New (old!) friend coming!

Queenjellybeany

Queenjellybeany

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hellooo!

Not totally here for advice more to just share a little update on my piggy lifeee!

I don’t know if anyone else has read my other posts, but my golden piggie Ciri died about a month back. I actually found it very traumatic, worse than I thought it would be, and I told myself I’d never get another pig because it hurt so much.

But spending time with my other pig Yen, I remembered how amazing guinea pigs are. Yen is terminally ill with bad kidneys, and she’s had a variety of different illnesses throughout her life. I always said she was my challenge, but most times I get her out and she gives me very gentle little licks and nibbles, and that makes everything worth it.

A rescue shared that they aren’t getting as many people adopting guinea pigs as they used to.

Long story short I’m taking on an old lady pig, a 6 year old sow next week, I’ve ordered more cc cage parts so I’m going to create a 3x2 cage which I will eventually connect to my 4x2 (with 1x2 loft) if bonding goes well and these ladies get on so they’ll have a nice big cage.
Not really sure what to expect, only ever had my two girls but it’s took me time to realise how amazing they are as pets and I know I can give them a lot of attention and effort. I work from home and my pigs have always shared my work space so we are always together. I’m a little worried that she’s coming to me already quite old, however I know that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve lots of love and a nice warm home.

Any advice on bonding is great but I’ve done a lot of research so should be good! My plan is to take on older pigs now on because I know people always want the babies and think I can give them a nice peaceful retirement home
 
Good for you taking in the old lady.
She can live out her days in a loving home.
Have a read through the forum bonding guides which are excellent.
Sorry I can’t link for you - I’m still in the Stone Age technologically speaking
 
Queenjellybeany said:
Hellooo!

Not totally here for advice more to just share a little update on my piggy lifeee!

I don’t know if anyone else has read my other posts, but my golden piggie Ciri died about a month back. I actually found it very traumatic, worse than I thought it would be, and I told myself I’d never get another pig because it hurt so much.

But spending time with my other pig Yen, I remembered how amazing guinea pigs are. Yen is terminally ill with bad kidneys, and she’s had a variety of different illnesses throughout her life. I always said she was my challenge, but most times I get her out and she gives me very gentle little licks and nibbles, and that makes everything worth it.

A rescue shared that they aren’t getting as many people adopting guinea pigs as they used to.

Long story short I’m taking on an old lady pig, a 6 year old sow next week, I’ve ordered more cc cage parts so I’m going to create a 3x2 cage which I will eventually connect to my 4x2 (with 1x2 loft) if bonding goes well and these ladies get on so they’ll have a nice big cage.
Not really sure what to expect, only ever had my two girls but it’s took me time to realise how amazing they are as pets and I know I can give them a lot of attention and effort. I work from home and my pigs have always shared my work space so we are always together. I’m a little worried that she’s coming to me already quite old, however I know that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve lots of love and a nice warm home.

Any advice on bonding is great but I’ve done a lot of research so should be good! My plan is to take on older pigs now on because I know people always want the babies and think I can give them a nice peaceful retirement home
Click to expand...

AWWW

Here is our step by step bonding guide.

Please be aware that old ladies can be very unpredictable: Some are really happy about having a new friend and others will never accept a new mate again. They still profit from next door neighbouring for ongoing stimulation.

Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
  • Like

Perhaps you may want think about a 2+1 layout for the long term so those unrehomeable/unbondable single oldies could have a retirement place with you? It would also allow you to have a single boar as a neighbour to sows for a bit more flexibility.
 
Merab said:
Good for you taking in the old lady.
She can live out her days in a loving home.
Have a read through the forum bonding guides which are excellent.
Sorry I can’t link for you - I’m still in the Stone Age technologically speaking
Click to expand...
Haha that’s no worries! I feel quite positive for the bonding, I’ve been told she’s quite shy and chill which is great because that’s exactly how my pig is 🩷 but even if they don’t go on there is enough room for them to be neighbours 🙏
 
Wiebke said:
AWWW

Here is our step by step bonding guide.

Please be aware that old ladies can be very unpredictable: Some are really happy about having a new friend and others will never accept a new mate again. They still profit from next door neighbouring for ongoing stimulation.

