New Guinea Pig Behaviour

[katew]

Hi

Three days ago we got a lovely little rescue pig (Mikey) - a recently neutered male. He had a rough start in life - very overcrowded conditions and he was bullied- he has quite a lot of bite scars. He is only one, but seems quite small too - we think he may have had to fight for food.

We are handling him a bit to get him used to us and he is improving already - getting very curious and chatty.

We need to get him used to our two girls too, as I wanted to get a small group going, so we have set it up so they have cages near each other indoors and adjacent runs outside. We can't have any closer contact until the 6 weeks since the op are up.

I put them out for a few hours today so they could enjoy the sunshine and once Mikey got his courage up he went out of his house and ended up rubbing noses with one of girls, Attie, through the bars - really sweet.

We decided to try them next to each other on our laps tonight too. Mikey got very excited when he saw Attie - rushed over, rumbling away, and went underneath her - not just under her chin which I expected, but right underneath her. Attie looked a liitle non-plussed but was Ok. We left it a few minutes then we got our other girl, Juno. Mikey did the same thing but then bit my jeans - I think he was trying to bite her. I am a bit worried that he may like Attie and not Juno - the girls have grown up together and I couldn't separate them.

Does this sound normal behaviour from Mikey ? - I haven't had a mixed group before. I am a bit worried that I may have rushed things too much.

Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Mikey is probably just desperate for company and a bit overexcited! I don't think that he will bite one of the girls. If the indoors cages are right next to each other so they can touch noses through the bars, it will help with the full intros on neutral ground - please make this either outdoors or a wipeable area, as it will be very likely a testosterone laden pee-fest!

Acceptance usually happens by the top sow. The undersow usually goes along.

 

[katew]

Thank you - that is very reassuring. I will move the indoor cages so they are right next to each other. We haven't got an obvious top sow which could make it interesting - we think it should be Juno but she is too lazy !

 

[Wiebke]

If you have an idea when your girls are in season, I have found it helpful to stage intros when they are close to or coming into season, as that will make acceptance much easier, even though you will get a LOT more drama!

 

[katew]

Thank you - I will look into that.

 

[madguinealady]

Thank you - that is very reassuring. I will move the indoor cages so they are right next to each other. We haven't got an obvious top sow which could make it interesting - we think it should be Juno but she is too lazy !

Lucky you.I have s quartet and a group of five with a very dominant top sow in each group.Wanted them all together so could have full run of the room but not happening

 

[katew]

Funnily enough, I noticed today that Juno is showing a bit more dominant behaviour - blocking food and nose-offs - I think the dynamic is changing. A bit of a watch this space. Lucky you having so many.