Problems with New Piggies! Please help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Margy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Margy

Hi, I'm having a few problems with my new guinea pigs. We had two male pigs to begin with, but one died of a URI after only two days, which devestated us. So, we kept the remaning pig alone for a few months as we weren't sure whether to risk pairing him up with another pig. We gave him lots of attention and floor time, and he's now a very, very spoiled little pig. A month ago, we decided to buy two baby brothers with the intention of introducing them to our older male pig, as we were told this would be the sensible thing to do. So far we've introduced them during floor time on neutral territory, supervised constantly, and so far there doesnt seem to be any major conflicts. But one of the younger pigs is a bit cheeky, and keeps bothering the older pig with rumblestrutting, constant popcorning, and little nips. The older pig has taken it quite well so far but tonight they were on their hind legs, locked for a few seconds until we separated them. What is the next step for us? Do we just put them in a cage and hope for the best? We're very nervous about what might happen. Any advice you can give us at all? We want them to live together and be happy so much!
Any advice would be really great
 
Welcome to the forum!

Sorry to hear about your first pig, sad to lose one like that.

If they new pigs aren't getting on on neutral ground then don't put them in a cage together - could be fights! 3 is not always a good number, although I know some people on here have introduced 3 boars succesfully it's an exception rather than the norm. It sounds like you'rve been introducing them in the right way, keep at it and watch them closely to see who the ringleader is! They might sort it out - to a certain extent, let them - but not if it turns nasty! Good luck with them

Sophie
x
 
Yep as Sophie said 3 is usually a difficult number. It also depends on the individual boar temperments, sounds like one of the young pigs wants to be boss ::)
You could either get your older boar a boar friend and have 2 seperate groups of boars, or you could have your older boar neutered and get him a lady friend.
 
Thanks Sophie! The most annoying thing is that our older pig (Biggins) and Ollie, one of the younger pigs, get along really well. They even snuggle up together on the floor. But Pinch, the other baby, is too playful for Biggins and just annoys the hell out of him! Ollie is very placid, like Biggins. It seems like Biggins really wants company, but if there's conflict it means that he'll remain on his own, which is unfair to him. I don't even think there is a 'ringleader' out of the three of them, or at least it's not obvious when watching them play. They all mount one another, they all do a fair bit of mild rumbling, and even though Biggins should be 'top pig' because he's older, he's too relaxed and placid to challenge Pinch. Sorry if this sounds confusing! Anyway, thanks a lot for the reply!
 
Maybe you could keep Biggins and Ollie together then, and perhaps get another friend for Pinch?
 
as said 3 is not a good number as it usually ends up 2 against one. and then you have ollie and pinch to go through the teenage phase yet where their hormones are all over the place and they will want to go for boss piggy. i would leave the two babies together and take biggins to a rescue and let him pick out his friend, perhaps a laid bak older piggy. also am so sorry for the lost of your piggy :'( :'( :'( RIP sweet darling they were an angel short in heaven so they called you home. 0:) 0:) 0:) so hoping biggins finds a friend, like said try rescue and let him pick his friend out O0 good luck and sending hugs from me and the girls in oz. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Thanks for all the replies, they were really helpful. I might persevere with the three of them, see if anything changes in a month or so, and if things are still iffy then I'll think about getting another pig. Good idea about an older friend for Biggins, one he can pick out himself! If must be annoying to feel the pressure to get along with new, younger pigs when you just can't stand their personality! I wish they could talk - just to tell me whether they like one another or not, it would be so much easier!
Pinch is so full of the joys of life, it even irritates me a little bit... ;D
Thanks for the sympathy for my orignal pig Billy, who died of the URI. It was so upsetting. We nursed him throughout the night, and despite all his vet care he just didn't pull through. He was so small, and so beautiful, it broke my heart. We didn't even get to know him.
We got him from a pet shop, and I bombarded them with so many letters of complaint (they kept their pigs with rabbits, they obviously did no health checks as Biggins also had the beginning of a URI when we bought him, but he got better thank the Lord), that they've finally put their guinea pigs in a separate pen away from the rabbits. Chain pet shops shouldn't be allowed to stock animals. It's flabbergasting how little the employees know about the general care and upkeep of their animals.
Rant over...
Thanks again!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top