Introducing a new piggy

Sorry to hear you lost Wiggles. It's a good decision to find another
cagemate for Nubbin though, piggies can actually get depressed when left on
their own. So here's how you introduce a new piggy..

Take Nubbin out and place her somewhere (a cartboard box for example) for a
while, leave the new (young, female) piggy in the petshopbox. If this is
very tiny, get her a cartboard box as well. Clean the cage, I mean really
CLEAN it, make all odours vanish etc. Basically what you're doing then is
removing Wiggles scent (sorry about that) which is nescessary for Nubbin to
accept another cagemate.
With a clean cage, enough bedding and hay awaiting them, place a towel or
something on the couch, on the floor or where ever, as long as the piggies
can't "make a run for it" from that place it's fine. Put Nubbin on one end,
the new piggy on the other end and place some veggies in the middle. Then
wait.
Nubbin is sure to approach the veggies, not bothered about the new piggies'
scent as there is food on the table :-). The new piggie may need some time
to fugure it out. Eventually, don't push either one, they will both eat the
veggies. Together. And eating is a great way to bond.
When the veggies run out, they will be curious who their dinnerdate was and
approach each other. Don't intervene, it's all right. Nubbin will probably
try to mount the new piggy, showing her she's the boss. (This mounting is no
sexual thing, it's just showing dominance. It can go on for days, though,
especially if the little gril does not want to be mounted, that way denying
Nubbin's dominance. After a few days she will stop her resistance and it's
ok.)
If the piggies seem to get along well, give this 15 minutes or so, stroke
them both at the same time while talking to them. It will help Nubbin relax
and this will show the new piggy that your stroking and talking should be
considered a nice thing. If it's all done and the piggies are fine with each
other, place the new piggy in the cleaned cage, let het walk around a bit so
her scent gets into the cage. As soon as she starts eating the fresh hay,
put Nubbin in with her.
Be confident, as the girls will notice when you are not relaxed and will get
stressed themselves, this will defenitely influence their bonding in a bad
way. Leave them alone for a while, but observe their behaviour. If they are
relaxed and fine with each other, give them another treat, some veggies of
the same kind, this will confirm their bonding together.

And that's it, really... Takes you about an hour, but at least you will do
it the right way. Make sure you can bring the new piggy back in case things
don't work out, get the reassurance this is possible before you buy her.

Good luck finding a new cagemate for Nubbin!

Incs & the CavyClan: Sebas, Cleo, Chicco, Amy, Kassan, Hazel, Cassie, Lady,
Lizzy & Daisy.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

"Michel Oosterbeek" schreef in bericht

>
>
> I hope you know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come back
> "labeled" as a fighter?

Don't label the piggy a fighter, just say he or she doesn't get along with
your piggy. It happens, some humans don't like each other, it's just the way
it is. That way, the piggy get's a new chance with a new family.

Incs & the CavyClan: Sebas, Cleo, Chicco, Amy, Kassan, Hazel, Cassie, Lady,
Lizzy & Daisy.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i return
it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means another cage
is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into the cage
with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do just watch
them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show up very
quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if possible. As
for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
.....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
kelvyn.

No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

I hope you know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come back
"labeled" as a fighter?

Also, if Nubbin is a female, you can also introduce her to a neutered
male. We have two couples like that (well, actually a couple and a
trio), and it works great...



Kelvyn schreef:
> One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
> petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i return
> it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means another cage
> is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
> successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into the cage
> with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do just watch
> them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show up very
> quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if possible. As
> for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
> would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
> sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
> anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
> ....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
> kelvyn.
>
> No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

Actually I would be suprised if they were made snake food, GP's arent
good food for snakes, their hair is too course, and cant be digested.

The other thing is, it depends on what country you live in as to how
animals are treated, in the UK its technically not legal to live feed,
so taking an animal back is perfectly safe.

John.

Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>
> I hope you do know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come back
> "labeled" as a fighter?
>
>
>
> Kelvyn schreef:
>> One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
>> petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i return
>> it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means another
>> cage
>> is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
>> successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into the cage
>> with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do just
>> watch
>> them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show up
>> very
>> quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if
>> possible. As
>> for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
>> would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
>> sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
>> anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
>> ....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
>> kelvyn.
>>
>> No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:33:58 -0700, Naomi wrote:

> Our guinea pig died last night after all attempts to get her well...
> Her sister Nubbin is left alone in the cage and looks pretty sad and
> is looking around for her sister. I know guinea pigs aren't solitary
> creatures and Nubbin's only two, I'd hate for her to live alone for
> the rest of her life, so we want to get her another buddy. We're not
> sure how to do this as we've never had guinea pigs before these two.
>
> I've heard that when you buy a new piggy, not to put them into the
> same cage right away in case the new one is sick, other than that, I'm
> clueless. If anyone can give any pointers, please let me know.
>
> Thanks all,
> Naomi

Do not introduce any new pigs to Nubbin's yet as she may also be sick. Of
course, that depends on whether or not what her sister had was contagious.

