Too soon for a new friend?

[Chloe.123]

Hi,

On Tuesday we lost 1 of our male guinea pigs, leaving his brother, Sheldon (4), on his own. Sheldon has never been on his own as they were together since birth. I do have a lone boar who is only a few months old. Is it too soon to consider bonding them?

Thanks

 

[weepweeps]

I’m sorry you have lost your piggy. I bonded a bereaved piggy after only about 3 days as we were going into a second covid lockdown and I wasn’t sure how long it would be before I would be allowed out to find a new friend. It went well. Good luck with your bonding.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

On Tuesday we lost 1 of our male guinea pigs, leaving his brother, Sheldon (4), on his own. Sheldon has never been on his own as they were together since birth. I do have a lone boar who is only a few months old. Is it too soon to consider bonding them?

Thanks

Hi

I am very sorry for your loss.

If you can, move them next to each other and see how that goes for a few days before trying to bond on neutral territory outside either cage. Ensure that the cage they move into carries a mingled scent when you do so. Even if the bonding doesn't work out, they can live as next door neighbours with mutual stimulation through the bars as your fall-back option.

There is not a set time for bonding after a loss. Most grieving piggies come out of deep mourning after around 4 days and are then usually open for new company; some are seemingly unaffected and a few cannot cope with being on their own - unfortunately, the latter category doesn't always mean that they will accept new company easily, as my Llawen has shown me.
Only piggies that stop eating and drinking will need a vet trip and new company straight away; it is thankfully rare. The others will keep for several weeks if needed depending on practical/circumstantial/behaviourial considerations (adoption process, post-op neutering wait etc.)
If you have other piggies, then it helps moving the bereaved single piggy next to them. A single boar can live next to sows as long as he cannot get into their cage since he hasn't go anybody to fight and fall out with. A single can however not go next to any bonded boars for exactly that reason.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours (please read especially entry territorial behaviours)

 

[Chloe.123]

Thank you, that's really helpful. Do you think an older boar would be better due to his age? Or does it depend on personality more?

 

[Chloe.123]

I should also add, I moved him next door on Wednesday, and have tried bonding them today. Younger boar (Bryn) was doing all the humping and Sheldon wasn't interested, they were in the neutral area for 2-3 hours. I have now moved them to (hopefully) the new hutch they'll be in. Bryn is still rumbling around and Sheldon is lunging and lifting his head. In-between they've been laying next to each other. There isn't any teeth chattering but Sheldon lunges/nips every time Bryn tries to just walk past him.

Do I keep going or separate?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, that's really helpful. Do you think an older boar would be better due to his age? Or does it depend on personality more?

It always depends on the personality mix. There is never a guarantee. We've seen two oldies work out and others not. We have seen boars refusing to accept one baby but being deliriously happy with the baby's brother introduced next...

 

[Wiebke]

I should also add, I moved him next door on Wednesday, and have tried bonding them today. Younger boar (Bryn) was doing all the humping and Sheldon wasn't interested, they were in the neutral area for 2-3 hours. I have now moved them to (hopefully) the new hutch they'll be in. Bryn is still rumbling around and Sheldon is lunging and lifting his head. In-between they've been laying next to each other. There isn't any teeth chattering but Sheldon lunges/nips every time Bryn tries to just walk past him.

Do I keep going or separate?

Lunging is defensive behaviour. It means 'stay out of my personal space'; the nipping reinforces it with a hint of 'I'm your boss speaking'. As long as Bryn is not responding to the warning, you are fine. Bonding runs in rounds and Sheldon is still insecure so the situation is not yet quite stable and may escalate.

Personally, I generally prefer to leave my piggies in the neutral area for a lot longer until they have worked through the roughest bit of dominance before moving them to the new home and adding another stress factor.

 

[Chloe.123]

Lunging is defensive behaviour. It means 'stay out of my personal space'; the nipping reinforces it with a hint of 'I'm your boss speaking'. As long as Bryn is not responding to the warning, you are fine. Bonding runs in rounds and Sheldon is still insecure so the situation is not yet quite stable and may escalate.

Personally, I generally prefer to leave my piggies in the neutral area for a lot longer until they have worked through the roughest bit of dominance before moving them to the new home and adding another stress factor.

Thank you. Bryn just keeps rumbling at him, running off and doing it again. I've read through the guides you posted as I was worried about the lunging. I've opened it up so they can get out into the run, if wanted and they seem ok next too each other.

I understand it's a big change for my old boy Sheldon. He was so used to his submissive brother being calm and I've added this young boar strutting around!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. Bryn just keeps rumbling at him, running off and doing it again. I've read through the guides you posted as I was worried about the lunging. I've opened it up so they can get out into the run, if wanted and they seem ok next too each other.

I understand it's a big change for my old boy Sheldon. He was so used to his submissive brother being calm and I've added this young boar strutting around!

Hopefully, Sheldon's nerve will hold. Bryn is just doing what a happy young boar does and as long as he is not challenging Sheldon, they should hopefully be fine.