Tomorrow i am picking up my new Piggy girl on long term loan to adopt if they bond - she is around a year old from the rescue and that all i know other than she came in a year ago from accidental re- population at a school. She is a lilac one apparently with ginger and white - im not fussy what she looks like but they are bringing one to meet me half way from the rescue that they have selected to be most likely to bond with my 6 yr old. Any tips on how to meet eachother. I have cleared out our shed now that the hutch is in, lino floored it and added a seperate corner with another hidey house igloo in it should the need space. Am mucho excited - she has no name either.
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Finally a new piggy tomorrow - any advice greatly received.
60 replies
noyouhavehadawee · 12/09/2013 12:52
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guineapiglet ·
12/09/2013 13:39
Aaaw, she sounds really lovely, do hope she settles in well.
I would definitely keep them separate for some time though, there is no reason they shouldn't get on, but equally there is no reason that they will either. Like us, guineas need time to get to know each other and may not instantly bond. Your older one may be very stressed by the new interloper, and likewise the younger one may be freaked out as well. Introduce them very slowly. Keep them separate but within sniffing and squeaking distance, and introduce them in neutral space which is not fenced off in anyway, so they can both escape and hide and and when they needed to. I have done this many times, and the secret is not to rush or get impatient, they probably won't share the same cage for some time, if at all. Ideally, I would let them have supervised free range time together in the garden if that is at all possible, to get used to each other for a while. You will have to watch them carefully together for at least a few weeks - give them separate food bowls etc.
One bonding tip is to put them in a neutral area, and give them a MASSIVE pile of grass/dandelions etc in the middle so they will be distracted by that. IF and and when they become agitated or aggressive, you need to separate them and then try again some time later.
It can be time consuming and frustrating, or it can be easy, alot depends on the nature of the sows, dominance type issues, territory issues, and animal instincts etc. Good luck. Look forward to hearing how it all goes 
noyouhavehadawee ·
12/09/2013 16:16
Ohh im am so excited and a little nervous - I have loaned a neutral outside run to plonk them in for supervised contact . Then im sort of winging it after then I suppose - the lady at the rescue said she thought based on my set up I could probs chuck them in together in the wendy shed with hutch open access as long as they had a igloo each to escape to - im thinking she is a bit optimistic there like and have a spare cage for night time sleeps on standby. We have a bowl each yes and igloo thingy . No idea what to call her - Matilda, squeak, poppy an dpippa are coming up tops at the moment unless the lady says she already has a name?
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noyouhavehadawee ·
12/09/2013 18:56
i was thinking when i collect her to put her in a box lined with the fleece we pet Charlie in so they smell a bit of each other before the big meet or have i thought that out all wrong? Im thinking short tubes now in the run so two entry points. Oh the stress and to add to it DD likes Judy for a name 
. I will go into veg chop overload in the morning - think getting her about 11am eeek!
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70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
12/09/2013 19:49
Has the poor little soul been in Rescue all her life 
WRT the meeting.
Neutral is best. So when you pick her up, pu her in a no-pig-smell box.
I brought my new boy home in a seperate box to GP1 ( plastic crates with locking lids and breathing holes. Newspaper and hay. The smell of the hay overcomes most things)
I bought a brand new paddling pool for their first 'play'.
When they go into their new house, then yes, have them in seperate cages but still able to see and chat with each other.
Make sure your new-no-named-girl has been treated for mites too.(The Rescue should do this before you get her).
You can try after a day or so giving the pigs some soiled bedding from each others cages (nice)
Slowly build up the contact. Let them pootle round in a paddling pool if you can.
Your older guinea might be a bit judgey at this new bright young thing but given time they should get along.
Just respect Charlies space and status. She'll be No1 pig for now but this might change over time.
noyouhavehadawee ·
12/09/2013 20:04
she was born in a school where parents were wrongly sexed and populated then again and then the school sort help to sort it out and she is one of them - been in rescue a yr ish yes . I have just built a run so very new and neutral for the meet - ist tricky because id otn normall keep Charlie in shes a free ranger - she will prob be a bit peeed of suddenly In a piggy prison!
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70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
12/09/2013 23:38
Charlie will be as judgey as blazes to lose her Free Ranging Freedom but her naturally inquisitive (Guineas are nosy ) nature and the introduction of a new piggie will make her think "Hmmmmm something going on here"
It will be strange for her to have a new cagemate but when I listen to my boys:
"Get out of the flipping way"
"You're not my boss"
"I'm your step-dad. And no, that's my parsley"
"Fine"
"Do you have to walk through the water bowl?"
