Hmm...

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Hi guys... I'm STILL trying to decide what to do about finding Squeak a friend! Just wondering if anyone can help me!

I'd much rather adopt a piggy and bond them at home as its much less stressful for my little Squeak... So I'm wondering what age would be best to try and bond with a 3 and a half year old? And if it didnt work what would happen then?

Aargh decisions decisions! mallethead

Thanks for any help! x

 

[shiny]

Problem is if it doesn't work out what are you going to do with the other piggie? We very easily bonded Bertie at about 6 weeks old with our nearly 4 year old boy Willow but there's always the possibility of fireworks later on when a youngster hits the hormonal time so there's no guarantees with this type of bonding either I think!

If at all possible I would suggest boar dating for Squeak but I know that's probably not what you want to hear, sorry! If you're prepared to have an extra enclosure, to keep another guinea if he doesn't get on with Squeak then you can give it a go at home but then you would have 2 piggies both needing friends...

Good luck with what you decide. I know it's difficult, we had problems as there are no rescues really close to us when we were looking for an older boar some time ago.

 

[Wiebke]

There is no ideal age; it matters much more whether the piggies get on. For that, dating at a rescue is the safest way, as it is minimises your risks and maximises your chances of finding a new friend of Squeak's liking. if you just go and get a little youngster, there is a somewhat higher chance of a fall-out when the baby hits the big hormones.

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Problem is if it doesn't work out what are you going to do with the other piggie? We very easily bonded Bertie at about 6 weeks old with our nearly 4 year old boy Willow but there's always the possibility of fireworks later on when a youngster hits the hormonal time so there's no guarantees with this type of bonding either I think!

If at all possible I would suggest boar dating for Squeak but I know that's probably not what you want to hear, sorry! If you're prepared to have an extra enclosure, to keep another guinea if he doesn't get on with Squeak then you can give it a go at home but then you would have 2 piggies both needing friends...

Good luck with what you decide. I know it's difficult, we had problems as there are no rescues really close to us when we were looking for an older boar some time ago.

Thank you for your help. Although Squeak is a sow not a boar aha xx>>> I was planning on taking her dating anyway but now I've since thought that it would be less stressful for her if we didnt because the rescue is 50 mins one way and that's a big journey for a little piggie i really don't know what to do! :laluot_20:

 

[klee]

Thank you for your help. Although Squeak is a sow not a boar aha xx>>> I was planning on taking her dating anyway but now I've since thought that it would be less stressful for her if we didnt because the rescue is 50 mins one way and that's a big journey for a little piggie i really don't know what to do! :laluot_20:

All my girls have been to and from the rescue for dating, it was an hour each way but I gave the girls some grass before setting off so they had full tummies and could get some moisture from it and securely fastened them into the car. I put some pieces of cucumber and celery into the carrier as they both have lots of water in and my girls were great. I know there are people who regularly travel further distances with their piggies and they have been ok too.

I can understand why you are worried, I was worried initially as although I wanted to get Rosie a new friend the closest rescue was an hour away and as an elderly piggy(6 at the time) who hadn't travelled before I wasn't sure how she would take it, but we took the plunge and she is now very happily living with her 3 ginger friends

 

[Mizzpigz]

Hello, jut today I am taking my little twiggy boar dating at the wood green animal shelter in heydon as soon as I have my larger run which is one of their recommendations. It seems that wood green animal shelters do guinea pig dating so if there's one near you then see if they can help xx

 

[Deb H]

I took my girl on an hour and a half to a resue and she was fine. Found a friend first time and they've been living in bliss together since December. It's always worth a trip. Good luck x

 

[shiny]

Thank you for your help. Although Squeak is a sow not a boar aha xx>>> I was planning on taking her dating anyway but now I've since thought that it would be less stressful for her if we didnt because the rescue is 50 mins one way and that's a big journey for a little piggie i really don't know what to do! :laluot_20:

Whoops! Sorry, make that sow dating then... I take my piggies an hour each way for exotics vet & they are ok with a bit of cucumber & loads of hay

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Yeah I chuck LOADs of hay in my carry cases and take salad in a seperate bag.. then when we arrive its salad time. I took Leeland to Newcastle from Liverpool before, the bond wasn't smooth but over the weeks she got used to the fact he was a tyrant and he got used to the fact that she was NO MAN'S WOMAN! haha.. Worked out well, but Leeland had a 7 hour roundtrip and didn't stop chomping the hay the whole time, I'm so lucky she's so good at travelling (I think the combination of rumbling also helps her bloaty parpy tummy so she feels nice and farted out when we're done). rolleyes

edit: I should mention during that one trip we did give her salad throughout aswell But if you give it all in one go she just covers it up and sleeps on it and it wilts and gets wasted!

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

All my girls have been to and from the rescue for dating, it was an hour each way but I gave the girls some grass before setting off so they had full tummies and could get some moisture from it and securely fastened them into the car. I put some pieces of cucumber and celery into the carrier as they both have lots of water in and my girls were great. I know there are people who regularly travel further distances with their piggies and they have been ok too.

I can understand why you are worried, I was worried initially as although I wanted to get Rosie a new friend the closest rescue was an hour away and as an elderly piggy(6 at the time) who hadn't travelled before I wasn't sure how she would take it, but we took the plunge and she is now very happily living with her 3 ginger friends

Ah that's great to hear someone else has done it successfully as I know many others have... I'm starting to think dating is the bestest and safest route I'd really hate it if I bonded at home and they fell out!

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Also... If I do decide to date would I need to take 2 carriers with me? I'm just thinking that if Squeak and the new piggy are confined in a small carrier for 50 minutes it might make them argue?

 

[Rodentopia]

No usually they try them in the carrier as thats the test if they can happily be in a small space together then should be ok. I took two but only ended up needing the large carrier I go half an hour up the road to the rescue and vets i use i just throw in some hay and let them munch

 

[sport_billy]

Also... If I do decide to date would I need to take 2 carriers with me? I'm just thinking that if Squeak and the new piggy are confined in a small carrier for 50 minutes it might make them argue?

They should be pretty quiet in the carrier on the way back as they'll be stressed... Cookie came back with the 2 newbies in hers and we had no issues...

 

[Wiebke]

I prefer to use two carriers in case the newbie suddenly has a panic attack from the unfamiliar surroundings and there is a unnecessary scuffle (never a full fight). I usually do a short intro on neutral space again at home.

PS: I have travelled with babies as young as 7 weeks and adults as old as 9 years for over three hours on the train without major problems and up to 6 hours in the car (with one or two pit stops). Most piggies will simply go to sleep after a while. 50 minutes by car is a distance they can cope with well.