Herd Trouble

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Fresen

Fresen

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Hi all, I am looking for some advice as I just don't know what to do for best. I had four females in a 150 by 70cm. I stupidly fell in love with a baby pig at the pet store and brought her home. Now I had a 120 by 60 so thought I would make a pair and a trio. This is where it has gone wrong. I have one pig, Bella, who is just not happy at all. She was with my oldest pig Nym,as I new she was my most dominant pig and I did not want to risk her with the baby, or with Myka or Penny. Was going ok as I let them herd as a fivesome, but there would be rumbling and chattering after the food ran out. I started to worry that Bella was bullying Nym as she is five now, she wouldn't let her into the hidey hut and was really just ignoring her. So I made a decision to try Penny, a very sweet and well behaved pig, with Bella, in the hope that if Bella could be dominant pig they would both be happy. That lasted three hours and I had to remove Penny, I heard her scream, she wasn't injured but was very distressed. So I went back to the original set up. Then a week ago I went to give night feed, and Nym had been bitten. So I have a four and a one. I feel awful keeping Bella alone as she just stares through the bars at the others, but I am scared she hurts someone. Any suggestions or advice appreciated, or may she just have to stay alone and share floor time. Thanks in advance and sorry for War & Peace.
 
Fresen said:
Hi all, I am looking for some advice as I just don't know what to do for best. I had four females in a 150 by 70cm. I stupidly fell in love with a baby pig at the pet store and brought her home. Now I had a 120 by 60 so thought I would make a pair and a trio. This is where it has gone wrong. I have one pig, Bella, who is just not happy at all. She was with my oldest pig Nym,as I new she was my most dominant pig and I did not want to risk her with the baby, or with Myka or Penny. Was going ok as I let them herd as a fivesome, but there would be rumbling and chattering after the food ran out. I started to worry that Bella was bullying Nym as she is five now, she wouldn't let her into the hidey hut and was really just ignoring her. So I made a decision to try Penny, a very sweet and well behaved pig, with Bella, in the hope that if Bella could be dominant pig they would both be happy. That lasted three hours and I had to remove Penny, I heard her scream, she wasn't injured but was very distressed. So I went back to the original set up. Then a week ago I went to give night feed, and Nym had been bitten. So I have a four and a one. I feel awful keeping Bella alone as she just stares through the bars at the others, but I am scared she hurts someone. Any suggestions or advice appreciated, or may she just have to stay alone and share floor time. Thanks in advance and sorry for War & Peace.
Click to expand...

Hi! I am very sorry for your problems. Dominant older sows can be a real headache... I've just had my four peru girls falling out with each other caused by the power vacuum when the iron-pawed leader stepped down. They now live in three pairs; two of them are rather on the last partner they tolerate... :mal:

Have you had Bella checked for aggression issues due to ovarian cysts?

Please be aware that loud screaming is submission and usually not painful. When bonding/re-bonding guinea pigs, you need to do so in neutral territory and leave out any hideys until the worst of the dominance phase has passed. Only have hideys with two exits, so no sow can be caught and cornered - that is generally where bites happen.
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sow Behaviour

It may actually be worth trying Bella with the baby. Cow bag often work out together with other very dominant (or even more dominant piggies) or with babies that cannot challenge them in any way.
 
I had thought about trying her with the little one for that reason. I can give it a go from tomorrow. I may also try your suggestion about having her checked for a cyst, she is only about 8 months old, are they common in a pig that age? I knew she was going to be trouble the day I got her home, when she started chattering and trying for top pig. She is so gorgeous though, and human friendly, I just hate seeing her so sad. I will give the tips on the reintroducing thread a try. Fingers crossed!
 
Fresen said:
I had thought about trying her with the little one for that reason. I can give it a go from tomorrow. I may also try your suggestion about having her checked for a cyst, she is only about 8 months old, are they common in a pig that age? I knew she was going to be trouble the day I got her home, when she started chattering and trying for top pig. She is so gorgeous though, and human friendly, I just hate seeing her so sad. I will give the tips on the reintroducing thread a try. Fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

No, your sow is too young for cysts. The earliest they can turn up is about 18 months, but most happen later.
Sows suffer from hormonal spikes during their teenage months and can stronger seasons. But it can well be that your group has been having issues with their dynamics. It sounds like Bella could have fear-aggression issues which she overcompensates for. You have to brace yourself for a lot of submission squeaking from the little one, but it has worked in the case of my own Bella and Ellie (now Briallen and Heini). Unfortunately, all you can do is try and see whether they work out or not.
 
Hi, sorry to resurrect an old thread. I took you sensible advice Wiebke, and sadly I don't think it has worked. I never saw Bella outright attack Tilly, however I am fairly certain I had two unhappy girls. They never came out, just stayed in opposite hideys, running out to grab food before racing away from each other again they never seemed to interact at all. So Bella is on her own once again :( she just seems so unhappy. I posted in the rehoming thread to see if there was any reputable rescues in Aberdeen, to try and date her but I'm not hopeful. My last thought is neutering a friendly and outgoing boar to try and give her more confidence. I do have capacity to house the boar with other ladies if Bella doesn't like him. Is there any more chance of success with a neutered boar than with another sow? Any suggestions or advice appreciated x
 
hi i just came across your thread. Sorry to hear all the troubles you've had trying to bond Bella. Dating would be the best option if you can find a reputable place to do so. Mixed gender pairings are the most stable and natural relationships so I think that could be one option to explore but I would be cautious in bringing home another pig if dating is not an option for one reason or another. If the herd doesn't except the boy, and he doesn't get on with Bella, then you have two lonely piggies on your hands instead of one! Where I'm from there is no such thing as guinea pig dating so I had to take a chance on adopting a young boar as a companion for my original boar, before doing so i have two entirely seperate cages if a divider is not enough should they fall out. Are you prepared to house 2 lone piggies if this boy also is rejected by the herd and bella?
 
Yes that would be OK, but I have capacity for a few more cages, so I would be hopeful I could bond him with one of my other five if it didn't work out with him and Bella. The sad thing is I don't think she is happy alone, or she could stay on her own. She gets floor time with the others and copes ok then. Just wish she was happier :(
 
I understand completely, I too wanted my pig to be happy and had to risk bringing home a friend he had never met. The best advice i can give is to perhaps try a baby, one as young as 4 weeks old maybe. That's how old my white aby Milo (seen in the pic) was when i brought him home. Because he was so young my original piggy did not see him as a threat, assumed position of dominant pig, and otherwise welcomed him with open piggy arms. Now even though my Keiko is hitting his hormones, he still wants to cuddle/sleep with milo, and even doesn't make a fuss if Milo rebels a bit by stealing food or taking over the edible hidey in their cage. Babies are a lot less threatening and if Weibke is right and its fear aggression, perhaps a freshly weaned pup is the way to go.
 
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