced to check that he isn't getting anything extra - this usually results in a rumble noise from Jet and Dozy does that strange strut outside the igloo and the occasional loud teeth chatter. Once Dozy has seen he goes off and eats peacefully). They seem to fight over igloos. This morning Dozy was startled by a noise in the room and ran into Jet's igloo. Jet was fine but and left the igloo but wanted back in so did the rumble noise, teeth chattering and strutting then then had a fight which didn't draw blood but ended up with Jet loosing some fur.
Yesterday I put them in their playpen and Dozy followed Jet around and around until Jet got fed up. Again Jet ended up loosing fur and with a little tooth graze on his back. Once they settled they were fine.
The thing I want to know is - is this new enclosure new home stress and they will settle down (if so how can I help them) given that they have lived happily together before. Or am I looking at separating them (and putting them with a girlie each - or sending one back to the shelter and getting a girlie for the other )
They still seem stressed by the move. Whilst they will tolerate each other they aren't pally (but I have only had single piggies as a child so I don't know how pally they should be). When one comes out the igloo the other makes the rumble noise in its igloo - which stops so long as the first potters around and feeds.
Both will hide if you walk into the room - although this is getting better and Jet will occasionally let you stroke him and if you don't move too fast they will stay out the igloos. Walk at a normal speed and they hide (along with teeth chattering and rumbling).
Will they settle? How can I help them?
Thanks
Kate