How to read the signs!

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guineapigfan

guineapigfan

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Ok so I recently introduced my 2 and a half year old sow (Sweep) to an adopted 10 month old sow (Maisie) on the bathroom floor with lots of hidey places and food as distraction. It seemed to go ok but there was relatively little interaction, they basically sat at opposite ends of the bathroom but occassionally both went in for some food and chased one another away, with a little bit of nipping.

After about four hours we decided it was time to put them together in their cage, with two sleeping areas and bowls etc. However, they still don't seem to be interacting much. There is the odd 'scuffle' where there is some squeaking and teeth chattering and chasing of one another. Sweep is sleeping in the main sleeping area and Maisie is sleeping in a DIY box sleeping area. Sweep has ventured towards Maisie's box but Maisie has expressed no interest in Sweeps patch. I'm worried that if they continue like this, they will simply not interact enough to ever settle their differences.

Is there anything I can do? How long does it usually take? They have been living aside one another for a week and a half and living together in the same cage for 5 days. I just don't know if their behaviour is a good sign or a bad one :...
 
I would let them get on with it - it may not be a match made in heaven, but as there are no major fights, either, let them get on with it. Eventually, they will find a balance for settling down together that suits both.
 
What would you classify as a major fight? Maisie just went into Sweeps cage for the first time and it actually went ok but then, annoyingly, I sneezed and there was a fight which made me really panic. How long does it usually take? I'm not sure how long to give them to sort things out before I think about other options.
 
Entwined balls of fury... really going at it.. you can't miss it! I am a first time owner I had a major fight with my boys I had to throw my jacket on them and rip them apart!
 
They have had a proper fight once or twice now but usually triggered by something. The first time was when we first put them together but it wasn't a very good place to do it so that's why I think they fought. Then today when I sneezed they were really going for eachother. However, even after these fights, there are no visible wounds or blood :{
 
Unless you see real signs of fights or weight loss from stress, I would let them get on with it for a while and see whether they will shake down together.

If you are not happy, you could consider having them live side by side for company.
 
Well, here is some signs as a basic out line, hope it helps;
Safe, non-combative, dominance behavior
Rumblestrutting
Butt sniffing
Butt nudging
Chasing
Butt dragging (they are leaving their scent)
Mounting (any which way: rear mount, head mount, side mount, flying leap mount!)
Nose face-offs (higher in the air wins, one must lower their nose to be subservient to the other)
Teeth chattering: a little (signal of dominance)
Raised hackles (hair on the back of the neck and along the spine)

Posturing for possible attack, battle for dominance is escalating
Teeth chattering: sustained (signal of anger, aggression, warning)
Nips, light bites, may result in little tufts of fur in their teeth
Wide yawn, but this is no yawn, they are showing their teeth
Snorting (like a strong puff or hiss)

These behaviors may sound serious and they should be monitored VERY CLOSELY, BUT do NOT separate the pigs exhibiting this behavior, yet. This is when the average pet owner loses it and pulls the pig out. Most of the time, this behavior will continue for a while until one backs down.

Fighting with intent to harm
Bite attacks are no longer warning nips, they are lunges with intent to harm.
Combination of raised hackles, loud and angry teeth chattering, rumblestrutting in place with the head staying in one position while facing the other guinea pig doing the same thing. Usually a signal of a biting attack. But they may back down before they engage.
Both pigs rear up on their haunches, face to face. This is a clear, brief signal of their intent to launch full attacks at each other. Separate if possible before the attack.
Full battle. The pigs are locked together in a vicious ball of fur. This is very serious. Separate immediately, but be careful. Throw a towel over them and use a dustpan or something other than your hand to separate them. Unintended bites from their very sharp incisors can cause serious damage.
 
Thank you very much for your useful post! I definately feel like I know where I am with them a little more now. However, as I said before, they have had fights where they do appear to be a ball of fur but there seems to be no injuries at all....perhaps the odd clump of hair on the cage floor. It also seems to be triggered by something other than just them, like if they are feeling more stressed because of a noise etc.

I think that, considering they have only had two or so actual 'fights' but appear to not really be harming eachother, that they should be given some more time together to sort stuff out as long as no blood is drawn on either piggy. Would you guys agree? I really appreciate your level of experience in these matters!
 
Unfortunately we found a little injury on sweep's back the other day and are returning Maisie to the breeder this evening. I'm devestated! I just don't know what to do now! Does Sweep need a break? Should I try her with a baby, is that better? Is it better to try with a baby sooner rather than later? I just don't know what to do :(
 
Have you thought about looking for a neutered boar from a rescue?

Cross gender pairings are usually stable because dominance doesn't enter into it the way it does with same gender pairs. Also age is not as important.

Or find a rescue where you can take Sweep and let HER choose her new companion - that way you can be sure that there is basic interest and liking.

I've done it twice with great success with three year old sows - both with choosing another same age sow as well a younger boar. You may have to brace yourself for not coming home with the piggy YOU would like most; but you have a good chance at coming home with a happy Sweep!

http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk
 
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Thank you for your prompt reply! I have emailed cavyhaven which seem to be looking to rehome alot of pigs to enquire as to whether they have a neutered boar. Do you think a boar would have a better chance of success than a baby?

I don't really mind what the piggy looks like or how old it is or if it's a boy or a girl, so long as we find someone Sweep can bond with!
 
guineapigfan said:
Thank you for your prompt reply! I have emailed cavyhaven which seem to be looking to rehome alot of pigs to enquire as to whether they have a neutered boar. Do you think a boar would have a better chance of success than a baby?

I don't really mind what the piggy looks like or how old it is or if it's a boy or a girl, so long as we find someone Sweep can bond with!
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I can't say - the best way to find out is taking Sweep and introducing her to as many piggies as possible and then see who she is getting on with - that does not necessarily need to be a young sow or a neutered boar; it's the character compatibility that is the decider. I find that guinea pigs have a way of surprising us at every turn!

Sweep may be a bit wary at first after her failed bonding, so if you can take your time at the rescue, please do so.

Ringing round, I started at the rescue with the most possible candidates and always found a new friend out of a choice of three piggies; even if each choice was not what I had been expecting!
 
I will definately ask about bringing along Sweep for a test run! Silly question though....do you literally just put your piggy on the floor with another one? What should I be looking for?

I'm sorry, I'm bombarding you with questions!
 
You will have somebody from the rescue with you - they will do the intros, but what you want is friendly interest from both piggies and no signs of aggression. Different rescues do handle things differently.

Dizzy more or less adopted US - she basically attached herself to Minx' side, who didn't twitch a whisker and that was it as far as the two of them were concerned! I put in some grass and they were munching peacefully next to each other. Of course, we had the usual inevitable dominance ritual at home, but it was comparatively mild and short. I'd been handling a couple of neutered boars first since Minx was a very dominant girl, but Dizzy was the one that simply felt "right".

When Minx sadly died a few months later, I took Dizzy to another rescue that had three neutered males, since there were no females to be found in the closest four rescues. No sparks between Dizzy and a pair of neutered brothers (one of them the most gorgeous longhaired lemon agoutis - sigh), but there was a lot of sniffing from both Llewelyn and Dizzy. The rescue lady put them together to see how Dizzy would cope with a male. Lots of shocked squeaking, but no aggression. Since the rescue lady was happy with my experience with guinea pigs, I was allowed to take Llewelyn back home with us and do the full intro myself (which admittedly was a bit wild), but they becoame a very loving and devoted couple..
 
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