Wiebke

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...
  • Like

Perhaps you may want think about a 2+1 layout for the long term so those unrehomeable/unbondable single oldies could have a retirement place with you? It would also allow you to have a single boar as a neighbour to sows for a bit more flexibility.
Click to expand...
Yes I’d love this! I’ve had so much fun having pigs even tho the last bit is so painful, but I know I have the time to care for some so I shouldn’t let my space go to waste 🩷 I’ll update how it goes and if it’s good I’d happily take on another! Do you think a 3x2 cage would be enough for a single long term if I did find a boar that preferrred to be alone? X
 
Queenjellybeany said:
Yes I’d love this! I’ve had so much fun having pigs even tho the last bit is so painful, but I know I have the time to care for some so I shouldn’t let my space go to waste 🩷 I’ll update how it goes and if it’s good I’d happily take on another! Do you think a 3x2 cage would be enough for a single long term if I did find a boar that preferrred to be alone? X
Click to expand...

It is the absolute minimum. Frankly, I have always found it uncomfortably small for any length of time for any emergency singles of mine. It is essentially the same ground space as a 60 x120 traditional cage, just a bit wider but shorter. I did compensate with daily roaming time while trying my best to work out as companionship solution as quickly as possible.
 
I adopted Rainbow Piggy Pretty Patsy who was an older lady a few years ago. She got on well will Rainbow Piggy Silver Fox Christian and his sister Rainbow Piggy Meg. I was told she was 5 and a half but by her body condition she was more like 7 or older according to the vet. Mine was her third home. She lived out a happy and spoilt retirement for around a year.
 
Piggie has arrived! She looks fab in weight (a big girl!) but when I saw her in the carrier her nails looked insanely long 🥺 it seems like two kids where mainly looking after and loving her. She was in a carrier with just a large, old carrot.

Shes obviously very spooked rn, so I’ve left her with some snacks. My other pig keeps looking through the bars and seeing if she’ll come out (they are in separate cages don’t worry) I’d like to get her out and do a check and nail clip on her asap, but I’m worried I’m going to scare her. Should I wait a few days?
 
Give her a week or two to settle in. Also cover her cage with a blanket as this will help her to feel safe. She's in a new environment which is very scary for a prey animal. If you have the time, sit near the cage and just chat to her. Anything will do your shopping list, read a book, what you did at work .... Anything so she gets used to your voice.
 
I’d wait too.
I have 2 newly rescued piggies who are still scared.
@Betsy ’s suggestions are good.
I’ve been reading German children’s stories to mine.
Don’t worry about nails or a thorough health check yet - all I’m doing is a weight check and a cursory look of eyes and ears for the moment.
Time and patience are the key.
 
Merab said:
I’d wait too.
I have 2 newly rescued piggies who are still scared.
@Betsy ’s suggestions are good.
I’ve been reading German children’s stories to mine.
Don’t worry about nails or a thorough health check yet - all I’m doing is a weight check and a cursory look of eyes and ears for the moment.
Time and patience are the key.
Click to expand...
That’s brilliant , I share my studio space with the pigs so I’m always chatting away to myself so she’ll defo hear me regardless 😂
Okay I’ll give her a nice amount of time! I’ve gone up and checked and there’s little poops where she’s been so she has been up and out. My other pig is biting her cage she is so nosy to see who she is 😂😂 she’s never this curious about anything 😂😂
 
Betsy said:
Give her a week or two to settle in. Also cover her cage with a blanket as this will help her to feel safe. She's in a new environment which is very scary for a prey animal. If you have the time, sit near the cage and just chat to her. Anything will do your shopping list, read a book, what you did at work .... Anything so she gets used to your voice.
Click to expand...
Yes that’s perfect, I already put a blanket on top of the cage for her so it’s like half covered so she has the option 🤗 my pigs usually have this anyway so it’s all nice and snug
 
Finally set both the pigs up in a mutual area. Started off lovely, yen quietly licked cookies ears and they sat very close to each other. It felt out of nowhere, they started to raise chins at each other and then started chittering their teeth extremely loud!
They tussled a bit so I separated. I’ve no idea if there was biting or not but both pig is unharmed? I’ve separated for now as it was freaking me out but what do I do now? Do they hate each other or should I try again another day? They were together in a different cage around 10 mins
 
I am sorry the bonding didn't go well. I've never bonded sows but I do know the oldies can be difficult. If there are no actual bites you could try again but it does sound like they were very unimpressed with each other. Keeping them side by side for companionship is a good alternative to sharing a cage. I love that you have decided to adopt older piggies from now on, there are so many in rescues.
 
