I'm just not that into you...

[jamarcham]

Well, that seems to be how my girls (sisters, 6-7 months) feel about each other.

I've been assuming that it is just hormones, and there's never anything nasty, just semi-regular rumble-strutting and that nose in the air thing they do, but they just don't seem to be the best of friends. We have 2 of everything (cosies etc) and they sleep or rest separately. They will sit close by each other when the fresh hay comes out but apart from that, apparently no cuddling. (Note they have unlimited hay but they always seem to eat more when i produce the new stuff).

They do popcorn quite a lot (sight of food, fresh bedding, early evening energy rush etc) and are otherwise happy and healthy but I guess I'm wondering if the poor things are stuck with another guinea who doesn't really make them happy enough to cosy up to.

Do you think over time I should try and find them a nice boyfriend (neutered of course) each if I can find a site that does boar dating? Or is this fairly typical for teenage girl guineas and they will settle down? (I would have the space for 4).

Grateful for any thoughts.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Not all sisters will be best friends. And not all piggies will snuggle up. And at this age, occationally i have found that girlies can have some disagreements, not as much as hormonal boars though. A neutered boar always help keep the peace, so if you have the space to offer a lovely rescue boar then i would say go for it. Where abouts are you based? I can let you know of some rescues nearby.

x.

 

[jamarcham]

Hi thanks for that. I do keep an eye on Blue Cross as we got the girls from their Burford centre as we're in Oxfordshire, but they don't often have piggies and only rarely have a lot.

I guess I was just worried if I got one boar that there might be a split into 2 and 1 (ie 2 lovebirds and one less favoured female)? Blue Cross did say,as you have, that one boar plus 2 sows did usually work out well though.

 

[Abi_nurse]

A 2 and a 1 can sometimes happen, it really does depend on the piggies, i would see how they would go and then decide weather to consider a 4th which should still also work just fine (if you have the space of course).

The Blue cross dont often have piggies and i very much doubt they will do any dating or bonding. There are not many rescues in the Oxfordshire area but if you are willing to traveling (and depending on what side of the county you are on) here are some of your closest piggy bank recommended rescues.

Gloucester and Bristol area:

http://www.yatesmallanimalfosterandrehome.webs.com/
http://www.windwhistlewarren.org.uk/index.html
http://boardingbunniesathome.co.uk/rescue-and-rehoming/

East London area:
http://www.animalrescueandcare.org/animals.asp?t=2

North Hertfordshire:
http://www.hillsbrookerescue.co.uk/

Northampton area:
http://www.animals-in-need.org/About.html

And Rugby:
http://www.rngp.org/index-guinea-facts.shtml

I also know a forum member on here who has a small rescue who will have three neutered boars soon (one of which i have reserved). She is in the Kent area i believe.

x.

Ps. sorry for the long post.

 

[jamarcham]

Thanks, that's very kind of you to research the nearest!

I think I'll give the girls a couple of months and then if there's no obvious improvement, look for a friend for them. I assume in this case, an older boar would be a better bet, but I'll definitely look to go boar dating for them if they don't resolve their differences.

 

[Freela]

I don't think all pigs are 'snuggly' pigs. And I do think that behaviour changes happen with age. I know there was a lot more competition between my pigs when they were younger, because I think the dominant pig was intent on remaining dominant. My original pair of sows was not very snuggly with one another, but still obviously had a bond (we could see it especially when one was sick... the other was obviously concerned and was very tolerant of her while she was ill.) Our second pair (dominant sow plus new baby after our sick pig passed away) was calmer from the start... I think because our dominant sow had mellowed by that age. Now I do see them snuggling together in the pigloo nights, which is something the dominant sow would NEVER have done before about the age of 2! LOL!

 

[Strawberries]

My girls are about 7 months old and they are just like yours. They eat close together, but no snuggling or other friendly behavior. The dominant one rumbles at the other if she gets too near, and the submissive one talks to the dominant one a lot and tries to play 'kisses' and is turned away by the dominant one with a little head raise, but that is about it. They just don't touch each other in general. The only time they go in the pigloo together is when they are totally frightened by something like the hoover or a loud action movie on in the other room.

I've wondered the same thing about them not really being that close. No fights or anything even near fights, but just not really that into each other.

I've noticed that the outgoing but submissive one is looking to me more for attention lately...but that may just be her outgoing personality and getting to know me more (I've had them 3 months), she may be like that even if she had a really a good friend.

I don't have room for more so I'll just see what happens as they age. I hope they eventually warm up to each other a little more.