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Wheeksers

Wheeksers

Junior Guinea Pig
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Ahoy from a snowed in Wisconsinite!

As some may know, I recently adopted a baby boar named Monk Fruit. He is 3 weeks of age and is living alone until he is old enough/weighs enough to get fixed before joining the larger herd. His cage is next to my sows cage (and the sows have a piggy perch set up so they see and communicate with Monk over the chloroplast). We are only on day 3 of having him, so his behaviors are still typical of that of a piggy adjusting to a new cage environment (e.g., hiding and not much communicating/interaction), but I wanted to throw this question out there as I'm having a hard time finding the answer:

Is there anything additional I should be doing to ensure my little guy has plenty of love and socialization? I ensured he and the other piggies can see/hear each other (without risk of him getting out - he's in a baby proof cage at the moment) - but I wanted to double check that there is not something else I can/could/should be doing for him. I've never done a solo piggy next to a big piggy cage like this before, so I want to be sure I am being the best piggy mom! My heart just goes out to him for being alone - He was living with his mom and two brothers and suddenly now is a solo piggy - but it's what needed before he can join the herd and be the rockstar that he is.

Thanks for any advice in advance!

Piggy Tax:

1609335796639.webp
 
Wheeksers said:
Ahoy from a snowed in Wisconsinite!

As some may know, I recently adopted a baby boar named Monk Fruit. He is 3 weeks of age and is living alone until he is old enough/weighs enough to get fixed before joining the larger herd. His cage is next to my sows cage (and the sows have a piggy perch set up so they see and communicate with Monk over the chloroplast). We are only on day 3 of having him, so his behaviors are still typical of that of a piggy adjusting to a new cage environment (e.g., hiding and not much communicating/interaction), but I wanted to throw this question out there as I'm having a hard time finding the answer:

Is there anything additional I should be doing to ensure my little guy has plenty of love and socialization? I ensured he and the other piggies can see/hear each other (without risk of him getting out - he's in a baby proof cage at the moment) - but I wanted to double check that there is not something else I can/could/should be doing for him. I've never done a solo piggy next to a big piggy cage like this before, so I want to be sure I am being the best piggy mom! My heart just goes out to him for being alone - He was living with his mom and two brothers and suddenly now is a solo piggy - but it's what needed before he can join the herd and be the rockstar that he is.

Thanks for any advice in advance!

Piggy Tax:

View attachment 162180
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Hi!

Barring an 'uncle boar' to socialising him and teaching him how to master his environment, the more he can see and directly interact with your sows to learn by watching them interact, the better. I would cut off the correx once he is big enough to no longer wiggle through the grids or getting his head stuck. You can always stick it back in with some duct tape. I would however strongly recommend that you cable-tie any adjoining grids so they cannot be wiggled loose and that there is no house to climb on the boy's side so he cannot climb over the grids.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Having side by side through the bar interaction is the best thing - he can see, hear, talk to the others, it’ll be that which stops loneliness.
Otherwise giving him lots of enrichment within his cage - big piles of hay for foraging etc
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
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Thanks @Piggies&buns! He has PLENTY of enrichment in his cage (and more on the way!) - so I'm glad to hear I'm doing the best thing for him already. Oh, this eases my anxiety so much! <3

Wiebke said:
Hi!

What your little newly weaned and separated baby REALLY needs is an 'uncle' boar to take him on and teach him how to be a boar, like he would have in a normal guinea pig society where some bachelor boars with stron nurturing instincts will take on any weaned baby boars to socialise them further and teach them how to master their environment until they reach teenage and are striking out on their own. The all important formative 'school' weeks are sadly the forgotten piggy age due to breeders and pet shops selling babies.

The biggest present you can make your little boy is a bereaved boar who is willing to take him on. They often make very stable relationships.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
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Yes, I agree with you Wiebke - but the problem is I wouldn't be able to keep the second boar once this one is of age. I've been trying to look around humane societies around me to see if anyone has a solo boar - but a lot of folks only have baby piggies at the moment. Would it not be cruel to only get an adult boar just to turn around and adopt him back out? I do not want to do that (a) to the boar, (b) to Monk who would be bonded to him, and (c) to myself as it would be an emotional toll. I'd LOVE to get him a boar companion, I just know I can't keep the second boar once Monk is of age - I do not have the cage space (and Monk is destined to join the sow herd).
 