Queenjellybeany said:
Finally set both the pigs up in a mutual area. Started off lovely, yen quietly licked cookies ears and they sat very close to each other. It felt out of nowhere, they started to raise chins at each other and then started chittering their teeth extremely loud!
They tussled a bit so I separated. I’ve no idea if there was biting or not but both pig is unharmed? I’ve separated for now as it was freaking me out but what do I do now? Do they hate each other or should I try again another day? They were together in a different cage around 10 mins
Click to expand...

Sows only bite in self-defence; their tussles don't usually end in bites. But a tussle usually means that none of the girls (or neutered boar) is willing to give up their claim to leadership.

I guess that one the new girl is rather fear-aggressive.
 
Wiebke said:
Sows only bite in self-defence; their tussles don't usually end in bites. But a tussle usually means that none of the girls (or neutered boar) is willing to give up their claim to leadership.

I guess that one the new girl is rather fear-aggressive.
Click to expand...
Should I give them another go another day when she’s feeling a bit more confident? I wonder if they were both really scared :( they started off gently sniffing each other and being quite good so it’s a shame for sure!
 
Helloooo!
Pigs have been together about 3 hours in neutral ground! I’ve fully cleaned my regular 4x2 cage (with a loft) and I’m wondering whether to stick them both in together now?
They have had some interactions, mostly teeth chattering but they’ve also groomed in front of each other so I think they are doing pretty well! They haven’t teeth chattered in a good hour now however, but aren’t sitting near each other (both on opposite sides of the cage).

It’s getting a bit late now, Id prefer to put them in a permanent cage before I go sleep but I also don’t want to rush it!
 
If they are still grooming in front of each other between dominance rounds, then they still want to be together.

As it is sows and there are clearly no fights you can either leave them together overnight or separate and restart tomorrow.
 
Wiebke said:
If they are still grooming in front of each other between dominance rounds, then they still want to be together.

As it is sows and there are clearly no fights you can either leave them together overnight or separate and restart tomorrow.
Click to expand...
I think it would be best to keep them together I’d hate to restart if it stresses them out again!
I’ve deep cleaned Yens cage do you think they will fight if they are put there together or should I keep them in the make shift cage they are currently in for a bit longer?

Thank you so much for the help, really would have struggled bonding them if it wasn’t for you!
 
Queenjellybeany said:
I think it would be best to keep them together I’d hate to restart if it stresses them out again!
I’ve deep cleaned Yens cage do you think they will fight if they are put there together or should I keep them in the make shift cage they are currently in for a bit longer?

Thank you so much for the help, really would have struggled bonding them if it wasn’t for you!
Click to expand...

If you feel that a bonding is not fully resolved yet but there is no aggression in it, then I leave the piggies in the bonding pen overnight. I put in bath mats in the corners with microwaveable heat pads (snugglesafes) underneath, water bottles at each end and a big pile of hay in the middle. And big fleeces over the pen so it is nicely protected and kept warmer overnight. Most of my bondings (unless there is a clear fail or love on first sight) end as overnighters. It means that when they move into the cage, most issues have been either sorted or fronts are hardening in a near miss by the following morning. I have never had an overnight fight in well over a hundred bondings.
 
I stuck them in the clean cage together as i don’t feel the bonding pen is something I feel safe leaving over night, it’s a small pen that is quite loosely held together. I have sat with them for over an hour and apart from one teeny tussle (barely even) they’ve seemed chill! I’ve left them with one wooden tube, two water bottles and an upper loft.

Fingers crossed 🤞
 
Also I sleep very near by so will be keeping an ear out all night 👂 I feel like a mother lol !
 
Queenjellybeany said:
I stuck them in the clean cage together as i don’t feel the bonding pen is something I feel safe leaving over night, it’s a small pen that is quite loosely held together. I have sat with them for over an hour and apart from one teeny tussle (barely even) they’ve seemed chill! I’ve left them with one wooden tube, two water bottles and an upper loft.

Fingers crossed 🤞
Click to expand...

Please remove the tube or offer two of the same with two openings so they cannot get possessive over it.
 
Older photo but yes! They a stayed together over night. Cookie (the new old lady) has been very very gentle, if yen chitters her teeth she’ll back away so I’ve felt very confident. I think they both want each other but obv they need to organise themselves still but I feel happy to leave them to it now!

Thank you everyone! Kind of worried about the feeding as don’t know if that will cause issues when I put a bowl in. I’ve gave them both a big chunk of pepper for now and the have plenty of hay + I’ve scatter fed some grains for now!
 

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Aw, they look lovely together. Personally I just hand feed or scatter veggies etc. If I used a bowl M.M.Boris would just park himself in it and D.S.George is too polite to shove him out of the way.
 
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