Splitting Bumble & Merry - not going well :-(

[Rosehip]

Hi All,
Just a quick one really, Bumble is getting close to her due date by the feel of her tummy (I've put a guestimate date of 20th Aug down for her) and so I'm really needing to split her from Merry, and as I am away for the weekend, I wanted them separate just in case she pigs whilst I'm away and my parents don't notice until it is too late.

I have been handling them both separately (so that they got used to being apart...), and they are lovely little babies, still quite scatty and nervy, but they are getting there.
I set up Merry's pen next to Bumbles yesterday, gave them both cuddle time and split them up with their veggies in their new homes, and they seemed fine. Went off to put the horses in and feed etc and came home to check them and make sure they had eaten up to find Bumble in the corner of her cage terrified and she seemed to have lost weight in a couple of hours - through stress I assume.
I have put them back together again, as Merry was very stressed too, but I'm now at a complete loss as to what to do!
They can't stay together, as even if they weren't so closely related, I don't want another litter!

I have never had this problem in all the years I have had piggies, so this is all new to me!

Any advice gratefully received!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! splitting up youngsters can be very disheartening.

You can make it a little bit easier by giving each a cosy or soft rag and a soft piggy sized cuddly toy (remove anything that can be nibbled off) that you have rubbed with the other piggy's body scent for snuggling into.

Arrange the hideys and sleeping areas next to each other so they can still be as close as possible. Give them a place where they can feel safe - even if it is just a handkerchief tent or a cardboard box.

they will still desperately want to be with each other, but they will hopefully settle down within a few days.

 

[Rosehip]

Hi Wiebke,
Thanks for that!
My main worry was that Bumble was refusing to eat, and although I haven't be able to weigh her as she is far too quick to leave un-held, she isn't the weight I would like her to be, and feels very light to handle... the babies all feel really small, although they are wriggly and moving well.....
They both have 2 hide outs, but I will put a couple of cuddle cups in for them to smelly up and then try the separation again. Poor babies xx

 

[cookieandsprinkles]

When my friend's piggy had an unexpected pregnancy, we had mum (Cupcake) and her other piggy (Muffin) in the cage together right until the babies were born and even after that, Muffin stayed in the cage until Cupcake was getting a bit antsy towards her being there. At the moment, the female babies are still in the cage with mum but we got another cage and sat the cages beside each other with some soft cloths and put them in beside Muffin. This really helped Muffin cope with being separated from her cage mate. Cupcake is too preoccupied with her babies to bother about missing Muffin too much at the moment. Hope everything goes well with the birth and both mum and babies come through safe and well
Meg, Cookie and Sprinkles xx

 

[Rosehip]

Thanks Cookieandsprinkles, the problem is that Merry is both Bumbles brother and the father of her babies So Obviously he needed to be separated.

I have now got them both to the stage where they are separate and although not massively happy, they are eating and fairly settled.
I cant handle Merry at all as he just wooshes around his pen hyperventilating, however I can stroke him if he is in his tube - presumably as he feels safe that I can't pick him up!
Bumble is now getting very heavy, and really doesn't want to be handled, so I'm keeping taking her out of her pen to an absolute minimum, but I'm still handling her in her pen, she seems to love being brushed with an old toothbrush! bless her.

I'll update in the pregnancy section when she litters...I don't expect it to be many more days now xx