Welcome to the forum! As I am sure you are aware this site has tons of very valuable information. You seem so down about your piggies. What exactly are the problems? Perhaps we could help. My pigs brought me great joy from the moment I got them,even when things didn't go as planned.
MLT2007 and PiggieWigglies - thank you, Both, for inquiring. Its just been bad intro after bad intro! Now I've gone and done the worst thing ever - separated them... which I know will make it much much harder to re-introduce. I know I've got to do it, for the piggies' sake, and because the two large cages squeezed together is going to give my hubby a fit when he arrives from his business trip - LOL (he was already a bit peeved at "these rodents needing an EVEN LARGER cage after only two weeks in the one that cost over $100!?!" - LOL, I just love his cluelessness
Needless to say, I was trying to save the "sweet, docile nature of the younger sows" from the older sassy sow. This sassy sow, Reeses, was not as vicious as the previous sow (who has since left the colony), but I just couldn't tolerate the sound of the "dating game" harassment. On top of my being the impatient, bad Guardian, now that the sows are separated (two now skiddish and untrusting young sows in the 2x4 and the older sassy sow in the rabbit-sized cage) there is absolutely no activity in either cage.... NOTHING - like nada. The bravest (and most docile) of the young will trek to the kitchen area, but the other will not. I've had the brave sow, Truffle, since June 13th and the other, Caramel, since Monday. I think Caramel MAY have eaten maybe one tablespoon worth of pellets since that time. That was my original concern when I separated them. Caramel seemed hungry in between being chased relentlessly by Reeses (older sow) as she would always circle to the kitchen, grab a pellet or two, then "run for her life". Prior to the chasing, and the original intro, Caramel was as docile and less likely to run from me as was (is) Truffle.
Since that horrible intro (keep in mind, I put them all out on the lawn in an enclosed pet pen, cleaned the 2x4, changed bedding, rearranged furniture and all prior to putting all 3 back in the 2x4 - that was the first intro on neutral ground, no second intro attempted yet) Caramel is not eating. She runs around incessantly trying to avoid my touch. She'll stay in a pigloo or hammock with no interaction or eating. Truffle now runs away from me, too, but not as tirelessly as Caramel. Once I have them both for laptime, they are gentle and not squirmy. Reeses is Reeses - skiddish, harsh, "let me down now" - so her personality hasn't changed much. Although I must admit she doesn't run away as much as before when she was in the 2x4 - could be because of the small cage size.
So, my Cavy Advisors, that's it! No wheeking, no eating, no sight of any of my guineas. I know, I know, it's only been a week with one, a few days with another and a month with the oldest, but I guess I was really taking that "social animal" tagline to heart. In spite of their lack of cage activity, I still chase them down for a rub and/or laptime - probably too much (at least three times a day since their cages are in my home office).
Maybe I should just leave them alone? I was planning on re-introducing after a bath session this weekend, since both cages will need cleaning, then I can just consolidate to the 2x4 and get over my fears (esp. since the docileness seems to have left the younger ones already due to their previous traumatic experience with the older sow).
THOUGHTS? GUIDANCE??? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
