Your guess please...

[exia]

Hi,

A year ago my boy Chip lost his companion. We tried to let him and our other boar-couple live in a divided cage, but had to break them up after a couple of weeks when Chip was so stressed out (chew the bars, yelling, didnt have time to eat). He was lonely and sad, and we decided to adopt a lonely piggy and try to bond them. Didnt really work.

Now they live in a divided cage and are good neighbours. They are sitting close to each other eating and seems relaxed. I can hear them talk in soft voices, and put their noses together. This relaxed and calm aura around them took its time (months), and thats why I need your thoughts about try to bond them?

When I look at the bond my other boars have I want the same for Chip and Kongo. Have someone to share food and snuggle with. But I do get thats not necessarily what my boys wants or need. They already have each other and its peaceful. I dont want two destroy that, because from what I can tell they are happy. They have each other but also they have their private place.

Last time we tried to bond these guys, my feeling was that Chip was just a drama like always. Kongo ate his food or something and Chip couldnt really forgive him. Kongo who came here from a fosterhome where he has the only pig didnt really "talk Guinea pig". They didnt like each other then, but now they accepted each other - as neighbours.
Chip is born a intelligent drama queen that never forgets nor forgive. Kongo is a very happy and hungry dude, I want to say the lights are on but now one is home...

So, my question. Should we try to bond them and risk what they have now, or should we just be happy they seem happy in what they have?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

A year ago my boy Chip lost his companion. We tried to let him and our other boar-couple live in a divided cage, but had to break them up after a couple of weeks when Chip was so stressed out (chew the bars, yelling, didnt have time to eat). He was lonely and sad, and we decided to adopt a lonely piggy and try to bond them. Didnt really work.

Now they live in a divided cage and are good neighbours. They are sitting close to each other eating and seems relaxed. I can hear them talk in soft voices, and put their noses together. This relaxed and calm aura around them took its time (months), and thats why I need your thoughts about try to bond them?

When I look at the bond my other boars have I want the same for Chip and Kongo. Have someone to share food and snuggle with. But I do get thats not necessarily what my boys wants or need. They already have each other and its peaceful. I dont want two destroy that, because from what I can tell they are happy. They have each other but also they have their private place.

Last time we tried to bond these guys, my feeling was that Chip was just a drama like always. Kongo ate his food or something and Chip couldnt really forgive him. Kongo who came here from a fosterhome where he has the only pig didnt really "talk Guinea pig". They didnt like each other then, but now they accepted each other - as neighbours.
Chip is born a intelligent drama queen that never forgets nor forgive. Kongo is a very happy and hungry dude, I want to say the lights are on but now one is home...

So, my question. Should we try to bond them and risk what they have now, or should we just be happy they seem happy in what they have?

Hi

Just let them be as they are because it works. Enjoy them as they are instead of trying to fit them into a tight frame for your own desires - and risk a permanent fall-out and end of their friendship.

Don't break what is hale just because it is not the shape you want. Rather embrace it and shape yourself around them by entering their world and explore it with them to discover new insights. Plan any enrichment activities around their quirks and watch how they tackle them. Having been there often enough to find non-standard solutions for difficult piggies, I promise that you can have as much fun and learn a lot new things along the way.

 

[exia]

Hi

Just let them be as they are because it works. Enjoy them as they are instead of trying to fit them into a tight frame for your own desires - and risk a permanent fall-out and end of their friendship.

Don't break what is hale just because it is not the shape you want. Rather embrace it and shape yourself around them by entering their world and explore it with them to discover new insights. Plan any enrichment activities around their quirks and watch how they tackle them. Having been there often enough to find non-standard solutions for difficult piggies, I promise that you can have as much fun and learn a lot new things along the way.

Just the answer I was pretty sure I would get but I need to hear that, because having two neighbours wasnt our hope when we decided to adopt Kongo. But its our hope, piggies decisions. And even if the bonding didnt work out, I'm so happy to give Kongo a good home. I'm so in love with this very big pig and all the goofieness he gives ous.


From the short period of time they lived together

 

[Wiebke]

Just the answer I was pretty sure I would get but I need to hear that, because having two neighbours wasnt our hope when we decided to adopt Kongo. But its our hope, piggies decisions. And even if the bonding didnt work out, I'm so happy to give Kongo a good home. I'm so in love with this very big pig and all the goofieness he gives ous.

View attachment 251995
From the short period of time they lived together

Piggies can still have a bond through the bars. Once you can drag your mind out of the boxed standard vision and expectations, you are then open to discover the big wide world of non-standard, which is often more intriguing and fascinating.

 

[fluffysal]

I've recently had to separate my boys. Dignified Sir George seems to be having a new lease on life and acting like a mad pup. When he was young he didn't act it, hence the Dignified label.

 

[exia]

I've recently had to separate my boys. Dignified Sir George seems to be having a new lease on life and acting like a mad pup. When he was young he didn't act it, hence the Dignified label.

Aw, he is king of the cage now! Thats also very good to hear. Maybe some piggies just dont want to share their space at all?
Speaking of acting like a mad pup - Kongo just loves floor time;

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Thanks to you and @Wiebke they will remain neighbours and now I'm reassured they can thrive with a companion thorough the bars and be happy with that.

 

[fluffysal]

I think you need some zip ties
Some of our piggies are like little bulldozers ....