Possible new trio

Guineapigfeet

Guineapigfeet

Adult Guinea Pig
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I took Rey down to see two ladies this afternoon, Bella and Jasmine. Popped them in a run together and they got on like they’d known each other forever. I was expecting to have to leave Rey overnight but the lady was so happy with them she let me take them all home. The two new girls travelled in separate accommodation: 45 mins in a carrier would be a lot to ask right away. They went in my run for about an hour whilst I cleaned out the cage and they’ve been in the cage now for about 40 mins so far. Rey and Jasmine have had a couple of face offs and a little scuffle but I think they’re ok. Everyone is lying down, separately, at the moment. I don’t really know what to expect and don’t really know what is ‘too much’ and indicates that they’re not going to be happy together. I’ve read the bonding things but it’s difficult when you’ve never seen it before!
 
I've got my fingers crossed for a happy bond. The squeaking on the film is submission squeaking and is fine just someone saying it's okay you can be boss.
 
piggieminder said:
I've got my fingers crossed for a happy bond. The squeaking on the film is submission squeaking and is fine just someone saying it's okay you can be boss.
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Thanks, I’m pretty sure that was Rey squeeking, but I’m not 100% sure
 
This happened after the last video and after they all got up from their naps


the squeeking isn’t Rey, it’s Jasmine. Belle is staying right out of it!
 
Fur has flown. Don’t think anyone’s been hurt, but is that enough?
 
Jasmine did get a little cut near her lip. It’s stopped bleeding and she seems ok otherwise but a bit shaken/scared?
Rey is ok, some fur has been pulled out or otherwise come out but I don’t think she has any injuries and no blood
 
If they were boars I'd be calling it quits but I don't know about sows. @Wiebke or another bonding expert will hopefully be along soon.
 
When I bonded 2 pairs of sows it was very lively for a while as Jemimah and Priscilla sorted out their relationship.
We had pulled fur and some nips and a lot of noise.
However they settled down and became best friends.

Hope yours work things out
 
The lady at the rescue said to try Rey and the other girl, Belle, as they seemed OK before, but Rey was chasing and pulling her fur out. Poor Belle was minding her own business but Rey wouldn’t leave her alone. I put Belle back with Jasmine and then Rey and Jasmine continued to face off either side of the barrier. Lots of teeth chattering, rumbling, posturing and then Jasmine had a few lunges at Rey across the divider, fortunately she didn’t make contact. (Belle was as far away from Rey as she could get) I’ve put cardboard up so they can’t see each other. :-(
I just don’t know what to do, I don’t know if they could work it out or if Rey just doesn’t want them in her space. However much it’s cleaned and ‘new’ it’s still her’s.
I also don’t know if I can cope with it. I couldn’t eat tonight. Rey seemed much happier after I put the card up.
 
Definitely give them a night apart. Then perhaps try again tomorrow in the bonding pen. With nothing but hay in the pen, so there’s nothing to fight over, and nowhere to go. Sows can be rather slow burn with their bonding and it can take several meetings to be sure if they are going to get on or not. But I would expect that if it is a definite “no” you will find out quite quickly tomorrow in the bonding pen.
 
VickiA said:
Definitely give them a night apart. Then perhaps try again tomorrow in the bonding pen. With nothing but hay in the pen, so there’s nothing to fight over, and nowhere to go. Sows can be rather slow burn with their bonding and it can take several meetings to be sure if they are going to get on or not. But I would expect that if it is a definite “no” you will find out quite quickly tomorrow in the bonding pen.
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Thank you. What behaviour would signify a definite no?
They got on just fine in the run, no sign of any animosity and they were all grooming themselves (not each other!) and eating and laying down, but it all kicked off in the cage.
 
I would suggest perhaps longer in the bonding pen. Grooming is usually a good sign. But if it has all kicked off in the cage, then I would try longer before putting them in the cage.

Have you completely cleaned and rearranged the cage so it no longer smells or looks like it used to? I usually put hay in different places, I avoid all their usual “houses” and just go for cuddle cups and new tunnels.
 
It was all cleaned, and re-arranged, but it gets re-arranged a lot so Rey will have seen it in that configuration before. I don’t have other houses or tunnels and they’re all wood, I don’t know how much they hold smells. I could get some cardboard boxes?
 
Guineapigfeet said:
It was all cleaned, and re-arranged, but it gets re-arranged a lot so Rey will have seen it in that configuration before. I don’t have other houses or tunnels and they’re all wood, I don’t know how much they hold smells. I could get some cardboard boxes?
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If they make it through a prolonged bonding pen stage, then I would definitely opt for cardboard boxes instead of the wooden houses in the cage as I’m sure the wooden ones are familiar to her. Cardboard boxes with 2 exits cut in them will be completely neutral.
 
VickiA said:
If they make it through a prolonged bonding pen stage, then I would definitely opt for cardboard boxes instead of the wooden houses in the cage as I’m sure the wooden ones are familiar to her. Cardboard boxes with 2 exits cut in them will be completely neutral.
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Would that be permanent? Could I ever put back the tunnels and houses?
what behaviour would say that they’re not going to be happy together?
 
Guineapigfeet said:
Would that be permanent? Could I ever put back the tunnels and houses?
what behaviour would say that they’re not going to be happy together?
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On,y during the acceptance and dominance phase (usually a couple of weeks before I would add in old familiar houses again).
Sows can be a bit difficult to read. But if they kick off quickly and you have a rolling furball tomorrow, with neither backing down then I would call it off. There’s often a bit of nipping and a bit of hair pulling but if you get a full on rolling fur ball then that’s the time to call it a failure
 
VickiA said:
On,y during the acceptance and dominance phase (usually a couple of weeks before I would add in old familiar houses again).
Sows can be a bit difficult to read. But if they kick off quickly and you have a rolling furball tomorrow, with neither backing down then I would call it off. There’s often a bit of nipping and a bit of hair pulling but if you get a full on rolling fur ball then that’s the time to call it a failure
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Thank you
 
I hope the re-introduction goes better than the above. I felt tense watching it so dread to think how bad it was first hand. Hopefully they can work things out. Get some rest.
 
Rey was absolutely miserable in the morning. She didn’t come out of her house all evening or during the night. I moved the house to clean but and she was anxious and tense and wouldn’t stay out, ignoring veggies she ran back into her house as soon as she could.
As far as I was concerned, she’s made it clear she didn’t want these pigs around and with the rescue ladies agreement, I took them back yesterday morning.
I completely removed all bedding they they’d been in touch with and soaked the stick tunnel in disinfectant to try and get rid of any lingering smells so she doesn’t think they are still there. She’s still anxious about coming out of her house today but I hope she’ll get comfortable again soon.
 
Maybe it was too soon? Maybe they were just too much. Rey seems soooo much happier this evening so I know I made the right choice. Will keep my eyes and ears out for a single, old, girl or even maybe an old neutered boar (I’ve never had a boar before) someone really chilled out, but for now she seems to be doing ok by her self. I will obviously monitor the situation closely.
 
Guineapigfeet said:
Maybe it was too soon? Maybe they were just too much. Rey seems soooo much happier this evening so I know I made the right choice. Will keep my eyes and ears out for a single, old, girl or even maybe an old neutered boar (I’ve never had a boar before) someone really chilled out, but for now she seems to be doing ok by her self. I will obviously monitor the situation closely.
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You know her best. I’m pleased to hear she’s perked up again.
 
Sorry it didn’t work out but hopefully you can find a little old friend for Rey x
 
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