"I'm going to popcorn , RASP "
At least they have someone to wheek to that speaks guinea. Even though half of what they say to each other isn't gentlemanly
FernieB ·
13/09/2013 07:51
Good luck today and i hope Charlie wakes up in a good mood and is prepared to be welcoming.
70 - mine only know bad words . At least yours are relatively polite.
noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 08:14
she isn't happy about the rain so is staying in the shed at the moment - im off to Tesco to buy some veg treats then I will turf her out and clean the shed big time before I get the call for the pick up - i feel really nervous
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FernieB ·
13/09/2013 08:44
I'm off shopping for pig veg too this morning . Cucumber should help them settle down.
noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 10:27
i have parsley, carrot, cucumber and celery in my veg pot waiting - just cleaned out the pig shed and Charlie got out which isn't an issue because shes normally nosey and wanders back in mid clean but she is still awol 
.
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noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 12:28
So shes here and she is so canny - quite jolly, they have been in the run for 20 mins together so far - piggynoname has so far sniffed charlies bum and eaten grass, then she decided to go in the blue igloo at one end of the run - the green one is at the other end with the food bowl in middle - I stood up probably a bit to suddenly and Charlie dashed into it also where she stayed about a minute then came out to the food bowl leaving pigynoname - she has been to the door of the blue igloo where they wheeked at each other then Charlie backed away to the food bowl - all this time newpiggy is eating grass on floor of igloo (its floorless), Charlie has now gone in the green igloo for a rest and newpiggynoname has ventured out nicked some parsley and goneback in - shes not making it easy to take pics. Anyway she is a silvnabysinnian and although a yr old about same size as Charlie if not a bit fatter - Charlie has tried to make herself look fatter but now seems to have gone for anap 
. I am sat on the patio freezing. When I do the schoolruni will be out an hour - do I dare to leave them in the run together . Awww shes sticking her nose out now and having a right sniff!
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FernieB ·
13/09/2013 12:40
Am glad she's arrived and is eating. They should be okay for an hour - they haven't attacked each other yet so that's a good start. Fingers crossed
noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 12:44
its just started to spit so rather than disturb them I placed a tarp over the top of the run at one end which made Charlie make a bolt for piggynonames igloo where they wheeked and squeaked and now are both in there together huddled up 
. I am on high alert but all seems very still - I think if I do go to school leaving them I will have to secure the tarp right across the open bit as mr magpie has just made an appearance.
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fortifiedwithtea ·
13/09/2013 12:44
Aww she sounds lovely and defo a Matilda It sounds like she can hold her own But would about Charlie? Should there be ding ding run 1
I think I would bring them in anyway by then, it could be chilly.
mignonette ·
13/09/2013 12:47
I thought you were talking about a PIG . A lilac pig.
As an aside, my son works PT in a well known pet care store. he came home furious yesterday because a customer returned a newly purchased Guinea Pig because....her DD said the GP had an ugly face.
The staff were livid and took it back but refused to refund them. It will go into supportive adoption.
Some people shouldn't even be allowed to care for cuddly toys.
70isaLimitNotaTarget ·
13/09/2013 13:00
Ah, bless her. Charlie and no-name will have a few territory issues to sort through but it sounds like they are well matched size wise.
You might find a few shenanigans ( prowling, chasing) until they retire to their corners to suss each other out.
Charlies probably thinking "lilac = purple" and is most confused that she doesn't look like Tinky Winky.
mignonette - ugly faced guinea-pig . Words fail.
Though I have to say my boars match my IKEA sofa rather splendidly
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noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 13:29
Shes really pretty 
, I wanted to put Charlie on the naughty step but aside from odd sniffing and occasional chase from Charlie they seem ok - Piggynoname makes running look effortless - I have an hour to go - im thinking I will let Charlie out the run for free range time and leave in the run protected. Im going to upload a picture in a moment.
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noyouhavehadawee ·
13/09/2013 14:04
Pics are up, cant wait for dd to come in so we can have a piggy cuddle each - new pig went in her igloo, all happy then Charlie followed her in followed by a loud squeak then pigynoname came back out - love or no love? Anyway I will ease of with my piggy boreathon now
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