Update on York and where to do intro...?

**wiggley_narco** · #1 02-05-08, 02:49 pm

I took York to the vet two days ago and he came home with a clean bill of health! So, after only 2 weeks, the doc suggests introducing the boys.

He confirmed that York has allergies and ammonia burns in his lungs from his previous living situation, but no signs of a URI or any other illness. His teeth look good and his toenails (despite one missing) have been cleaned.

For those of you that read my thread about his horrendous smell... it wasn't impaction; it's his pheromones. The doc says if I want, I can have him neutered to eliminate the smell. The vet I go to is very good and he assured me York was in fine health to undergo the procedure.... but I'm just not sure. What do you guys think? The smell is pretty bad. I need advice on that one.

I have one other question, also. I have spent all day today building the boys a wonderful, 2x6 L-shaped C&C cage (and as a result, I need stitches in my thumb).

So my question is... should I introduce them on the floor or in their new cage? Both are neutral territory--no smells or anything.

**Ly&Pigs** · #2 02-05-08, 02:52 pm

Quote:

So my question is... should I introduce them on the floor or in their new cage? Both are neutral territory--no smells or anything.

If neither have been in there before, it would be fine to do intro's in the new cage. Put a nice pile of veggies in there when you do intro's.

What did you do to your thumb that requires stitches?

**wiggley_narco** · #3 02-05-08, 02:58 pm

Thanks for the advice...

Box cutter. Five minutes before I was done with the cage. Woohoo.

Just my luck.

**babybunny** · #4 02-05-08, 03:20 pm

:O I'm so sorry about your thumb! I am so accident prone, that I had the sign company cut it for me because I knew I would need stitches too! I hope you get better soon.

I am glad York doesn't have a URI but saddened to hear of his little lungs. Thankfully he has a new home with a loving momma! Best of luck to you and York.

**wiggley_narco** · #5 02-05-08, 03:47 pm

So what do you think about the neutering idea, Ly? I'm unsure.

**wiggley_narco** · #6 02-05-08, 07:37 pm

Well, the boys have been introduced. Whew. It was rough.

I built a brand new 2x6 cage with all new fleece, hidey houses, etc., so it was completely neutral ground. I also put a huge plate of veggies right in the middle of the cage.

First I put in Narco, the submissive 3-month-old, with York (for those who don't know, he's my new 1.5-year-old rescue). To my extreme surprise, it was Narco who began frantically trying to mount York! He quickly learned to quit that mess; York quickly showed him who's boss. It was really funny to watch tiny little Narco mounting big ol' York, though.

So then I figured I had to put Wiggley in sometime... no time like the present, right? Wiggley is my 4-month-old, extremely dominant boy. It was him I knew I'd have to worry about. I put him in and all heck broke loose. York and Wiggley got in an awful mounting contest, which only escalated. Wiggley's hair stood on end, he rumbled and chattered his teeth, repeatedly mounted York and bared his teeth. York, like any dignified gentlemen, returned the favor. Soon, it was all out war, with both Wiggley and York flying at one another through the air across the cage. I wanted to pull them off each other and was about in tears... but... no blood. By this time Narco had went and hid in the loft, afraid to move. The intense bickering went on for a good 25 minutes at the least. I was on the verge of separated them several times. It's crazy how these cute, sweet little animals can turn so vicious!

The intense fighting has been over now for about 30 minutes. Now each of them have retreated to their own hidey house. Wiggley periodically comes out and runs York around and then the fighting starts up again for just a few seconds before they go back into hiding. Wiggley keeps baring and chattering his teeth, though.

I'm not sure if this is going to work out or not. I really hope they figure everything out and can get along.... what do you guys think? Does it sound like they'll work it out, or is it so bad it'll probably just continue? I'm worried about leaving them together when I go to sleep in a few hours.

Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I've never seen guinea pigs fight it out like this before--Wiggley and Narco didn't have a problem establishing dominance immediately.

**fourboys4now** · #7 02-05-08, 07:50 pm

My understanding on this site is that if no blood is shed then I wouldn't interfere with their introductions. I would definitley keep an eye out for any cuts of bite marks just in case they do it while you're not watching. Good luck with them. Would love to see pigtures of all boys together!

**pigsforlife** · #8 02-05-08, 08:02 pm

T has a rule with introducing but I cant remember what it is. Something like the first 30 minutes are the worst, the 3 hours after that are bad but not as bad as the first 30 minutes and 3 weeks after that everything should be fine.

**wiggley_narco** · #9 02-05-08, 08:09 pm

Thanks ya'll.

Everything would be ok right now if Wiggley would just leave York alone. Everything gets peaceful and calm and then BAM! Wiggley runs York out of his hidey house, mounts him, and chases him as York runs away (he's pretty much stopped fighting back).

**wiggley_narco** · #10 02-05-08, 10:34 pm

Help....

So sleepy.... but Wiggley keeps viciously humping York. It's constant, never-ending. York just wants to lay down and rest but Wiggley keeps chasing and mounting him.

Should I separate them?

I need sleep.

I think maybe if I just go to sleep and leave them alone they'll work it out since they aren't all-out fighting anymore... but I don't want it to escalate back into that while I'm sleeping.

This whole York-running-away-while-Wiggley-chases-and-mounts thing has been going on for over two hours.

Heeeelp. *yawn*

**pigsforlife** · #11 02-05-08, 11:53 pm

Leave it be. Do not separate them unless blood is drawn. If you wake up in the middle of the night check on them but otherwise they should get tired and settle down soon.

**wiggley_narco** · #12 02-06-08, 02:23 am

After about 8 hours... they've finally calmed down.

(Right as I typed that I heard a shriek and had to run and check... *sigh*)

Anyways, I just took some pictures of the new cage and the boys.... not living together happily ever after yet, though....

New 2x6 w/1x2 hay loft

And a side view...

The hay loft... with Captain Jack Sparrow commandeering!

Narco hid for most of the introduction... and Wiggley is pooped from mounting York non-stop for over three hours.

Poor pitiful York... he really thought he was going to be the dominant male... and now he's exhausted from having his brains humped out.

**newpiggiemommy** · #13 02-06-08, 03:38 am

They are just adorable! I love the pics.

I am sorry it was so rough to introduce them! How are they doing now? Did you get any sleep?

**TX_2_Pigs** · #14 02-06-08, 08:12 am

Oh I so wish you had done videos of that. I did videos of my intros but they were so boring. It would have been a perfect example of it looks bad but give them some time.

My boys have been together for over 3 weeks now and Harry stills chases everybody. And there is still a lot of teeth chattering and a few weak attempts to mount. I was surprised that Harry took over as big pig (he is the smallest one) and not Chopper or Dodger. I never really expected Mr. Wiggles to be in the mix like he is.

I am glad things are settling down for you. Get some sleep.

Thank you pigsforlife for this useful post, says:
wiggley_narco (02-05-08)

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