When to introduce a new pig?

[tahdig]

Hello, very excited to find this forum!

I got my first pig, two year old Tahdig, about a week and a half ago. He belonged to two friends of mine who took care of him and two older guinea pigs. The two older pigs passed away and I think my friends were a little emotionally overwhelmed about caring for Tahdig. I was very, very happy to take him on.

I think he took his brothers' deaths hard and was always skittish. Since I've gotten him, he's spend most of the time in his wooden house, although his cage is right next to my couch and he's hung outside for an hour or two while I'm watching tv. I've tried to pick up once or twice but he hates it, the only time I succeeded was to transfer for him to the tub while I cleaned his cage.

I definitely want to get him a little bro at some point but I'm not sure when. His brothers died about a month before I got him and he was very depressed. I plan on getting a young male so Tahdig can establish dominance. I've researched the protocol and plan to get a different cage for the youngin, keep him in a different room for a week or two, place their cages next to each other for a week or two, introduce them in a neutral place, keep an eye out for fighting, etc. How long should I wait? I have the money and time to get one tomorrow tbh, but I'm not sure if doing so will ease Tahdig's transition or make it harder. I figure the buffer time it might make the adjustment easier.

PS: The cage my friends gave me is very large and they gave me enough hidey places, etc for up to three pigs.

Than you very much, excited to join this community!

 

[tatals]

Hi, Tahdig! I love his name!

I'm posting mainly to watch this thread, as more experienced people will be able to help you better, but I'm pretty sure they're going to tell you to get him a partner as soon as possible, especially because you've mentioned he got depressed. Does he seem ok to you? Eating? Drinking?

 

[tahdig]

Hi, Tahdig! I love his name!

I'm posting mainly to watch this thread, as more experienced people will be able to help you better, but I'm pretty sure they're going to tell you to get him a partner as soon as possible, especially because you've mentioned he got depressed. Does he seem ok to you? Eating? Drinking?

Eating and drinking plenty. I've also never seen him close his eyes haha so I think he's not sleeping much but I know they sometimes keep their eyes open. Thank you for the feedback tho, I'm definitely leaning towards getting him a bro sooner rather than later

 

[Betsy]

Piggies are better with friends. Do you behave a rescue near you that offers boar dating? That way he can choose his own friend.

 

[tahdig]

Piggies are better with friends. Do you behave a rescue near you that offers boar dating? That way he can choose his own friend.

Unfortunately the nearest rescue is like 3 hours away, and I don't have a car so it would be hard to swing, especially to socialize before adopting.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, very excited to find this forum!

I got my first pig, two year old Tahdig, about a week and a half ago. He belonged to two friends of mine who took care of him and two older guinea pigs. The two older pigs passed away and I think my friends were a little emotionally overwhelmed about caring for Tahdig. I was very, very happy to take him on.

I think he took his brothers' deaths hard and was always skittish. Since I've gotten him, he's spend most of the time in his wooden house, although his cage is right next to my couch and he's hung outside for an hour or two while I'm watching tv. I've tried to pick up once or twice but he hates it, the only time I succeeded was to transfer for him to the tub while I cleaned his cage.

I definitely want to get him a little bro at some point but I'm not sure when. His brothers died about a month before I got him and he was very depressed. I plan on getting a young male so Tahdig can establish dominance. I've researched the protocol and plan to get a different cage for the youngin, keep him in a different room for a week or two, place their cages next to each other for a week or two, introduce them in a neutral place, keep an eye out for fighting, etc. How long should I wait? I have the money and time to get one tomorrow tbh, but I'm not sure if doing so will ease Tahdig's transition or make it harder. I figure the buffer time it might make the adjustment easier.

PS: The cage my friends gave me is very large and they gave me enough hidey places, etc for up to three pigs.

Than you very much, excited to join this community!

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss!

Tahdig sounds like he is ready for a new friend anytime. Guinea pigs mourn deeply only for a few days, then they are forced to get on with the task of survival again, but they can basically be paired up as soon as they come out of this initial deep mourning phase. If they show signs of depression, action should be taken sooner than later. If they stop eating and drinking altogether after the loss of a beloved mate (acute pining), they need to see a vet as an emergency to make sure that there is no underlying health problem and then get a new friend asap.

Please accept that boar trios rarely work, especially not those with sub-adult boars. The fall-out rate once the youngsters hit the teenage months is about 80-90%.

If you can get to a good standard rescue that offers boar dating for bereaved and single boars, please go there. This ensures that Tahdig can make the choice who he likes and wants to live with. Character compatilibity is key to any successful piggy bond; by far not all babies click with the boars they are introduced to.
By going to a good standard recommended rescue you also have assurance that any adopted piggy is properly sexed, quarantined/vet cared and healthy by the time of adoption, so you do not have to face the dilemma of either quarantining the new arrival yourself or having to treat both boys if the new arrival comes with an infectious problem. You are in experienced hands during the bonding and have the rescue to fall back on if the bond is running into problems at any point or you can't keep your piggies anymore for an reason. that is a lot more peace of mind and security for a little more effort! Please note that we can only guarantee for the rescues in several countries which appear in the lists liked to in our bereavement link. There is no licensing or control mechanism in place in English speaking countries, so anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder - and the results can unfortunately be accordingly.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sounds like your little man is looking forward to a companion. I have two boar brothers and they get on well most of the time. Bonding success is all about them choosing a friend they like and will get on with. The alternative would be to get him neutered and find him a couple of wives. Wishing you lots of luck in finding him a mate x
photos of your boy(s) would be lovely x

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum
Congratulations on taking Tahdig in and giving him a home.
Well done on all the research too - that’s the sign of a good and caring owner.
I can’t add to the advice already given but I do hope you can find a suitable companion soon.
Looking forward to pictures of Tahdig and his new companion.

 

[tahdig]

You are all so kind and helpful, thank you! My main struggle now is that the only rescue place that offers boar dating is like 3 hours away and I am sadly without a car. I have been able to locate some pigs that were surrendered to the city shelter and are adoptable. One is a two month old male, which I have been told would be a good age for Tahdig as he can establish dominance. Any thoughts on the wisdom of this age? I'm going to Petsmart, where they're being fostered, to check him out today. I was told he's gotten a full vet checkup but I'm going to get him an appointment anyway since I have an affordable vet literally across the street from my house. The person I spoke to on the phone said he was doing well with the other pigs in his cage, and he did well with his brothers previously.

Here are some pics of the cute little guy! Admittedly they are from his previous caretakers as I haven't been able to snap a good one. Don't worry though, I will eventually post an obnoxious amount of pics of him and his new bro, who I plan to name Streudel. His previous owner was Iranian-American, hence him being named after an Iranian dish, and I'm Dutch-German-American, so it seemed appropriate, lol.

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well.
Have a good read of the bonding guides as they are very helpful.
I’m sure they saved my sanity last year when I bonded piggies.
It sounds very wise to get your own vet check done.
Don’t forget to allow Streudel a few days to settle in before attempting to bond them.
It would help if you added you location to your profile as we have members all over the world and it helps when advice is needed.
I’m guessing you’re in the USA and there are a number of Americans on the forum

Will hold you to the promise of lots of pictures