Piggy people...

[Sleepingbunnies]

Some of you may know that my guineas were recently taken by a fox and my rather lovely BIL bought us two new girl babies.

But they are very very small, and my 2 year old cannot really interact with them the way she did our 4.5 year old piggies :(

So my question is, because they are so new I was thinking of going and getting an older piggie from a rescue to live out her days in luxury!

Do trios of guineas work?

I think from previous threads that people have done this but the other way around (introduced 2 babies to an older established sow). A rescue should be able to advise you and also help you bond the 3 pigs. If you did this you would have to give their house a big clean so it smells neutral. Also move things around in it so it feels different to them.

You could always wait for your young pigs to get bigger - the rate they eat it won't take long. But giving a lovely home to an older sow would be great.

Someone with more experience will be along soon '70', 'guineapiglet'!

Yoo hoo! Hi All - how lovely that you now have the babies with you - I am so - they will take time to settle in, and will grow very fast - 70s new GP3 sounds like he has grown enormous in a couple of months.

You are right though, a 2 year old probably needs slightly older ones to handle, babies are fragile and very skittish. It would be possible to get an older lady sow, who would probably love having some young ones to mother - or might not!! (Depending on the sow!). In my experience, Fernie is spot on - introduce the babies to the sow, and do it very slowly and with lots of space, hidey areas, etc, You may need a separate hutch and run for a while until they get used to her - spring is usually the best time, as they can be outside, but it may be more challenging now the weather is turning, It CAN be done though, you will need a nice docile sow. They don't automatically 'get on' so some 'sow dating' may be required. IF you can get your hands on a rescue girl with her own hutch and run you are sorted. Otherwise it will take a bit of time to get them happy, but it is a lovely idea. Hope they settle down, happy to help if needed!

Hi bunnies
baby guineas are lovely but yes they are skittery scratchy kamakazee merchants (and our GP3 can be a toothy little blighter. NOT bitey, but as an adult I can tolerate it better than a young child, though we do tell the GPs "no" if they get a bit mouthy)

My GP3 is an absolute monster now, he's very nearly as big as GP1. Getting heavy and getting better mannered.

TBH , you might be better to let these little ones settle, enjoy their weird eccentric little ways. They don't stay piglets for long.
And if you do introduce an adult it might upset their relationship.(Some sows that have had and weaned piglets can be quite intolerant to piglets. They've done their job," now run along piglet". Boars tend to be a bit more paternal to baby boars but they don't have all the hard work)

When we got our GP3 he was part of a rescue mission. I asked his history (if known) and I was told he was from a breeder who "didn't like guinea-pigs" .
So that might account for his skittiness but they do settle.

Would you be able to make up some fleece cuddle bags for your DC to handle them easier?

And my GP3 never shuts up stops 'chatting' but he's very noisy when he needs a pee. Which is good. If I choose to ignore his 'pee alarm' he pees

And don't expect the new babies to 'replace' Salt & Pepper.
They fill the 'hole in your heart' very nicely but you will appreciate them for who they are in time.
As babies they'll be nervy and untrusting.
That all changes in time,

Our GP1 has taken to his new boy but whereas he was very protective of GP2 in an adult:adult way, his new pig is completely different.
When we got GP3 everything spooked him and had him running to GP1. Poor pig didn't get a chance to pee without the mad wheeking of an "I;m lossssssst " GP3.
My DD is really the owner of both boys now (GP3 was supposed to be mine but I knew he wouldn't be )

I miss GP2 because I knew his character and he was snuggly, used to curl up under my chin to sleep.
GP3 doesn't hold with settling for long, but that's his age.

I can cuddle the sensible and settled GP1 while DD has the little boy.

Such excellent advice as always people!!

I admit I am having trouble adjusting to the fact salt and pepper are gone :( I am handling the new girls loads to get them used to people etc but I long for a nice fat guinea :(

I have taken the cover off of one of the heat pads that will be going in the hutch soon and thought my 2 year old might be able to hold them in that before they get bug enough for her to handle properly so thanks for that idea 70

Our new pigs are called daisy & poppy... After the twins on ben and hollys little kingdom obviously DD1s choice!!

bunnies it will not be long before they are nice fat piggies. It's great that your 2 year old is so interested in them and I love the names.