Wheeksers said:
Thanks @Piggies&buns! He has PLENTY of enrichment in his cage (and more on the way!) - so I'm glad to hear I'm doing the best thing for him already. Oh, this eases my anxiety so much! <3




Yes, I agree with you Wiebke - but the problem is I wouldn't be able to keep the second boar once this one is of age. I've been trying to look around humane societies around me to see if anyone has a solo boar - but a lot of folks only have baby piggies at the moment. Would it not be cruel to only get an adult boar just to turn around and adopt him back out? I do not want to do that (a) to the boar, (b) to Monk who would be bonded to him, and (c) to myself as it would be an emotional toll. I'd LOVE to get him a boar companion, I just know I can't keep the second boar once Monk is of age - I do not have the cage space (and Monk is destined to join the sow herd).
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Sorry, I was distracted and didn't read your first post fully. I have adapted my initial post. you may find the practical tips in there helpful to optimise next door companionship once your boy is safe for that step.
 
Wiebke said:
Sorry, I was distracted and didn't read your first post fully. I have adapted my initial post. you may find the tip in there helpful to optimize next door companionship once your boy is safe for that step.
Click to expand...

Oh, thanks Wiebke! Yeah, that is my intent is to make sure they have full access to each other once he is big enough not to worm his way through. He's coming out a bit more this morning, which is a good sign - he's still very scared but at least coming out for some of the veggies I put out for him (he loves romaine lettuce!). Still hasn't been eating much of his hay - but the pellets have gone down some. I think I'm too used to the big pigs eating so much hay that I forget a tiny baby can't eat the same amount.

<3 I appreciate you all and your feedback/suggestions/advice!
 
Wheeksers said:
Oh, thanks Wiebke! Yeah, that is my intent is to make sure they have full access to each other once he is big enough not to worm his way through. He's coming out a bit more this morning, which is a good sign - he's still very scared but at least coming out for some of the veggies I put out for him (he loves romaine lettuce!). Still hasn't been eating much of his hay - but the pellets have gone down some. I think I'm too used to the big pigs eating so much hay that I forget a tiny baby can't eat the same amount.

<3 I appreciate you all and your feedback/suggestions/advice!
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Place some hay where he can see the sows eating it and ideally get at the same batch - even if it is messy.
 
Something else you can safely do is place some used fleece or soiled sow bedding in his cage to snuggle into and do the same for the sows so the bond is not broken. To have something smelling of his family to snuggle into (like a cosy, a bit of fleece or a rag) will be a huge comfort to your little boy. Since smelling is not our strongest sence, we tend to underestimate its importance.
 
Wiebke said:
Something else you can safely do is place some used fleece or soiled sow bedding in his cage to snuggle into and do the same for the sows so the bond is not broken. To have something smelling of his family to snuggle into (like a cosy, a bit of fleece or a rag) will be a huge comfort to your little boy. Since smelling is not our strongest sence, we tend to underestimate its importance.
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Oh, this is a great idea! I accidently started this when we grabbed a hidey the sows were using when we went to pick him up - I'll def. keep doing that - swapping out some small snuggle cup or fleece. Oh, this thread is making my heart swoon! :) Thanks @Wiebke
 
Wiebke said:
Place some hay where he can see the sows eating it and ideally get at the same batch - even if it is messy.
Click to expand...

Oh, this is a wonderful Idea. I'll adjust his cage/their cage later today to make that work! I just added additional fleece forest to his cage to give more hiding spot - poor guy was so scared. <3
 
Wheeksers said:
Oh, this is a wonderful Idea. I'll adjust his cage/their cage later today to make that work! I just added additional fleece forest to his cage to give more hiding spot - poor guy was so scared. <3
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Even if it is just a little blanket to hide underneath or even some hay from the sows' enclosure. If the hay is smelling of his family, it will be safe to eat. the same goes with any food bowls. if his does smell of other piggies it says 'safe to use'.
Or moving the fleece forest around between the sow and his cage. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Even if it is just a little blanket to hide underneath or even some hay from the sows' enclosure. If the hay is smelling of his family, it will be safe to eat. the same goes with any food bowls. if his does smell of other piggies it says 'safe to use'.
Or moving the fleece forest around between the sow and his cage. ;)
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All such lovely suggestions! Thanks kindly! :D
 
Wheeksers said:
@Wiebke - I just moved the hay; The girls are eating it and now he's starting to eat. Also, my girls are fighting over his snuggle sack haha! Oh, I feel so much better that I asked yall. <3
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Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs (have a look at the videos I have taken of piggies of mine trashing a neighbour's furnishings in the squeezes chapter)

What your little boy needs is guidance and a feeling of safety and belonging. Just wipe down his cage with the sow scent; so he still belongs to that group and still lives on territory that is theirs. They will also accept him much more if they are in regular contact with him.
 
