Adding to a group

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leight17

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Hi

I have a bereaved sow around 2.5 years. I also have a herd of six who are also 2.5 years. I have read the bonding information, but wondered if anyone with experience of adding a sow to a large group had any advice on whether a bond could potentially work? Would them being the same age be a positive or cause an issue? Thanks for your help!
 
I’m sorry for your loss.

There is no straightforward answer to this as it very much comes down to the piggies. The reality is, all you can do is try a bonding and see if the herd accept her.

Character is the main consideration when bonding, age less so but it can play its part. Generally it’s easier to add a younger piggy as they won’t challenge the hierarchy but again it’s character dependent.
If your bereaved sow comes in and tries to overthrow the current hierarchy then the bonding would be more likely to fail if she were to refuse to back down in a lower rank
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry for your loss.

There is no straightforward answer to this as it very much comes down to the piggies. The reality is, all you can do is try a bonding and see if the herd accept her.

Character is the main consideration when bonding, age less so but it can play its part. Generally it’s easier to add a younger piggy as they won’t challenge the hierarchy but again it’s character dependent.
If your bereaved sow comes in and tries to overthrow the current hierarchy then the bonding would be more likely to fail if she were to refuse to back down in a lower rank
Click to expand...
Thank you very much! She currently has a c&c divide between another pair of sows, who we can't bond her with as one of them is extremely dominant. My husband asked if this would be sufficient for her to have company? I feel she should have full contact with other guinea pigs but didn't know if the divide was sufficient? Thanks for your help!
 
Yes the divide absolutely is sufficient. It allows for continuous interaction while not having to share territory.

I have two boys who have to live side by side after their spectacular fall out - they’ve been like this for 2.5 years now
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes the divide absolutely is sufficient. It allows for continuous interaction while not having to share territory.

I have two boys who have to live side by side after their spectacular fall out - they’ve been like this for 2.5 years now
Click to expand...
That's fantastic, thank you for all your help!
 
My boys are also neighbors. One bullied the other when he was sick and they are fine side by side.
 
Keeping her alone with contact through the grids is definitely an option, but I would at least try to bond her with the group. I wouldn't worry about the group size too much, it's often more of a question of whether a guinea pig that has lived in a pair for a long time can adapt to the more complex hierarchical behaviours in a group setting, which can sometimes be difficult.
Keeping piggies as neighbours is a good way to keep them from being lonely, but they can express a much fuller range of behaviour in a group setting without a divide. The neighbour situation is a great fallback if the bonding with the group fails.
 
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