Seperated...sigh...

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WhisperingWolf

WhisperingWolf

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Right, that's it.

Hamish had a PROPER go for Robin this evening in the run and made a very shallow cut into Robin's rump - it's the last straw sadly. They get on VERY well most of the time, even with food and their veg - but Hamish goes through five minute bursts of hormonal rage and just goes too far. So the connection between the two cages has been closed.
They can still see each other through the bars as the cages are still technically connected, but he no longer has access to the poor lad.

Funnily enough, when I put them in their seperate cages, Hamish went straight to his bed and had his front end sticking out of the entrance and lay down - I tell you he looked like a guilty dog in a kennel - it was a very funny and yet very sad sight. But I'd rather this than deal with the risk of him taking a whole chunk out my other sad boy :(
 
Ahh, that's sad for them but good for Robin at the moment. Maybe if Hamish's hormones calm down you could try re-bonding them.
 
AWWWW shame. But you know them best don't you. I hope you can rebond them at some point but at least for now they can interact through the bars with no violence.
 
I am sorry that you are not able to keep them together! you must feel really down!
 
Thanks guys...yeh I do feel pretty damn bad that I had to do it :(

I dunno if they're at peace right now or genuinely feeling lonely...but they're both just lying in their cages - properly sprawled out. Cannot believe how guilty Hamish looks - you know those sad puppy eyes? It's like that...but in button form...how surreal...never even knew a guinea pig could put me on a guilt trip.

Robin's bum is fine - it's not serious enough to require vet treatment. But it's enough for me to know that until Hamish' hormones settle I am keeping them apart!

Uh! 8...
 
pigpig479 said:
Sory about the boars, that's what they do though! I've had to keep two boars seperate, as George is reportadly a serial killer!
LIke the name hamish, i know a dog called Hamish.
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Yup, sadly it is. I bought Hamish first because I was told boys would fight and so I resisted the urge to get another. But after hearing so many success stories and the fact that Hamish would be much happier even with a companion in a cage next to him I felt it was only fair to get him a friend.

Sadly his hormones make his head far too big and it gets the better of him.

Heheh, yeh I used the name as he's ginger :))
my mum's gardener is called Hamish actually - and what I find funny now is the guy can talk the hind legs off a donkey, as can my Hamish! rolleyes
 
Give hamish a few months of "time out" and you may be able to rebond them seeing as there has been no "hairball of fury" Fingers crossed he will grow up and turn into a suitable cagemate! :)
 
So sorry to hear this hun, you must be so upset. I hope Robin's bum gets better quickly and they both get another chance at some point in the future :)
 
Don't know if this is a good idea or a bad idea but you could maybe still give them play time together under supervision. MAy also help for if and when you decide to rebond them.
 
I will definately be giving them some time out - I think Hamish misses the company to tell you the truth - I've seen him up at the bars looking through which seems quite sad. But time out will do him good. Maybe get him settled a bit on his own territory without feeling the need to take Robin's too.

I will try putting them in the run tomorrow together but be very quick to seperate if it poses problems. I can partition off the run too with something so that things can't get nasty.

Thanks for the support guys, I really do need it!
 
In my experience very rarely, once blood has been drawn, will they re-bond which is why i recently had 6 single boars. They also may not take to any new boars, or they may start off ok & revert to type after a few months.

My single boys do have run-time together but i have to ensure they have lots of space so no one steps on anyone elses space but they wouldn't re-bond. They were fine in the bath, fine being dried but once back together in their hutch all hell let loose again.

My 2 oldies who were separated in 2006 have lived happily side by side ever since.

I personally wouldn't try to re-bond your boys but would see how they get on in a run together. The fact they have fought on more than one occasion tells me they've made their decision, it's down to you wether you listen to them :)
 
Niki said:
In my experience very rarely, once blood has been drawn, will they re-bond which is why i recently had 6 single boars. They also may not take to any new boars, or they may start off ok & revert to type after a few months.

My single boys do have run-time together but i have to ensure they have lots of space so no one steps on anyone elses space but they wouldn't re-bond. They were fine in the bath, fine being dried but once back together in their hutch all hell let loose again.

My 2 oldies who were separated in 2006 have lived happily side by side ever since.

I personally wouldn't try to re-bond your boys but would see how they get on in a run together. The fact they have fought on more than one occasion tells me they've made their decision, it's down to you wether you listen to them :)
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Hmm...well see blood wasn't actually drawn - but from the look of it the intent seemed there. I did put Robin back in after a while and Hamish ran towards him but just sat there cause I reached in - it looked more like a frightened need to huddle than attack. But for the moment I still don't trust him.
If it goes alright in the run (this is where the two attacks I've witnessed have occured) then they can recieve their veg in there and get plenty of hugs each from me and my flatmates to keep them busy.

I don't see any harm in trying to rebond them in a few months maybe, possibly during bathtime or something. I will be so vigillent as I can read Hamish a lot better now. Any signs of a lunge and I will be in there like a rocket to seperate.

We'll see, for now it's chill-out time!
 
WhisperingWolf said:
Hmm...well see blood wasn't actually drawn - but from the look of it the intent seemed there. I did put Robin back in after a while and Hamish ran towards him but just sat there cause I reached in - it looked more like a frightened need to huddle than attack. But for the moment I still don't trust him.
If it goes alright in the run (this is where the two attacks I've witnessed have occured) then they can recieve their veg in there and get plenty of hugs each from me and my flatmates to keep them busy.

I don't see any harm in trying to rebond them in a few months maybe, possibly during bathtime or something. I will be so vigillent as I can read Hamish a lot better now. Any signs of a lunge and I will be in there like a rocket to seperate.

We'll see, for now it's chill-out time!
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The term "blood being drawn" is confusing as it doesn't mean a wound pouring with blood but any wound inflicted by one pig onto another. Your opening post says " Right, that's it. Hamish had a PROPER go for Robin this evening in the run and made a very shallow cut into Robin's rump - it's the last straw sadly." & this is why i assumed blood had been drawn.
I only ever speak from my own experiences with my boys & wish you luck with yours. I hope they do re-bond as i wished mine would've but sadly mine had other ideas.
Please also be aware that if one pig is made miserable by the behaviour of a cage mate, no physical wounds being inflicted, this can also be a reason to separate.
Bullying "can" lead to the bullied pig becoming stressed, withdrawn, stopping eating (from the actions of a cagemate or itself due to stress) & can result in death.
I have experienced this with one of mine, i found him close to death in his hutch. His gut was in statis, he'd to see the vet 3 times for meds within the week & be syringe fed for over a week but thankfully he regained his appetite.
This pig was not bullied nor ill nor were any wounds inflicted on either pig. This was caused by the stress of him gaining a younger cage-mate (one of the split pairs who i'd no room for anywhere else). They were together for approximately 6 days & shows just how complex & sensitive these little furries can be.
 
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Very true...very true...
I am taking everything in and will definately take it ALL into consideration. I'm coming to the realisation that maybe the boys would just be happier apart, but I still feel in a few months time it could still be possible to attempt the re-bond. If it fails it fails and life moves on, if they can coexist happily together once Hamish's hormones calm down then that would be wonderful - but I'm not holding my breath.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me and giving me help and advice, I really do appreciate it! I wouldn't be here if I thought I knew it all afterall :))
This place is my source of all piggeh help and love!
 
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