--
See my piggies live: http://piggiecam.webhop.net


9/27/2007 12:43:43 AM
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

How about "Piggles" as a name for your new guinea pig. I had one called
piggles once, and it was a very good pig indeed.
kelvyn.

No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

Some snake owners seem to disagree with that. Just google on "ginea pig
snake", and watch with horror... (actually I could not)

Michel


John schreef:
> Actually I would be suprised if they were made snake food, GP's arent
> good food for snakes, their hair is too course, and cant be digested.
>
> The other thing is, it depends on what country you live in as to how
> animals are treated, in the UK its technically not legal to live feed,
> so taking an animal back is perfectly safe.
>
> John.
>
> Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>>
>> I hope you do know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come back
>> "labeled" as a fighter?
>>
>>
>>
>> Kelvyn schreef:
>>> One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
>>> petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i return
>>> it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means another
>>> cage
>>> is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
>>> successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into the
>>> cage
>>> with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do just
>>> watch
>>> them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show
>>> up very
>>> quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if
>>> possible. As
>>> for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
>>> would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
>>> sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
>>> anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
>>> ....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
>>> kelvyn.
>>>
>>> No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

Say no more, lets just put it this way, that's a USA site, if its the
same one I saw, where they still dont have laws against live feeding. I
own snakes and dont believe in live feeding. I come from the UK. I also
think that's been posted for entertainment value, sick entertainment
value. I also know that as I have already mentioned, GP hair is too
course for snakes digestion, plus nutritionally its just not good for
them. So I stand buy what I said, most herpers would not feed GP's to
their snakes.

John.

Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>
> Some snake owners seem to disagree with that. Just google on "ginea pig
> snake", and watch with horror... (actually I could not)
>
> Michel
>
>
> John schreef:
>> Actually I would be suprised if they were made snake food, GP's arent
>> good food for snakes, their hair is too course, and cant be digested.
>>
>> The other thing is, it depends on what country you live in as to how
>> animals are treated, in the UK its technically not legal to live feed,
>> so taking an animal back is perfectly safe.
>>
>> John.
>>
>> Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>>>
>>> I hope you do know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come
>>> back "labeled" as a fighter?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Kelvyn schreef:
>>>> One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
>>>> petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i
>>>> return
>>>> it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means
>>>> another cage
>>>> is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
>>>> successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into the
>>>> cage
>>>> with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do just
>>>> watch
>>>> them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show
>>>> up very
>>>> quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if
>>>> possible. As
>>>> for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
>>>> would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
>>>> sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
>>>> anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
>>>> ....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
>>>> kelvyn.
>>>>
>>>> No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy 

Let's hope many snake-owners read your advice! :o)


Michel

John schreef:
> Say no more, lets just put it this way, that's a USA site, if its the
> same one I saw, where they still dont have laws against live feeding. I
> own snakes and dont believe in live feeding. I come from the UK. I also
> think that's been posted for entertainment value, sick entertainment
> value. I also know that as I have already mentioned, GP hair is too
> course for snakes digestion, plus nutritionally its just not good for
> them. So I stand buy what I said, most herpers would not feed GP's to
> their snakes.
>
> John.
>
> Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>>
>> Some snake owners seem to disagree with that. Just google on "ginea
>> pig snake", and watch with horror... (actually I could not)
>>
>> Michel
>>
>>
>> John schreef:
>>> Actually I would be suprised if they were made snake food, GP's arent
>>> good food for snakes, their hair is too course, and cant be digested.
>>>
>>> The other thing is, it depends on what country you live in as to how
>>> animals are treated, in the UK its technically not legal to live
>>> feed, so taking an animal back is perfectly safe.
>>>
>>> John.
>>>
>>> Michel Oosterbeek wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I hope you do know what most pet-stores do with piggies that come
>>>> back "labeled" as a fighter?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kelvyn schreef:
>>>>> One thing i have always done when getting a new pig,is to ask the
>>>>> petshop/owner/whoever....if it fights with my current piggy can i
>>>>> return
>>>>> it. This is reassuring as if a new pig fights then this means
>>>>> another cage
>>>>> is required or problems while passing it on to someone else. The most
>>>>> successful way is to get a very young piggy and just put it into
>>>>> the cage
>>>>> with current pig (which is presumably an adult) Whatever you do
>>>>> just watch
>>>>> them for as long as possible....any agression will most likely show
>>>>> up very
>>>>> quickly...and yes piggies do need company of their own kind if
>>>>> possible. As
>>>>> for introducing a new one immediately...well if it looks healthy etc i
>>>>> would just put it in with existing pig straight away......if it looks
>>>>> sick..(eyes/nose/weight/missing fur/funny walk) you shouldnt take it
>>>>> anyway. Oh yes....and if Nubbin is a female you need another female
>>>>> ....these things breed like rabbits you know !!!
>>>>> kelvyn.
>>>>>
>>>>> No Guinea Pigs were harmed during the writing or sending of this post.
>>
 >> Stay informed about: Introducing a new piggy