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Bonding to bond or not to bond?

indycolts18

indycolts18

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Hello, I have a question. I understand that guinea pigs need a friend. I have 2 males whom are both 4 months old. Every introduction (2 times) leads to some kind of minor incident involving blood. When I separate them into their own cage and they see each other they start to popcorn and wheek loudly. I don't want to risk putting them together again for the risk of one getting hurt again. Would it be fine if I just put them in separate cages where they can still each other and sniff each other through the grids? Would it count as having a friend even though they are in different cages? Do I need to get another friend for each one? OMG 4 :-O

Thank you
 
piggielove123

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I would build a c&c cage split it in 1/2 and leave part without coraplast so they can sniff each other but not harm one another.
 
indycolts18

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Should I build a ramp so they can visit each other and escape to their own half of the cage when needed? or just block them off but able to see each other?

I really wanted them to bond :(

Thanks for your reply :)
 
Aleks

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I think the biggest question here is: How are you going about doing the introductions?
Lately I've been seeing quite a few posts about piggies that won't get along/fight, and it's usually due to improper introductions (no offense intended, btw).
 
indycolts18

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Aleks said:
I think the biggest question here is: How are you going about doing the introductions?
Lately I've been seeing quite a few posts about piggies that won't get along/fight, and it's usually due to improper introductions (no offense intended, btw).
Click to expand...

I read that I should put them in a neutral territory with hay in the middle. I let them find each other and not interfere unless I really needed to.
 
piggielove123

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I think that would be a good idea and @Aleks is right... an improper introduction could lead to guinea pigs fighting.
 
pinky

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How big of an area are you introducing them in? If they're in a small area, there's no escape or place to retreat to so they're bound to fight.
 
piggielove123

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Yes you do want them in neutral territory. You could have hay of veggies/fruit. You should have a blanked near by just in case they get in a fight... I have seen a video on how do to a proper introduction. Let me find it.
 
indycolts18

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pinky said:
How big of an area are you introducing them in? If they're in a small area, there's no escape or place to retreat to so they're bound to fight.
Click to expand...

I used the kitchen area of my apartment because that's the only place they haven't been and doesn't have carpet. Maybe about 16 sq feet.
 
Aleks

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indycolts18 said:
I read that I should put them in a neutral territory with hay in the middle. I let them find each other and not interfere unless I really needed to.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you went about it correctly.
When you say you don't interfere unless you really need to, do you mean only when they're full-out fighting and have drawn blood? I only ask this because sometimes people think that what is actually normal dominance behavior is them fighting and separate them too soon.
 
indycolts18

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piggielove123 said:
Yes you do want them in neutral territory. You could have hay of veggies/fruit. You should have a blanked near by just in case they get in a fight... I have seen a video on how do to a proper introduction. Let me find it.
Click to expand...

Sorry...forgot to say I had a towel with me during introductions.
 
indycolts18

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Aleks said:
It sounds like you went about it correctly.
When you say you don't interfere unless you really need to, do you mean only when they're full-out fighting? I only ask this because sometimes people think that what is actually normal dominance behavior is them fighting and separate them too soon.
Click to expand...

They were mounting, sniffing, making weird noises while standing about 5 inches away from each other, and their hair was raised. When I seen blood above one of the piggies lip it was time to call it quits.
 
piggielove123

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Sorry it took so long to find this, but it does sound like you did it right. Here it is anyways
 
indycolts18

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piggielove123 said:
Sorry it took so long to find this, but it does sound like you did it right.

Thanks for the video :) I have tried two introductions. Should I keep trying? or does that just stress them out?
Click to expand...
 
piggielove123

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indycolts18 said:
piggielove123 said:
Sorry it took so long to find this, but it does sound like you did it right.

Thanks for the video :) I have tried two introductions. Should I keep trying? or does that just stress them out?
Click to expand...
I would do the cage idea first and see how things go, if they go well you could try another introduction, but if they do not got well...
Click to expand...
 
indycolts18

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Thanks everyone for your advice :D
 
piggielove123

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your welcome : ) Hope the 3rd is the charm : )
 
lunarminx

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indycolts18 said:
piggielove123 said:
Sorry it took so long to find this, but it does sound like you did it right.

Thanks for the video :) I have tried two introductions. Should I keep trying? or does that just stress them out?
Click to expand...

I would try again, my first went bad after 3 hours. I did it a second time in an area about a 4x4 and it went well. I mean sure there was the normal but no blood the second time around. A few times when it was getting close i threw more hay and lettuce in, a few false coughs or sneezes. I know it was the wrong way but it worked for me This was with 4 pigs, two pairs. Also I started with four piles of hay and lettuce mix.
Click to expand...
 
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