Update: Monk has been having a really hard time adjusting to being a solo piggy. Would eat some of the veggies I would put out, maybe chew on some hay shared between the cages, but for the most part would not roam around the cage. I've made adjustments here or there to try to make for more piggy interaction with little avail. This got me thinking - I didn't actually check to see if the piggy was, in fact, male. Knowing that I properly sexed Moka and Peet at this age (thanks to this amazing forum and a few youtube videos), I decided to take a look at Monk and LOW AND BEHOLD - He is a she!

Because of the scent swapping all week (thanks to some awesome advice), the introduction went smoothly. Monk is now in the larger cage with the herd and, for the first time, I see her walking around and bubbling. There is still some chasing by other pigs (naturally), but seems to be adjusting just fine. What I think is the most interesting is that Caribou, who was the mother to Moka and Peet, seems to be taking Monk in as one of her own. She's bathing Monk and seems to be a bit fond of her over the other pigs. It's only been a few hours, but I'm curious to see how this relationship develops.

So - Still happy to keep her name as Monk Fruit, which almost makes her extra sweet. <3
 
Wheeksers said:
Update: Monk has been having a really hard time adjusting to being a solo piggy. Would eat some of the veggies I would put out, maybe chew on some hay shared between the cages, but for the most part would not roam around the cage. I've made adjustments here or there to try to make for more piggy interaction with little avail. This got me thinking - I didn't actually check to see if the piggy was, in fact, male. Knowing that I properly sexed Moka and Peet at this age (thanks to this amazing forum and a few youtube videos), I decided to take a look at Monk and LOW AND BEHOLD - He is a she!

Because of the scent swapping all week (thanks to some awesome advice), the introduction went smoothly. Monk is now in the larger cage with the herd and, for the first time, I see her walking around and bubbling. There is still some chasing by other pigs (naturally), but seems to be adjusting just fine. What I think is the most interesting is that Caribou, who was the mother to Moka and Peet, seems to be taking Monk in as one of her own. She's bathing Monk and seems to be a bit fond of her over the other pigs. It's only been a few hours, but I'm curious to see how this relationship develops.

So - Still happy to keep her name as Monk Fruit, which almost makes her extra sweet. <3
Click to expand...

That's great news at least she doesn't have to wait any longer and go through a nasty operation
 
Wheeksers said:
Update: Monk has been having a really hard time adjusting to being a solo piggy. Would eat some of the veggies I would put out, maybe chew on some hay shared between the cages, but for the most part would not roam around the cage. I've made adjustments here or there to try to make for more piggy interaction with little avail. This got me thinking - I didn't actually check to see if the piggy was, in fact, male. Knowing that I properly sexed Moka and Peet at this age (thanks to this amazing forum and a few youtube videos), I decided to take a look at Monk and LOW AND BEHOLD - He is a she!

Because of the scent swapping all week (thanks to some awesome advice), the introduction went smoothly. Monk is now in the larger cage with the herd and, for the first time, I see her walking around and bubbling. There is still some chasing by other pigs (naturally), but seems to be adjusting just fine. What I think is the most interesting is that Caribou, who was the mother to Moka and Peet, seems to be taking Monk in as one of her own. She's bathing Monk and seems to be a bit fond of her over the other pigs. It's only been a few hours, but I'm curious to see how this relationship develops.

So - Still happy to keep her name as Monk Fruit, which almost makes her extra sweet. <3
Click to expand...

Lucky pig - and luck you!

Seems that Monk has fallen on her feet being adopted by Caribou and covered in piggy kisses. Caribou is likely missing her own babies and is happy to have one to bring up as her own. Guinea pig sows are wired to bring up babies in a creche and are not as particular about whose baby they are suckling. The chasing and nibbling by the lower ranked sows is normal hierarchy establishment as she is worked. You see the worst of it from the sow just ranked above, who is keenest to not having her standing challenged.
 
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