How Successful Is Re-bonding When Pigs Have Been Separated?

ChloeCee98

ChloeCee98

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Just wondering how successful bonding is after a fall out. Someone's had an argument with me on Instagram over asking if it would cause stress if you keep on trying to re-bond them. I said if it wasn't successful I would think of rehoming or trying to find them another buddy each. This person has taken major offence to what I've said :/ I didn't even mean anything like that lol I just want to know more about how successful rebonding is and dos and donts.
 
In my experience it generally doesn't work but it can work. My current pair had a major fall out years ago resulting in one almost having to have surgery on his lip. But the reintroduction went well.
 
ChloeCee98 said:
Just wondering how successful bonding is after a fall out. Someone's had an argument with me on Instagram over asking if it would cause stress if you keep on trying to re-bond them. I said if it wasn't successful I would think of rehoming or trying to find them another buddy each. This person has taken major offence to what I've said :/ I didn't even mean anything like that lol I just want to know more about how successful rebonding is and dos and donts.
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It depends on how serious and acrimonious the fall-out has been and whether the relationship in the run up has been functional or not. Each bond is unique, but generally you can say that the worse and more serious the fights, and especially the bites, the less your boys will want to be back together. if a bite (especially to the lips) is more the result of a misjudged snap, it is not seen as an intentional bite. bites to the rump and the neck on the other hand usually count as serious and aggravated fighting.
In the society they have evolved in, there are lots of sub-groups with their own little patch. It is the sows that choose which boar they want to associate with. Fights between boars are rare, as most cases are solved by a rumblestrutting measuring up (I call them boar hakas) and with the sows making clear that they are not interested in a take-over. It is only in a cage situation when boars can't get away from each other that fights become a problem.

As to dos and don'ts, you can find them all listed in detail in this guide here. I have compiled all the tricks and tips that make the rounds online. During the ten years this forum has been in existence, they have all been tried repeatedly, so we can really back up our opinions on what works and what with real experiences.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
 
It is rare but can work. I find that taking everything out of their cage helps as often fights are over houses etc. I recently had 2 boys fall out with cuts around their mouth & nose. I gave them a cat litter tray each with hay in & they got on fine. After 4 weeks I put houses back in but the teeth chattering started after 15 minutes. I removed the houses and went back to cat litter trays & they've been fine for 2 months. I have to remember to give them their veggies first as they can get a little boisterous if kept waiting for them x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
So it's just trial and error or is it not fair to keep putting them through it?x
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You can always try one re-introduction on neutral ground as long as you do not get your hopes up and as long as you are prepared to separate the instant that aggro is building up again - which happens usually very quickly. Make sure that you have thick oven gloves and a divider or a carrier handy. Riled up boars bite instinctively at the least movement and can do permanent damage to your hand. Never split feuding piggies of either gender with bare hands!
" Biting" And What You Can Do

What is not fair is sticking two piggies back together that are not getting on and making it clear; that is a straight recipe for disaster and more and increasingly nasty fights. :(
 
Wiebke said:
You can always try one re-introduction on neutral ground as long as you do not get your hopes up and as long as you are prepared to separate the instant that aggro is building up again - which happens usually very quickly. Make sure that you have thick oven gloves and a divider or a carrier handy. Riled up boars bite instinctively at the least movement and can do permanent damage to your hand. Never split feuding piggies of either gender with bare hands!
" Biting" And What You Can Do

What is not fair is sticking two piggies back together that are not getting on and making it clear; that is a straight recipe for disaster and more and increasingly nasty fights. :(
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I thought so! I didn't mean to offend the girl who I was speaking to but from what she put it sounded like they weren't getting on but she "keeps trying" and their not allowed to be together "without supervision"...MoMo and noodle are separated with a bar and they are just as happy with their own space x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
I thought so! I didn't mean to offend the girl who I was speaking to but from what she put it sounded like they weren't getting on but she "keeps trying" and their not allowed to be together "without supervision"...MoMo and noodle are separated with a bar and they are just as happy with their own space x
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There is nothing wrong with happy "can't live together but can't live apart" boars. ;)
 
@ChloeCee98 I totally agree with you, I mean that if the girl online took a major offence to your normal and polite reply it means that she is having a trouble with herself and is only looking for someone agreeing to exactly what she has already decided to do.
 
rome_italy said:
@ChloeCee98 I totally agree with you, I mean that if the girl online took a major offence to your normal and polite reply it means that she is having a trouble with herself and is only looking for someone agreeing to exactly what she has already decided to do.
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I've noticed before she is a bit funny with people but I didn't expect that she is quite famous on social media :/ so I thought she would be open to a discussion about different techniques and opinions...obviously not lol she thought I'd told her to get rid of her pets lol x
 
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