New Pair Teeth Chattering

[jessblacow]

OK, so I recently had to split a pair up because my pig Cookie bit Toffy. I'm keeping Cookie as a single pig because he is a bully and i've had to have a pig rehomed because of him.

I thought Toffy (who was very docile with Cookie) might like a new friend so I introduced him to a friend's pig who is looking for a new home. The introduction went well. Toffy allowed himself to be mounted, there was a bit of chasing but they ate veggies together. I cleaned Toffys cage thoroughly with plenty of disinfectant and kept an eye in them.

For the last couple of days they have been fine. A bit of chasing around etc but I haven't seen any behaviour that worries me. Until tonight.

They were teeth chattering incessantly at each other and they even went for each other but it stopped as quick as it started and there wasn't any squealing or blood. Is thus just still a fight for dominance or is the pairing not going as well as I'd hoped?

I'm gutted if I can't keep the new pig. He's a beautiful silver chinchilla but if it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be. Considering pigs are supposed to be social herd animals, they don't half make it difficult for themselves!

 

[Wiebke]

I am very sorry that the bonding didn't work out. For all that they are social creatures, piggies can indeed have very strong ideas about who they get on with!

 

[Wiebke]

You can give it a last try tomorrow after a night of separation and a buddy bath as no bites have happened, but please don't get your hopes up too high.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Otherwise, I would recommend to contact Rainbow Rescue in Southport as the closest rescue to you.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/

 

[jessblacow]

@Wiebke is this normal behaviour though? I've not seperated them yet because there's been no blood or squealing. I haven't even seen any "yawning". I know it takes a while for dominance to be establish so should I just leave them to it for now?

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke is this normal behaviour though? I've not seperated them yet because there's been no blood or squealing. I haven't even seen any "yawning". I know it takes a while for dominance to be establish so should I just leave them to it for now?

If the teeth chattering is incessant and very loud, then I would separate and let them cool down. Can you put some divider between them for the night? For the moment, the bonding will not go anywhere meaningful with heeavy chattering.

 

[jessblacow]

Hi @Wiebke just thought I'd let you know the pai have been fine today. It was really windy last night and I think they were frightened as well. I think Toffy has claimed both hideys that I pyt in the cage so I took everything out, food bowls and all and put a load of hay in. When I checked on them later, they seemed pretty companionable, pairing up to hide from me and eating their veggies.

One thing I noticed though was that toffy went up to the new pig and buried his nose in his fur. Once by his ear and once on his back. Gandalf didn't seem to bother but I was wondering whether it was grooming or barbering. I didn't see any hair and it only lasted for a few seconds.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi @Wiebke just thought I'd let you know the pai have been fine today. It was really windy last night and I think they were frightened as well. I think Toffy has claimed both hideys that I pyt in the cage so I took everything out, food bowls and all and put a load of hay in. When I checked on them later, they seemed pretty companionable, pairing up to hide from me and eating their veggies.

One thing I noticed though was that toffy went up to the new pig and buried his nose in his fur. Once by his ear and once on his back. Gandalf didn't seem to bother but I was wondering whether it was grooming or barbering. I didn't see any hair and it only lasted for a few seconds.

AWW - piggy kisses! It is actually a sign of friendship and affection, so all is going very well. They are just working through the small print of the dominance. Establishing a hierarchy is basically working out the rules to which a community is living with; it has nothing to do with how piggies truly feel for each other. Toffy has been telling Gandalf that he likes him and is glad to have him there.