oh dear what have I done?

[Jen_blue]

I finally "finsihed" the bottom half of the cage but thats another story....

I bathed Leo and Augustus and put them in a box together while I blow dried them with a hairdryer (I hoped they would snuggle together for "protection") Then I put them in the new cage which they had not even had sight of yet and for 5 minutes they were lovely ..... but before the huge plate of leafy vegetable was finished Leo started chased Augustus around the cage, chattering then lunging at him while Augustus madly tried to get away. I couldnt stand more than 10 minutes of this (I don't know who was more anxious by now). Even now nearly 3 hours after I separated them they are chattering at each other through the partition, every time I look into the cage its like I have walked in on something. I tried to catch each of them to stroke to see if they will calm down but they werent for having it and they have barely touched the rest of the veg.

I feel very sad and was almost crying when I grabbed Leo to put him in a box while I made up the partition. They are brothers afterall.

Jen

 

[samantha.b]

so sorry to hear that. i feel for you as i have just had to take 2 brothers back to pets at home after having them for a month then they decided to fight i was so upset as was my 11 year old son. we swapped them for 2 sows but still feel heartbroken as we bonded with our little boys. just felt so sad that they couldnt get on. i couldnt keep them seperate as i didnt have another cage and run, felt it was the only choice after advice from here said that once blood was drawn there was little or no chance of the bond being made again. tragic situation ! best wishes to you and hope you end up with more luck than me ! x

 

[flips]

It is sad but it is just natural guinea pig behaviour I'm afraid. Some boars do not get on especially in their teenage phase. You've given it your best shot but it looks as if your boys do not want to live together. Big hugs.

 

[flintstones]

After the wounds that were inflicted last time with your boys(if my memory serves me correctly), I wouldn't expect them ever to live together it is sad, but next time the wounds would probably just get bigger.

Would you like to live with someone you don't like?

As Flips says its nature and a horrible situation to be in when boys can't be friends, if my current boys see each other all hell breaks lose! Then again they both live with Females, so also are protecting there women.

Have you got enough room to get them both a friend?

 

[Claire W]

I am sorry that things haven't worked out. It is truly heartbreaking when this happens. I only had a pig for 24 hours until I made the decision to return him. It was so sad as in that small space of time, I bonded with him. Unfortunately, one of my sows didn't except him and he ended up with bite wounds. It was awful having to take him back but I didn't have the space to keep him separate and he wouldn't have been happy here

You gave it your best shot but it just isn't meant to be xx

 

[JackyB]

Would they not get on if they lived separately but went in the run together? Such a shame that they won't live together

 

[catslovelycats]

Sorry for your upsetting news. My rescue didn't bond with my 3 pigs and I, like you, was heartbroken and upset. It's all very stressful isn't it. Hope you manage to sort somehting out that makes everyone happy (including you!)

 

[Jen_blue]

Thanks everyone, things are much calmer now. I really hoped that the fighting was because the space in the last cages was too small but this time it was obvious they COULD easily have had a bed/food bowl/water bottle/toys all of their own but Leo didnt want that, in fact he just started chasing Augustus around and around the cage. I don't think I've been THAT stressed in a long while, I felt like I was walking a tightrope sat watching them, they didnt even finish the huge plate of grass/lettuce leaves before Leo started. I agree I wouldnt want to live with someone I dont like, on the other hand if the choice was being alone and one of a kind then I would negiotate.

Considering the way they were on Sunday I dont think they would be safe to leave out the cage together - I let them run around my bedroom, Leo was determined to catch up with Augustus.

The new cage is 2x3 each with a upper level which is just 1x3 (a balcony really) I have space to go upwards but not to have a bigger footprint IYSWIM.

Jen